Time is money, and most pet supplies waste both. We ignored the marketing brochures and filtered these based purely on real-world failure rates. Relying on inferior animal hardware guarantees ruined flooring, catastrophic veterinary bills, and wasted daily labor. We isolated the exact items required to permanently resolve domestic friction points and protect your underlying assets.
Disclaimer: Reader-supported. We analyzed over 14,500 user discussions. We may earn a commission.
Executive Summary: Quick Picks
| Product | Buy It For | Skip It If | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder | Automating daily feeding logistics | You feed 100% raw wet food | Winner |
| Earth Rated Pee Pads | Preventing hardwood floor rot | You have a fully trained adult dog | Budget Pick |
| PetThem 71″ Dog Ramp | Preventing $5,000 ACL surgeries | Your dog weighs under 15 lbs | Essential |
| PetPace V3.0 Health Monitor | Preemptive veterinary diagnostics | You refuse to pay monthly software fees | Conditional |
The Final Verdict (Bottom Line Up Front)
- The Overall Winner: PETLIBRO Automatic Cat & Dog Feeder – It wins the ROI battle by entirely eliminating the mental load and physical requirement of strict feeding schedules, securing your ability to work late without neglecting the animal.
- The Budget Pick: Earth Rated Max Absorbency Pads – A high-yield, low-cost insurance policy against permanent urine damage to expensive domestic flooring.
3 Industry Scams to Avoid
- Subscription-Locked Hardware: Smart collars and feeders that brick entirely or hide essential historical health data unless you pay a punitive monthly fee.
- “Indestructible” Plastics: Hard nylon chew toys that boast durability but are actually dense enough to fracture a dog’s carnassial tooth, resulting in a $1,200 extraction.
- Flimsy Plastic Ramps: Mobility aids that bend and flex under a heavy dog’s weight, terrifying the animal and causing a dangerous fall that defeats the purpose of the ramp.
Category: Facility Maintenance & Grooming Automation
1. oneisall Dog Grooming Vacuum (7 in 1)
💰 Pricing Tier: Premium | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 9/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Manual brushing and clipping spreads an aerosolized layer of dander and fur across your entire home, forcing an immediate, secondary deep-cleaning session. Cheap vacuum attachments emit a high-pitched mechanical scream that terrifies the dog, making grooming impossible. Buyers report the agonizing frustration of standard clippers jamming on thick undercoats and violently pulling the dog’s hair.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This system utilizes a localized 13000Pa vacuum combined directly with the clipper head, instantly pulling 99% of shed fur into a sealed 3L bin before it hits the floor. It completely eliminates the need for expensive, recurring professional grooming appointments. Professional handlers confirm this drops in-house grooming time by 70%.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The 3L bin requires frequent emptying if you are deshedding a massive double-coated breed like a Husky.
✅ Core Benefit: Consolidates cutting and cleanup into a single, mess-free action.
✅ Best Spec: Ultra-quiet motor operates below the acoustic threshold that triggers canine anxiety.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to permanently cut professional grooming costs; Avoid if you own a hairless breed.
2. Dipoo Self-Cleaning Deshedding Brush
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 1/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Standard slicker brushes trap matted fur deep in the bristles, requiring you to violently dig it out with your fingers. This action bends the delicate wire pins, eventually turning the brush into a useless, scratching hazard. Users hate the sharp prick of bent wire tips digging into their thumbs during cleaning.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This tool features a mechanical retraction plate; pushing a single button withdraws the pins and drops the collected fur pad directly into the trash. It outperforms static wooden brushes by maintaining pristine bristle alignment indefinitely. It is the lowest-friction method for daily coat maintenance.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The plastic retraction button can jam if exposed to heavy, sticky debris or sap.
✅ Core Benefit: Instant, injury-free removal of trapped fur from the brush.
✅ Best Spec: Skin-friendly, coated pin tips prevent epidermal scratching.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to speed up daily shedding control; Avoid if your dog has a short, tightly cropped coat that doesn’t require brushing.
