A LitBuy Spreadsheet Guide earns the name only if it helps you say no. The LitBuy Spreadsheet is a curated list of finds, and lists are generous by design, because every row looks sensible at one in the morning. What most buyers actually need is not more options but a repeatable way to cut the list down. This guide gives you one: five criteria scored out of ten, plus a worked comparison of three near identical items so you can watch the arithmetic change the answer.
Two Questions Before You Score Anything
Answer two things first. Does the item replace something you already wear twice a week, or is it a fourth version of what you own? And if the price doubled tomorrow, would you still want it? Two yeses put a find in play. Any no usually means you are shopping for the feeling of a haul rather than a gap in a wardrobe.
The Five Point Scoring Checklist
Score each line from zero to two. Ten is the ceiling, and seven or above is a buy.
- Fit data. Two points for a measured chest or insole in centimetres, one for a size run only, zero for true to size with no numbers.
- Material, named. Two points for a fabric plus a weight, such as 400gsm fleece. One for premium cotton. Zero for high quality fabric.
- Photo variety. Two points for inside, sole or cuff shots, because detail photos hide less than hero shots.
- Seller history. Two points for fifty or more completed orders and a rating above 4.7.
- Repeat potential. Two points if you would wear it weekly for a year, one for a single season, zero for a costume.
Worked Example: Three Grey Sweatshirts
Three rows under hoodies and sweaters look identical: same grey, same price band, all described as heavy cotton. Scored on the same five lines they separate fast.
| Item | Fit | Material | Photos | Seller | Repeat | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| C | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
B and C tie, but the fix differs. B needs one message to the agent asking for a chest measurement and a fabric weight. C is already well documented; what it lacks is staying power, so it only makes sense at a discount. Buy A, or spend five minutes turning B into an eight.
When a Low Score Is Still a Yes
There are two exceptions. If an item costs under about twenty dollars and you have ordered from that shop before, the checklist is overkill, because the downside is small and the feedback arrives fast. If the find is the only listing for something you genuinely need, a specific jersey away kit for example, take the six and treat the first order as a paid sample. What you should never do is average three fives into probably fine.
FAQ
Does a higher score mean a higher price?
No. In the example above the top scorer sat in the middle of the price range. Measurements and detail photography track seller confidence far more closely than price does.
How often should I rescore a saved find?
Every four to six weeks. Fabric batches change, and a shop with forty orders in March can have four hundred by June. A stale score is worse than no score because it feels like research.
Can I score accessories the same way?
Mostly. Swap the fit line for hardware: check that zips, buckles and clasps are named and photographed at the stress points.
Keep the checklist where you will actually see it. Save the main sheet to your home screen and open it from the LitBuy home page whenever a find catches your eye. For the same method applied to cheaper rows, read the finds notes. If you want somewhere to log scores over time, the personal sheet build covers the columns, and the link hub fixes a row that will not open. The list updates weekly at LitBuy.