# Price Spectre

> Price Spectre is an automated pricing agent for eBay sellers. It continuously monitors competitor listings and adjusts the prices of your own listings based on pricing rules you configure, so you stay competitive without manual effort.

## Overview

Price Spectre is a dynamic repricing service for eBay sellers. For each listing the user chooses to manage, Price Spectre periodically searches for matching competitor listings, evaluates them against the user's configured pricing rules, and then either updates the listing price automatically or surfaces a recommendation for the user to approve. Every managed listing has a floor price (the lowest price the seller will accept) and may optionally have a ceiling price; Price Spectre is guaranteed never to price a listing below its floor.

Users can operate Price Spectre with minimal configuration by relying on the built-in library of pricing algorithms, or they can author their own algorithms in JavaScript for full control. An in-product AI assistant called AlgoForge helps users design, refine, and debug custom algorithms without needing deep programming expertise. A separate in-product AI assistant called HelpBot answers support and general product questions for both signed-in users and guests, and can escalate to the human support team when needed. Sellers with multiple eBay accounts, or agencies managing client accounts, can use the Manager system to authorize access across accounts from a single Manager Dashboard.

Price Spectre also exposes a hosted MCP (Model Context Protocol) server at `https://mcp.pricespectre.com`, enabling AI assistants and automation tools to read listing, repricing, and account data through an OAuth 2.0 or Bearer-token-authenticated connection.

Price Spectre is intended for active eBay sellers who want to remain competitive across many listings at once. Supported workflows range from fully automated repricing to human-in-the-loop review, and the two styles can be mixed freely across a seller's catalog.

## Core features

- **Automated competitor monitoring and repricing.** The main tool (Price Spectre) runs in the background, searches for each managed listing's competitors using the listing's search parameters, and updates the price on a schedule.
- **Pricing algorithms.** A library of pre-built algorithms covers the common strategies (price to the lowest competitor, price relative to a target rank, price-to-stay-on-first-page, average-based pricing, and more). Users can browse algorithms, adjust their parameters, or select a different one for each listing.
- **Algorithm Editor and custom JavaScript algorithms.** Power users can author fully custom repricing logic in JavaScript, with access to competitor data, listing state, sales history, and pricing helpers. Custom algorithms can express conditional logic, multi-stage rules, and edge-case handling that the built-in library cannot.
- **AlgoForge AI assistant.** An in-product assistant that helps users design, write, explain, review, and refine custom algorithms. AlgoForge understands the data and functions available to pricing scripts and can iterate on an algorithm through a conversational workflow.
- **HelpBot support assistant.** An in-product AI assistant that answers support and general product questions. HelpBot is available to both signed-in users and guests, can use the current page for context, and can escalate to the human support team when a question needs follow-up.
- **Search Diagnostic.** A diagnostic tool that replays the eBay search Price Spectre uses to build a managed listing's competitor set and explains the result: a filter funnel showing how many candidates each rule removed, the kept competitors, and a sample of rejected items annotated with the rule(s) that filtered them out. Parameter overrides can be tried without saving back to the listing. It answers "why are these my competitors?", complementing the Search Console simulation's "what would my price be right now?".
- **Price suggestions and price recommendations.** Separate tools that surface pricing ideas without requiring the main repricing engine to be active, useful for research and for human-approved workflows.
- **Competitive price reports.** Reports summarising market pricing across a seller's catalog, available in PDF, CSV, XLSX, and HTML formats.
- **Repricing history.** A full audit trail of every price change Price Spectre has made, including the reasoning and the competitor set that drove the change.
- **Import and Export.** Bulk editing of listing settings via spreadsheet download and upload.
- **Pseudo Import.** A one-time bulk competitor research workflow: upload a spreadsheet of items without linking them to eBay listings, get competitor pricing data back, and export the results. Useful for market research and pricing experiments.
- **Schedule downtimes.** Configurable periods during which repricing pauses (for example, during promotions or inventory moves).
- **Notifications.** Email and in-app notifications for repricing events, errors, billing, and manager activity.
- **Manager accounts and Manager Dashboard.** Delegated access for agencies and power users who manage multiple accounts. A subscriber shares their public ID with a manager to request access; the manager approves or denies from the dashboard and can then sign in on the subscriber's behalf. Access can be revoked at any time by either party.
- **Premium points.** A top-up currency that unlocks premium capabilities on a per-feature, monthly basis. Premium features currently include boosted repricing frequency (as often as every 15 minutes), an exempt-sellers search parameter, and multiple searches within a single custom algorithm.
- **Keyboard shortcuts.** Built-in shortcuts for fast navigation across tools.
- **Public REST API.** External API for programmatic access to listing and repricing data (see Public API section).
- **MCP server.** A hosted Model Context Protocol server at `https://mcp.pricespectre.com` that lets AI assistants and automation tools connect to a user's Price Spectre account. Supports OAuth 2.0 with Dynamic Client Registration (DCR) and Bearer token authentication (see MCP Server section).