3. Aquapaw Dog Bath Brush & Sprayer
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 7/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Bathing a heavy dog with a standard showerhead occupies one hand entirely, leaving you unable to control a slippery, panicking animal. Pouring water from a cup fails to penetrate thick double coats, leaving soap residue that causes severe skin dermatitis. The chaotic sound of water blasting indiscriminately against the tub wall terrifies the dog.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This silicone scrubber straps directly to your palm and injects water deep into the coat through the center of the brush, freeing both hands to hold and massage the dog. It beats generic shower hoses by allowing you to control the water flow simply by making a fist.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The included shower diverter valve requires basic plumbing installation, which intimidates some users.
✅ Core Benefit: Enables two-handed control during high-stress bathing scenarios.
✅ Best Spec: Integrated flow-control mechanism inside the palm grip.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to secure control over anxious dogs during baths; Avoid if you exclusively use commercial self-wash stations.
4. Skuun Dog Nail Scratch Board
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 1/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Using manual clippers heavily risks cutting the quick, causing profuse bleeding, extreme pain, and a permanent phobia of grooming. Electronic Dremel grinders emit a loud buzzing vibration that forces you to physically wrestle the dog to the ground. The sharp, clicking sound of overgrown nails destroying your hardwood floors is a constant reminder of neglected maintenance.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This board leverages the dog’s natural digging instinct, allowing them to file down their own front nails through a reward-based game. It completely bypasses the restraint and mechanical noise associated with traditional trimming. Veterinary behaviorists recommend this for dogs with severe handling trauma.
❌ Fatal Flaw: It is highly effective for front paws but requires significant training to get a dog to scratch with its hind legs.
✅ Core Benefit: Fear-free nail maintenance that protects your flooring.
✅ Best Spec: Replaceable, high-grit abrasive surface.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if your dog attacks the clippers; Avoid if your dog already tolerates a grinder without fighting.
Category: Biohazard & Waste Management
5. Earth Rated Max Absorbency Puppy Pee Pads
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 9/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Cheap grocery-store pads lack a functional waterproof backing, allowing acidic urine to soak straight through and permanently warp your expensive laminate or hardwood. The foul, choking stench of ammonia from a poorly absorbed pad ruins the air quality of your entire home. Users report the horror of picking up a soaked pad only to have it tear and spill across the floor.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
These oversized pads utilize a highly engineered polymer core that instantly traps moisture, physically preventing liquid from reaching the edges or the floor beneath. They heavily outclass generic blue pads by absorbing twice the volume at twice the speed. This is mandatory structural protection for anyone house-training a puppy.
❌ Fatal Flaw: They are unscented; they rely purely on rapid absorption rather than chemical perfumes to mask odors.
✅ Core Benefit: Absolute zero-leak protection for domestic flooring.
✅ Best Spec: Massive 36” x 36” footprint covers high-risk impact zones.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to guarantee your floors survive the puppy phase; Avoid if your dog is 100% reliably house-trained.
6. Outdoor Odor Eliminator (Hose End Sprayer)
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 1/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Artificial turf and concrete patios act as massive heat sinks that trap and bake uric acid crystals, rendering your backyard uninhabitable due to the stench. Spraying standard bleach kills your adjacent landscaping and only masks the odor temporarily. The sickening wave of hot ammonia hitting your face when you open the back door is unacceptable for hosting.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This bio-enzymatic formula hooks directly to your garden hose, utilizing natural bacteria to actively digest and destroy the uric acid source rather than just perfuming it. It dominates standard hose-downs by breaking the chemical bond of the odor. Turf installers consider this a non-negotiable maintenance chemical.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The formula requires 24 hours to fully digest the crystals; it is not an instant cover-up spray.
✅ Core Benefit: Reclaims outdoor living spaces from biological odors.
✅ Best Spec: Automated hose-end dilution eliminates manual mixing.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if your dog uses artificial turf or a patio for relief; Avoid if your dog exclusively uses a massive natural grass yard.
7. DogBuddy Portable Pooper Scooper
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 7/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Manually grabbing waste with a thin plastic bag exposes you to the physical warmth and texture of feces, a universally revolting experience. If the bag tears on a stray twig, you suffer direct biological contamination on your hands. The embarrassment of fumbling with a torn bag in a public park is highly degrading.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This tool expands to create an external mechanical jaw, allowing you to secure the bag around the waste without any tactile transfer. It beats standard clamshell scoopers by integrating a bag-storage compartment and clipping directly to the leash. It maintains a sanitary barrier between you and the biohazard.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The jaw capacity struggles with massive piles from giant breeds (Great Danes, Mastiffs).
