Quick answer
Store the provider observation time, not only the time the UI rendered.
Every market statement needs a unit, provider and timestamp. A listing is an observation; it is not a promise of liquidity, execution or future value. A freshness policy for market scanners and arbitrage tools.
Store the provider observation time, not only the time the UI rendered.
Define a maximum age appropriate to the use case.
Mark old values as stale and stop calling them opportunities.
Provider outages should degrade to Unavailable without synthetic replacements.
How to read the data
Begin with the exact record involved: item name, variant, source and observation date. Then separate a factual game-data field from an estimate, community convention or market inference. This sequence keeps a helpful shorthand from becoming a false claim.
Scroll horizontally for all evidence columns.
Practical checklist
- 01Store the provider observation time, not only the time the UI rendered.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 02Define a maximum age appropriate to the use case.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 03Mark old values as stale and stop calling them opportunities.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 04Provider outages should degrade to Unavailable without synthetic replacements.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
Common mistakes
Treat a listing as a sale
Asking prices can be stale, manipulated or far from executable demand.
Hide model assumptions
Fees, odds and freshness windows must stay visible and editable.
Match the exact variant
Wear, pattern, StatTrak, Souvenir and event identity can change the record.
Keep an unavailable state
Missing evidence should remain missing instead of becoming fabricated data.
Sources and methodology
This guide derives its factual framing from the references below. External sources can change; LootGap records a review date and does not silently replace missing facts.
- ↗Steam Community Markethttps://steamcommunity.com/market/
- ↗Steam account securityhttps://help.steampowered.com/en/wizard/HelpWithAccountStolen
Frequently asked questions
What is the main takeaway from “Price timestamps and stale-data warnings”?+
Store the provider observation time, not only the time the UI rendered.
Can this guide guarantee a market result?+
No. It explains item data and decision methods. Prices, liquidity and outcomes can change, and simulated/model results are not guarantees.