## Key concepts

- **Managed listing.** One of the user's eBay listings that Price Spectre has been configured to monitor and optionally reprice.
- **Search parameters.** The criteria Price Spectre uses to find a managed listing's competitors. Conceptually equivalent to an advanced eBay search: keywords or product code, category, condition, shipping and handling constraints, seller filters (include, exclude, exempt), feedback and quantity ranges, and more. Defaults can be configured once and applied to every new listing.
- **Pricing algorithm (or algorithm, or rule).** The logic that turns the competitor set into a target price. Algorithms can be chosen from the built-in library, parameterized, or custom-written in JavaScript.
- **Behavior.** A reusable pricing configuration that can be applied across multiple listings.
- **Floor price.** The lowest price Price Spectre is ever allowed to set for a listing. Required for every managed listing.
- **Ceiling price.** An optional upper bound on the price Price Spectre may set.
- **Baťa (beta) pricing.** Psychological price endings (for example, ending prices in .99 or .95).
- **Repricing frequency.** How often Price Spectre checks competitors and updates prices. Standard frequency is several times per day (based on four-hour intervals). Premium points can boost frequency to as often as every fifteen minutes.
- **Manual override.** A mode in which Price Spectre computes a recommended price but does not apply it until the user approves. Can be set per listing, so some listings are fully automated while others are human-reviewed.
- **Downtime.** A scheduled window during which repricing is paused for some or all listings.
- **Subscriber.** The primary Price Spectre account that owns the listings and the billing relationship.
- **Manager.** A separate Price Spectre account that has been granted access to one or more subscriber accounts. Managers identify themselves to subscribers via a public ID.
- **Premium points.** Currency used to unlock premium features on a monthly basis.
- **Relaxed Relist.** A setting that relaxes how Price Spectre matches a relisted eBay item to its previous managed listing, used when a third-party listing tool does not preserve eBay's original-listing reference.
- **MCP access token.** A scoped Bearer token generated at `/tools/mcp_access` that authorises an MCP client to read listing and repricing data via the MCP server. Up to 3 tokens may be active simultaneously; tokens can be rotated or revoked. DCR-connected clients (Claude.AI and other OAuth 2.0 MCP clients) do not require a manually issued token.

## Marketplaces

Price Spectre connects to eBay via eBay's official API. Linking is done through eBay's OAuth-style token flow, not by sharing an eBay password. Once linked, Price Spectre operates against the seller's eBay account through authorized API calls.

All eBay marketplace sites are supported.

Amazon is supported as a competitor search source. Price Spectre can search Amazon listings to inform eBay repricing decisions, but does not manage or reprice Amazon listings directly.

## Primary user flows

1. **Onboarding.** Sign up, link an eBay account via the eBay authorization flow, configure default search parameters and a default pricing algorithm, then let newly listed items be enrolled automatically. The first listing is always free to manage, and every new user gets a 14-day free trial.
2. **Day-to-day use.** Open the Price Spectre tool to see current state and recent actions, review recommendations or manual-override items that are waiting for approval, check repricing history, investigate errors, and respond to notifications.
3. **Bulk setup and edits.** Export listings to a spreadsheet, edit settings (search parameters, floor and ceiling prices, algorithm choice, enabled state, and so on), then import the spreadsheet to apply changes in bulk.
4. **Market research without managing listings.** Use Pseudo Import to upload a spreadsheet of products, run competitor searches, and export the results for analysis.
5. **Custom algorithm authoring.** Open the Algorithm Editor, start a new algorithm or fork an existing one, iterate with AlgoForge, and assign the algorithm to listings once satisfied.
6. **Agency or multi-account management.** A manager shares their public ID with a subscriber; the subscriber requests access using that ID; the manager approves from the Manager Dashboard; the manager can then sign in to the subscriber's account and is subject to the subscriber's revocation at any time.
7. **Pausing during promotions or inventory moves.** Configure a Schedule Downtime covering the relevant period, either globally or for specific listings.
8. **AI assistant integration.** Connect an MCP-compatible AI client (such as Claude.AI) to the MCP server at `https://mcp.pricespectre.com` using Dynamic Client Registration — navigate to the MCP server URL in the client, complete the OAuth authorization flow, and the client gains access to listing and repricing tools. Alternatively, generate a Bearer token at `/tools/mcp_access` and configure the client manually.

