{
  "object": "doc",
  "title": "Where does Cartroute's data come from?",
  "description": "Live retailer listings: what is included, what is excluded, and how fresh it is.",
  "section": "Getting started",
  "url": "https://cart-route.com/docs/data",
  "updated": "2026-09-23",
  "prev": "https://cart-route.com/docs/credits",
  "next": "https://cart-route.com/docs/api/search",
  "text": "`data_source: \"live\"` means prices come from the retailers' own current listings at Amazon, Best Buy and eBay, fetched through a retail search data provider when a search arrives. Each response also carries a `live` object saying whether the results were fetched just now or reused from a recent fetch, and when.\n\r\n\r\n\n## What is included?\n\r\n\r\n\n- In-stock, fixed-price listings in every condition, each labelled in `condition` (`new`, `renewed`, `refurbished`, `open_box`, `used`, `new_other`): the price, the list price when the retailer shows one, and the shipping the listing states. `best_offer_id` is always a new unit when one is in stock.\r\n\n- The retailer's own listing title and seller name on every offer, so the exact configuration can be checked.\r\n\n- A product image and the retailer rating with the store it came from.\r\n\n- One recorded price per offer per day, which is what price history and `price_insight` are built from.\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n## What is excluded?\n\r\n\r\n\n- Out-of-stock listings, eBay auctions and price ranges (no single price), and for-parts listings.\r\n\n- Accessories and bundles are kept apart from the product they are sold with.\r\n\n- Coupon codes: no coupon feed is connected yet, so `best_coupon` is null and effective price equals landed price.\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\n## How fresh is it?\n\r\nA search is fetched from the retailers when it arrives and reused for up to 6 hours. Tracked products are re-checked every day. Offers not seen for 72 hours are hidden rather than shown with an old price. Every offer carries `last_checked_at` and `freshness_seconds`.\n\r\n\r\n\n## What should an agent still check?\n\r\nThe retailer's checkout price is final. When `shipping_stated` is false, the listing did not say what shipping costs; tell the shopper to check it. eBay offers come from individual sellers, named in `seller`."
}