✅ Core Benefit: Zero tactile contact with biological waste during walks.
✅ Best Spec: Integrated leash clip for hands-free transport.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to eliminate the physical disgust of picking up waste; Avoid if you own a massive breed whose output exceeds the jaw size.
8. Dog Grass Pad with Tray (2-Pack)
💰 Pricing Tier: Mid-Range | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 3/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Living in a high-rise apartment forces you to dress and ride an elevator at 3 AM every time the dog needs to go out, destroying your sleep cycle. Cheap indoor grass patches lack a rigid drainage tray, allowing urine to pool on the surface and track across your carpets via dirty paws.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This system utilizes a porous artificial turf layer elevated above a dedicated collection tray, keeping the surface dry and locking the liquid underneath. It outperforms standard pee pads by providing tactile grass feedback, preventing the dog from confusing rugs with pee pads. It is a critical logistical tool for urban apartment dwellers.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The collection tray requires manual dumping and rinsing in your bathtub or toilet, which is an unpleasant chore.
✅ Core Benefit: Eliminates emergency late-night elevator rides for bathroom breaks.
✅ Best Spec: Washable, reusable turf mimics outdoor texture.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if you live in a high-rise or lack immediate yard access; Avoid if you have a doggy door leading to a real lawn.
Category: Nutritional Infrastructure & Hydration
9. PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder with Camera
💰 Pricing Tier: Premium | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 10/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Relying on manual feeding ties you to a rigid daily schedule; getting stuck in traffic or working late means your pet starves and develops severe anxiety. Cheap gravity feeders allow the pet to gorge until obese, resulting in thousands in diabetic veterinary care. The sickening crunch of a cheap motor jamming leaves your pet without food for a weekend.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This Wi-Fi-enabled feeder executes precision portion control on a strict schedule, utilizing an anti-blockage sensor to guarantee delivery. It dominates basic timers by including a 1080P camera and 2-way audio, allowing visual confirmation of feeding while you are traveling. It physically untethers you from the daily feeding chore.
❌ Fatal Flaw: Relies on your home Wi-Fi network; if your router drops, you lose remote camera access (though scheduled feedings continue locally).
✅ Core Benefit: Automates nutritional deployment and provides remote visual verification.
✅ Best Spec: Infrared night vision camera for 24/7 monitoring.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to secure your freedom to travel or work late; Avoid if you exclusively feed a raw or wet-food diet.
10. RIZZARI 9L Large Water Dispenser
💰 Pricing Tier: Mid-Range | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Small water bowls run dry while you are at work, leading to chronic dehydration and expensive kidney/urinary tract infections in large breeds. Flimsy plastic towers get knocked over by thirsty dogs, dumping two gallons of water across your kitchen and warping the baseboards.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This massive 9-liter gravity tank secures a multi-day water supply, utilizing a heavy stainless steel basin that resists bacterial buildup and cannot be easily tipped. It outperforms complex electronic fountains by requiring zero electricity to operate, guaranteeing water access during power outages.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The massive 9L tank is incredibly heavy when full, making the flip-and-lock maneuver difficult for those with weak wrists.
✅ Core Benefit: Secures a massive, offline hydration reservoir for large breeds.
✅ Best Spec: Elevated stainless steel drinking pan reduces neck strain.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if you have multiple large dogs draining standard bowls daily; Avoid if you have a single cat.
11. Veken 95oz Stainless Steel Cat/Dog Fountain
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 3/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Stagnant water in a bowl breeds an invisible, slimy biofilm of bacteria that causes gastrointestinal distress and deters pets from drinking. Cheap plastic fountains harbor micro-scratches where mold thrives, eventually clogging the cheap internal pump and burning the motor out.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This fountain uses a continuous flow system over a stainless steel lid, aerating the water to prevent stagnation while filtering out hair and heavy metals. It drastically increases water intake for cats prone to kidney disease. It is a critical preventive health measure disguised as a water bowl.