## URL map

All URLs below are on `https://www.pricespectre.com`.

### Public pages

- `/` — Home / landing page.
- `/howitworks` — Product explainer.
- `/algorithms` — Public gallery of pricing algorithms.
- `/pricing` — Fee schedule and plan tiers.
- `/faq` — Frequently asked questions.
- `/news` — Product news and blog index.
- `/news/<post>` — Individual news post.
- `/learn` — Learning center index.
- `/learn/<slug>` — Individual learning-center article. Current articles:
  - `tutorial` — Getting started guide.
  - `account-and-listing-defaults` — Configuring default search and pricing settings.
  - `algorithm-editor` — Authoring custom JavaScript algorithms.
  - `api-access-and-token-management` — REST API token management.
  - `behaviors-and-repricing-frequency` — Repricing behaviors and schedule configuration.
  - `built-in-algorithms-catalog` — Reference for all built-in algorithms.
  - `competitive-price-reports` — Generating and downloading competitive price reports.
  - `errors-and-troubleshooting` — Diagnosing and resolving listing errors.
  - `import-and-export` — Bulk import and export of listing settings.
  - `linking-and-managing-ebay-accounts` — Connecting eBay accounts via OAuth.
  - `manager-access` — Setting up delegated manager access.
  - `manager-dashboard` — Using the Manager Dashboard.
  - `mcp-server-access-and-tokens` — Connecting AI clients to the MCP server, managing tokens, and using Dynamic Client Registration.
  - `price-suggest-and-recommendation` — Price suggestion and recommendation tools.
  - `pseudo-import` — One-time bulk competitor research without managed listings.
  - `reprice-history` — Reading and interpreting the repricing audit log.
  - `schedule-downtimes` — Configuring repricing pause windows.
  - `search-console-simulation` — Simulating and previewing competitor searches.
  - `search-diagnostic` — Understanding why a listing's competitor set looks the way it does, using the Search Diagnostic tool.
  - `sftp-uploads` — Uploading listing data via SFTP.
  - `shortcuts-and-power-user-workflows` — Keyboard shortcuts and advanced workflows.
- `/tos` — Terms of service.
- `/privacypolicy` — Privacy policy.

### Authentication

- `/signup` — Create an account.
- `/signin` — Sign in.
- `/signin/resetpassword` — Password reset.

### Account management (authenticated)

- `/account` — Profile and account details.
- `/account/changeemail` — Change email address.
- `/account/changepassword` — Change password.
- `/account/link_unlink` — Link and unlink eBay accounts.
- `/account/billing` — Billing overview and payment methods.
- `/account/billing/deposit_add` — Add a deposit payment method.
- `/account/billing_plan` — Current plan and upgrades.
- `/account/premiumpoints` — Premium points balance and purchase.
- `/account/manager` — Grant and revoke manager access.
- `/account/manager/dashboard` — Manager Dashboard (for manager accounts).

### Tools (authenticated)

- `/tools/price_spectre` — Main repricing tool and dashboard for managed listings.
- `/tools/set_defaults` — Default settings applied to new listings.
- `/tools/notifications` — Email and in-app notification preferences.
- `/tools/behaviors` — Reusable pricing behaviors library.
- `/tools/history` — Price change history.
- `/tools/reprice_history` — Repricing action audit log.
- `/tools/reprice_record` — Detail view for a single repricing record.
- `/tools/competitive_price_reports` — Competitive price reports (PDF, CSV, XLSX, HTML).
- `/tools/errors` — Listings with errors that need attention.
- `/tools/search_diagnostic` — Search Diagnostic: replay a managed listing's competitor search and see the filter funnel, kept competitors, and rejected items annotated with the rule that filtered each one.
- `/tools/price_suggest` — Price suggestions tool.
- `/tools/price_recommendation` — Price recommendations (human-approved workflow).
- `/tools/import` — Bulk import of listing settings.
- `/tools/import/constants` — Reference for import field values.
- `/tools/export` — Bulk export of listing settings.
- `/tools/pseudo_import` — Upload spreadsheet for one-time competitor research.
- `/tools/pseudo_import/results` — View and export pseudo-import results.
- `/tools/schedule_downtimes` — Configure repricing downtime windows.
- `/tools/algorithm_editor` — Author custom JavaScript pricing algorithms.
- `/tools/algoforge` — AlgoForge AI assistant for algorithm authoring.
- `/tools/api_access` — Generate and manage REST API tokens.
- `/tools/mcp_access` — Generate and manage MCP access tokens for AI client integrations. Supports scope selection, token rotation, revocation, and nicknames. Up to 3 tokens may be active at once.
- `/tools/shortcuts` — Keyboard shortcut reference.

