Help & Support

Searching Tips

Find the deals you're looking for quickly and efficiently.

Basic Search

Enter what you're looking for in the search box. Try searches like:

Specific items: "vintage Seiko watch," "Faberge egg," "mid-century teak chair"
Brands: "Cartier," "Tiffany," "Patek Philippe"
Categories: "antique jewelry," "signed art," "vintage coins"
Styles: "Art Deco," "Victorian," "Arts and Crafts"

Using Filters

Narrow your results with these options:

Price Range: Set minimum and maximum prices to focus on your budget
Auction Only: Show only time-limited auction listings (no Buy-It-Now)
Buy-It-Now Only: Show only fixed-price listings with immediate purchase
Great Deals Only: Filter to show only high-scoring items (75+)
Marketplaces: Select which marketplaces to search (eBay, Depop, Etsy, etc.)

Search Strategy Tips

Be specific: "Vintage Rolex Submariner" will find better matches than just "watch"
Use brand names: Include maker or brand names when relevant
Try variations: Search for both common and niche terms (e.g., "Faberge," "Russian egg," "Imperial egg")
Combine with filters: Use price ranges and marketplace filters to reduce noise
Save your searches (Pro): Set up recurring searches with daily email alerts

💡 Pro Tip: The more detail in your search, the more relevant your results. ValoraIQ's AI works best with specific item descriptions.

Understanding Your Deal Scores

Every item in your search results gets an Overall Deal Score (0–100). This score combines multiple factors to help you quickly identify good collecting opportunities.

Score Ranges at a Glance

85–100: Excellent Deal – A standout opportunity worth exploring
70–84: Strong Deal – Good value; worth considering
50–69: Decent Opportunity – Average market value; risky for collectors
Below 50: High Risk – Possibly overpriced or authenticity concerns

What Goes Into a Deal Score?

Your score is built from several components:

AI Value Assessment: How attractive the price is based on similar listings
Authenticity Signals: Hallmarks, maker marks, and credible attribution
Rarity & Collectibility: How sought-after the item type is in the market
Condition: Physical state and restoration needs
Completeness: Original box, papers, all pieces included
Seller Trust: Seller feedback and return policies
Time Urgency: Auction timing and listing availability

💡 What Scores Mean: High scores suggest good deals, but they're not a guarantee. Always do your own research, check authenticity, and read the seller's full listing before buying.

Pro Users Get More Details

Pro subscribers see detailed breakdowns of each score component, expert notes about why an item scores the way it does, and AI-generated explanations of pricing and condition assessments.

Image-Based Search (Pro Feature)

Find similar items by uploading a photo. Perfect for discovering unmarked pieces or hard-to-describe collectibles.

How to Use Image Search

Click the "Search by Image" button
Upload a clear photo of your item
ValoraIQ will search across marketplaces for similar listings
Review results and refine with price/condition filters

Best Practices

Clear photos work best: Use well-lit, close-up images with the full item visible
Show distinctive features: Photograph maker marks, signatures, or unique details
Multiple angles: If possible, include front, back, and detail photos
Plain backgrounds: Simple backgrounds help the AI focus on the item

⚠️ Note: Free users get 3 image searches per day. Pro users have unlimited image searches.

Pro Features

Upgrade to Pro to unlock the full power of ValoraIQ:

AI-Powered Analysis

Pro users get full AI scoring with detailed component breakdowns and expert notes explaining why each item scores the way it does. This helps you understand market patterns and make better collecting decisions.

Unlimited Searches

Free users are limited to 10 searches per day. Pro users can search as much as they want, perfect for serious collectors doing deep research.

Saved Searches & Daily Alerts

Save your favorite searches and receive daily email alerts when new matching items appear. Never miss a great deal again. Set up multiple saved searches for different collecting categories.

Advanced Image Search

Upload images to find similar items across marketplaces. Pro users get unlimited image searches (free users get 3/day).

Complete Score Details

See the full breakdown of every score component. Learn what factors helped or hurt each item's rating, helping you calibrate your own assessment over time.

Deal Explanations

Get AI-generated explanations of "Why this is a deal" or why pricing seems off. These insights help you understand market dynamics and spot underpriced gems.

💡 Best for Collectors: Pro is designed for serious collectors who want unlimited searches, detailed analysis, and daily deal alerts. Free users can still search and browse, but with some limits.

Exporting Results

Export your search results for offline review or record-keeping.

What Can You Export?

CSV Format: Open in Excel or Google Sheets for analysis and tracking
JSON Format: For developers or advanced data workflows
All Data Included: Prices, scores, links, marketplace info, and your notes

How to Export

Run a search to see your results
Click the "Export Results" button
Choose your format (CSV or JSON)
Your download will start automatically

Common Uses

Track price changes over time in your collecting categories
Build a database of items you're interested in
Share deals with fellow collectors or appraisers
Analyze market trends in your collecting niche

💡 Spreadsheet Tip: Once exported to CSV, you can sort by score, price, or seller to find patterns in the deals you like most.

Alerts & Saved Searches (Pro Feature)

Set up recurring searches and get notified when new items match your criteria.

How Saved Searches Work

Run a search with your preferred filters
Click "Save This Search" in the results area
Enable "Email Alerts" if you want daily notifications
Receive emails each morning with matching new listings

Setting Alert Thresholds

When you save a search, you can set a minimum deal score threshold. For example:

Get alerts only for deals scoring 80+ (excellent opportunities)
Or receive all matches to do your own analysis

Managing Alerts

Edit: Change search filters, name, or alert threshold anytime
Pause: Temporarily stop receiving alerts without deleting the search
Delete: Remove a saved search when you're no longer interested
View History: See all previous alerts from a saved search

Alert Email Details

Daily alert emails include:

Item title and image
Deal score and key factors
Price and marketplace
Direct link to the full listing

💡 Pro Tip: Set up multiple saved searches for different categories. For example: "Vintage Seiko watches," "Mid-century furniture," and "Russian hallmarked silver." You'll get targeted daily alerts for each.

ℹ️ Note: Saved searches and daily alerts are Pro-only features. Free users can save up to 2 searches but won't receive alerts.

Still Need Help?

Most common questions answered above. Review the sections above, or try our "How It Works" guide for deeper explanations of scoring and market analysis.

For account issues or billing questions, visit your dashboard or contact support. We're here to help you become a better collector!

Quick Navigation