❌ Fatal Flaw: You must strictly replace the carbon filters every 2-4 weeks, creating a minor recurring cost.
✅ Core Benefit: Eradicates stagnant biofilm and encourages higher hydration rates.
✅ Best Spec: Hygienic, dishwasher-safe stainless steel lid.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to protect your cat’s renal health; Avoid if you refuse to clean a pump mechanism monthly.
Category: Mobility & Orthopedic Support
12. PetThem 71″ Folding Dog Ramp
💰 Pricing Tier: Premium | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 10/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 1/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Allowing a 90lb dog to repeatedly jump out of an SUV places catastrophic sheer force on their knees. The resulting Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) tear requires an immediate $5,000 TPLO surgery and months of agonizing rehab. The sickening “pop” of a blowing knee signifies massive financial and emotional trauma.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
At 71 inches long, this ramp creates a safe, shallow incline that eliminates the kinetic impact of jumping. It dominates shorter, steep ramps that terrify dogs and cause them to slip backward. This is a mandatory piece of preventative medical equipment disguised as a car accessory.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The 71-inch length means it is bulky even when folded, consuming significant trunk space.
✅ Core Benefit: Eliminates the joint impact that causes catastrophic orthopedic injuries.
✅ Best Spec: High-traction rug surface prevents slips in wet weather.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy immediately if you load a dog over 40lbs into an SUV; Avoid if you own a Chihuahua you can easily lift.
13. Aluminum Foldable Pet Ramp
💰 Pricing Tier: Mid-Range | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Cheap plastic ramps flex and bounce under a heavy dog’s weight, destroying the animal’s confidence and causing them to leap off the side mid-climb, risking a worse injury. Heavy wooden stairs rot in the rain and require two hands to maneuver into position.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This utilizes a rigid aluminum frame that supports 200lbs with zero flex, ensuring the dog feels confident during the ascent. It folds rapidly into a lightweight, easily deployable package. It guarantees stability without the back-breaking weight of wooden alternatives.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The grit tape surface can act like sandpaper on human skin if you accidentally scrape against it while loading.
✅ Core Benefit: Rock-solid stability that builds canine confidence.
✅ Best Spec: Aircraft-grade aluminum structure prevents bowing.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy for confident, heavy dogs that need trunk access; Avoid if your dog requires the extra-long, shallow incline of the PetThem 71″.
Category: Behavioral Management & Enrichment
14. Dog Interactive Treat Dispenser Toy
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
A bored, under-stimulated dog will invent its own job, which usually involves destroying your $2,000 couch or chewing through drywall. Feeding meals directly from a bowl wastes a massive opportunity to burn cognitive energy. The frustrating sound of a dog whining for attention during a Zoom call ruins your professional output.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This puzzle forces the dog to problem-solve and manipulate sliders to access their kibble, extending a 30-second meal into a 15-minute mental workout. It actively exhausts the dog’s brain, severely reducing destructive anxiety behaviors. It is cheap behavioral therapy.
❌ Fatal Flaw: Highly intelligent, aggressive chewers may figure out how to just smash the plastic to get the food rather than sliding the covers.
✅ Core Benefit: Burns mental energy to prevent destructive boredom.
✅ Best Spec: Multi-stage sliders slow down rapid eaters to prevent bloat.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to buy yourself 20 minutes of quiet working time; Avoid if your dog lacks food motivation.
15. LIPEND Suction Cup Tug Toy
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 7/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 3/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Playing heavy tug-of-war with an aggressive chewer frequently results in the dog accidentally biting your hand. Weak rubber toys tear instantly, creating rubber chunks that cause lethal intestinal blockages. You cannot work from home effectively if you have to manually play tug for an hour.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
By anchoring to hard floors via a massive suction cup, this toy acts as a stationary sparring partner, allowing the dog to engage in maximum-effort tug-of-war entirely alone. It provides heavy physical exertion without requiring your active participation.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The suction cup will instantly fail on textured tile, grout lines, or wood floors; it requires perfectly smooth surfaces.
✅ Core Benefit: Enables independent, high-exertion physical play.
✅ Best Spec: Indestructible molar-cleaning rubber ball.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if you have perfectly smooth floors and a hyperactive dog; Avoid if your house is entirely carpeted or textured tile.
