COST PLANNING · 5 MIN READ

GTBuy budget guide: item price versus total cost

Read CNY and USD fields, filter price ranges and keep unknown delivery costs visible.

A cheaper item is only one component of an order. Start by separating the listing price you can see from the charges you still need to ask about.

Understand the displayed prices

Cards and detail pages display supplied USD item estimates from the source snapshot. They are not live conversions or payment-provider quotes. Keep the currency attached to every amount you record.

How the budget filter treats ranges

Illustrative USD estimateIncluded under $20?
$12–18Yes: the entire range is within the ceiling.
$18–22No: the upper end exceeds the ceiling.
No estimate suppliedNo: a missing value cannot establish the budget.

These are examples of the filter rule, not live product quotes. Use the under $20 collection for the current catalog selection.

Keep a cost record

CostWhere to confirm it
Item and selected optionCurrent seller or destination listing.
Domestic deliverySeller or shopping service.
Payment and service feesThe current payment and service terms.
International delivery and packingA quote based on the packed parcel and route.
Destination charges, if applicableCurrent official destination guidance and the service’s terms.

Do not put a guessed zero in an unknown field. The cost planner keeps blank costs visible as unknown, imports catalog items as unconfirmed, and exports the record as CSV. Enter the rate used for your payment and your actual shipping quote; the tool does not provide either.

Compare the same option

The feed’s low and high values do not map each amount to a particular size, colour or version. Read how to interpret price ranges before choosing a listing based on its lowest figure.

Save the comparison

Export your filtered results, add columns for the exact option and additional charges, and note when each number was confirmed. The CSV is a record of the snapshot, not a checkout quote. The under $20 walkthrough explains what to check after a product passes the price filter.

Your checklist

  • Confirm the selected option’s current price.
  • Record domestic delivery, service and payment fees separately.
  • Ask for a current international shipping quote when packing details are known.
  • Keep estimated and confirmed amounts in separate columns.

Questions about this topic

What currency do the cards and budget filters use?

Cards and budget filters use USD estimates supplied by the catalog feed. The original CNY listing amount is retained in product details and exports. The estimate is not a live exchange rate, an exact-option quote or the final amount payable.

Understand the price fields
How does the under $20 filter work?

A listing is included only when the upper end of its supplied USD estimate is $20 or less. An $18–22 range is excluded. A listing without a usable estimate is excluded too. Delivery and service charges are extra.

Browse under $20
What does a price range on a product mean?

The feed supplies a low and high listing price. It does not identify which size, colour or version produces each amount. Check the price for the exact option you want at the destination.

Read price ranges correctly
Are prices and availability live?

No. This directory uses the most recent successfully imported catalog snapshot. A listing update date and the catalog refresh date describe different events. Neither confirms stock at the moment you browse.

How the snapshot works
Browse all frequently asked questions →

Put the checklist to use.

Explore budget resources