Name the number before comparing it
A supplier offer is an asking price for a stated item. A site inventory valuation is the site’s internal estimate. A case-opening cost is the price of an attempt. None is automatically a completed market sale or the amount you could withdraw.
Write the price type beside each candidate. If a screenshot lacks the type, timestamp or currency, it is not a complete comparison. Two attractive numbers are still incomparable when one is a supplier ask and the other is an internal game-balance value.
Build an all-in comparison
Use this small table for each exact variant:
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| Item | Weapon, finish, exterior and special prefix |
| Price type | Listing ask, supplier offer or internal valuation |
| Currency | The explicit currency, not a guessed symbol |
| Extra charges | Fees shown by the service before confirmation |
| Observation | Date and source |
Do not silently convert dollars into a site balance. If conversion is necessary, record the displayed rate and any fees; an undocumented conversion can reverse which candidate appears cheaper.
Treat old prices as research, not current offers
Historical observations can help you find a design or understand what to investigate. They cannot prove that the item is still available at that price. A missing supplier feed should not create a current-looking offer.
The CaseCS2 catalogue currently contains historical or unverified supplier observations. Use the finder for discovery, and read its freshness label. We do not publish these observations as the lowest price across the entire market.
Choose a decision rule before browsing
For a cosmetic purchase, define the exact variant and maximum total cost first. Compare only candidates that satisfy those conditions. If none fits, change the design or wait rather than reinterpreting an incomplete listing as a bargain.
For a multi-item set, use the inventory budget guide. This approach is about controlled spending and clear comparisons, not a promise of profit, resale liquidity or a future price increase.