Quick answer
An item can be visible in inventory yet temporarily unavailable for trade.
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. Why availability timestamps must be modeled separately from ownership and price.
An item can be visible in inventory yet temporarily unavailable for trade.
Lock timing affects execution but does not guarantee future price direction.
Platforms may display timing in different time zones.
Arbitrage tools should exclude items that cannot be transferred in time.
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
- 01An item can be visible in inventory yet temporarily unavailable for trade.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 02Lock timing affects execution but does not guarantee future price direction.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 03Platforms may display timing in different time zones.
Document the evidence and any remaining uncertainty before using this point in a valuation, simulator or publication.
- 04Arbitrage tools should exclude items that cannot be transferred in time.
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 “Trade locks explained”?+
An item can be visible in inventory yet temporarily unavailable for trade.
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.