How rubyshopper works
Four steps, and only the first one is work: tell Ruby what you're buying, choose how deep to dig, read the brief, then look at real listings.
1. Describe what you're buying
Detail is what separates a useful brief from a generic one. "Snowboard boots for a beginner, size 10, under $200" gets you something you can act on; "boots" doesn't. Mention the use case, your experience level, and anything that constrains the choice — wide feet, a small apartment, checked-luggage limits.
Setting a budget keeps every recommendation honest. Ruby works within it rather than talking you upward, and will tell you plainly when a budget can't buy a good version of the thing.
2. Choose a research depth
Three modes, priced in credits, because deeper research costs real compute:
- Instant (2 credits) — a straight answer to a quick question. Good for "is this a fair price?" or "which of these two?"
- Regular (5 credits) — a researched buying brief. The right choice for most purchases.
- Hardcore (25 credits) — a full sweep of the market for a purchase big enough to deserve one.
3. Read the brief
A brief tells you what actually matters in the category, what a fair price is right now, which specific products fit your case, and what to avoid. It's written to be read once and acted on — not a listicle, and not a wall of hedged options.
4. Compare real listings
When you're ready to buy, ask for listings (10 credits a batch). Ruby pulls current ones and assesses each: worth it, overpriced, or wrong for your case. You can also request a brand guide (5 credits) to understand the landscape of who makes what before committing to any one product.
Whole setups: the kit builder
Some purchases aren't one item. A snowboard setup, a home-office desk, a first espresso bar — these are five decisions that have to work together inside one budget. The kit builder plans the pieces, researches each one, and keeps the total honest against the budget you set.
Sizing and fit
Fill in your sizing profile once — sex, height, weight, shirt and shoe size — and Ruby uses it silently on every future recommendation, so boards, bikes, boots and clothing are fitted to you instead of to an average person. Every field is optional.
Credits and cost
Every account starts with free credits, and the beta survey inside the app earns you more. Nothing is charged to a card during the beta — see the FAQ for what happens after it. Failed runs are refunded automatically.