## Pricing

- Every new user receives a 14-day free trial.
- The first managed listing is always free.
- Paid plans are tiered by the number of managed listings.
- Premium points are a separate, optional top-up currency that unlocks premium features (boosted repricing frequency, exempt-sellers search parameter, multi-search custom algorithms). Premium features are billed monthly in premium points.
- Current dollar amounts and tier thresholds are published on `https://www.pricespectre.com/pricing`.

## Public API

Price Spectre exposes a public REST API for external developers and automation.

- **Base URL:** `https://api.pricespectre.com/v1`
- **Authentication:** Bearer token. Tokens are generated and managed on `https://www.pricespectre.com/tools/api_access` and passed in the `Authorization: Bearer <token>` header.
- **Capabilities:**
  - Retrieve managed listings — across all sites, by eBay site, by SKU, by eBay item number, or by item-and-SKU combination. Results support pagination (`page`, `count`) and sorting (`sort`) by fields such as `price`, `binPrice`, `floorPrice`, `ceilingPrice`, `startTime`, `endTime`, `algorithm`, `title`, `sku`, and `isEnabled`.
  - Update managed listings by SKU or eBay item number. Updatable fields include pricing (`binPrice`, `floorPrice`, `ceilingPrice`, `minPrice`, `maxPrice`), repricing logic (`algorithm`, `x`, `y`, `frequency`), search parameters (`keywords`, `productCode`, `searchCategory`, `searchConditions`, `minFeedback`, `maxFeedback`, `minQty`, `maxQty`, `maxHandlingTime`, `includeSellers`, `excludeSellers`, `exemptSellers`, `hideDuplicates`, `auctionsBIN`, `domestic`, `restrictCategory`, `returnsAccepted`, `topRated`, `amazon`), and listing control (`enabled`, `manual`, `bata`, `notes`).
- **Supported sites:** numeric IDs or string codes (`US`, `GB`, `ENCA`, `DE`, `AU`, `MOTOR`).
- **Response shape:** success responses return `{ "ack": "success", ... }`; validation errors return `{ "errors": [...] }`.
- **OpenAPI description:** `https://api.pricespectre.com/openapi.yaml`

This public API is the correct entry point for third-party integrations. It is distinct from the internal endpoints used by the Price Spectre web application.

## MCP Server

Price Spectre operates a hosted MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that exposes listing, repricing, and account data to AI assistants and automation tools.

- **Public URL:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com`
- **Transport:** StreamableHTTP
- **Primary endpoint:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/v1` (alias: `/mcp`)
- **Authentication:** OAuth 2.0 (recommended) or Bearer token
- **Dynamic Client Registration (DCR):** supported — MCP-compatible clients such as Claude.AI can connect by supplying the MCP server URL and completing an OAuth authorization flow, with no manual token copying required
- **Server card:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json`
- **OAuth protected resource metadata:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource`
- **OAuth authorization server metadata:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server`
- **API catalog:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/.well-known/api-catalog`
- **Tools:** dynamic — listing search, reprice history, account info, price suggestions, competitive reports, and more
- **Documentation:** `https://www.pricespectre.com/learn/mcp-server-access-and-tokens`

Bearer tokens for manual configuration are generated and managed at `https://www.pricespectre.com/tools/mcp_access`. Tokens are scoped to specific operations and up to 3 may be active simultaneously.

## AI discoverability

- **`robots.txt`:** `https://www.pricespectre.com/robots.txt` — permits GPTBot, OAI-SearchBot, Claude-Web, and Google-Extended; declares `Content-Signal: ai-train=yes, search=yes, ai-input=yes`.
- **`llms.txt`:** `https://www.pricespectre.com/llms.txt` — this file; machine-readable site overview for language models.
- **API catalog:** `https://www.pricespectre.com/.well-known/api-catalog` — linkset describing the REST API, MCP server endpoint, OpenAPI description, and documentation URLs.
- **MCP server card:** `https://mcp.pricespectre.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json` — machine-readable MCP server metadata.
- **Sitemap:** `https://www.pricespectre.com/sitemap.xml`

## Support and legal

- HelpBot: in-app AI support assistant for support and general product questions, available to both signed-in users and guests, with escalation to the human support team.
- FAQ: `https://www.pricespectre.com/faq`
- How it works: `https://www.pricespectre.com/howitworks`
- Learning center: `https://www.pricespectre.com/learn`
- Product news: `https://www.pricespectre.com/news`
- Pricing: `https://www.pricespectre.com/pricing`
- Terms of service: `https://www.pricespectre.com/tos`
- Privacy policy: `https://www.pricespectre.com/privacypolicy`