What the ValueLens™ Figure Means
The ValueLens figure is a standardized representation of applicable non-price components associated with a purchasing option, expressed as a dollar-denominated figure.
It is calculated using predefined, mathematically based rules applied to the option’s current value components known at the time of evaluation, which update as the underlying input values change.
The figure is generated mechanically and reflects a context-agnostic representation of value. Value components associated with user-specific inputs or entitlements can be reflected when those inputs are supplied by the presenting platform.
What Goes Into the ValueLens™ Figure
The ValueLens figure reflects quantifiable value components associated with an option, based on inputs that are measurable and known at the time an option is evaluated, such as:
- Direct financial adjustments (cashback, rebates, credits, etc.)
- Cost-related components (shipping charges, warranties, bundled services, etc.)
- Included benefits or entitlements that carry measurable value
- Loyalty points or rewards associated with the option
- Other objectively quantifiable components that can be resolved at the time of evaluation
Component unit values are derived from verifiable, externally defined, and/or issuer-provided sources and updated to reflect current reference values.
What ValueLens™ Does Not Do
- Provide advice or recommendations
- Determine which option should be selected
- Rank or order options
The size of the figure does not, by itself, imply that one option should be selected over another. A larger ValueLens figure simply reflects a greater quantity of quantifiable value components under the declared ruleset. Any comparison, sorting, or selection happens outside of ValueLens.
In short
ValueLens makes certain value components visible in a consistent way. How that information is used for evaluating an option is up to the person or system viewing it.