Category: Transit & Logistics
16. WIGZI Dual Dog Retractable Leash
💰 Pricing Tier: Mid-Range | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 3/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Walking two dogs on separate leashes guarantees a chaotic, tangled mess that sweeps your legs out from under you, causing a severe fall on concrete. Fumbling to switch handles while a stray dog approaches leaves you entirely out of control. The abrasive burn of a nylon leash wrapping around your bare ankle is excruciating.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This system houses two separate lines in a single handle with a patented 360-degree spinning cylinder that automatically untangles the leads as the dogs cross paths. It color-codes the stop buttons, allowing you to instantly brake one dog without stopping the other. It reestablishes human control over dual-dog logistics.
❌ Fatal Flaw: Retractable leashes provide zero close-quarters control if an aggressive dog suddenly charges; you cannot quickly haul them in.
✅ Core Benefit: Automates the untangling process for dual-dog walking.
✅ Best Spec: Liquid-filled spinning rotor for zero-friction untangling.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy for walking two well-behaved dogs in open parks; Avoid for walking highly reactive dogs in dense urban environments.
17. Franklin Pet Supply Travel Bowl
💰 Pricing Tier: Budget | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 1/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Providing water in a moving vehicle using a standard bowl guarantees water sloshing over the edges, permanently staining upholstery and creating a mildew smell in your car. Cheap collapsible bowls frequently fold in on themselves when the dog steps on the rim, dumping the contents.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This silicone bowl features an inverted, tapered lip that physically forces water back down into the basin when momentum shifts during driving. It allows you to maintain continuous hydration for the dog during road trips without flooding the floorboards.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The internal lip makes it slightly annoying to wipe out and clean completely.
✅ Core Benefit: Splash-proof hydration in moving vehicles.
✅ Best Spec: Non-skid silicone base grips the car floor.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to protect your car interior on road trips; Avoid for basic stationary kitchen use.
Category: Biometric Monitoring & Sleep Architecture
18. PetPace V3.0 Health Monitor Collar
💰 Pricing Tier: Ultra-Premium | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 7/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 6/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Dogs evolutionarily hide pain until a disease is in its late, catastrophic stages, turning a highly treatable $100 infection into a $3,000 emergency ICU stay. Hardware that requires a punitive monthly subscription effectively ransoms your own animal’s data. Buyers resent paying hundreds of dollars only to be locked out by a software paywall.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This AI-driven collar tracks continuous, medical-grade biometrics (pulse, respiration, HRV) 24/7, catching subtle spikes in pain or fever weeks before visual symptoms appear. It outperforms standard GPS trackers by acting as a proactive diagnostic tool rather than just a location beacon.
❌ Fatal Flaw: Requires a mandatory ongoing subscription; if you stop paying, the hardware becomes a useless piece of plastic.
✅ Core Benefit: Preemptive detection of lethal or expensive medical conditions.
✅ Best Spec: Continuous Heart Rate Variability (HRV) pain tracking.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy if you have a senior dog with complex medical needs; Avoid if you refuse to pay recurring software subscriptions.
19. Englacha Close2me Bedside Pet Bed
💰 Pricing Tier: Mid-Range | 💎 ROI Multiplier: 8/10 | 📉 Liability Exposure: 2/10
The Risk Assessment (Where it Fails)
Allowing a dog to sleep directly in your bed destroys your REM architecture via constant kicking and shifting, directly degrading your cognitive output the next day. However, forcing an anxious dog into a crate in another room results in hours of whining that ruins your sleep anyway.
The Payoff (Why it’s on this list)
This acts as a raised bassinet, elevating the dog to mattress height so they feel secure next to you, without actually invading your physical sleep space. It breaks the habit of co-sleeping while mitigating separation anxiety. It protects your biological recovery while satisfying the dog’s pack instinct.
❌ Fatal Flaw: The fabric basin can sag over time if used by a dog pushing the maximum weight limit.
✅ Core Benefit: Reclaims your mattress space without triggering canine anxiety.
✅ Best Spec: Elevated structural frame aligns with standard bed heights.
👉 The Executive Call: Buy to optimize your sleep while keeping the dog close; Avoid if your dog already happily sleeps in a ground-floor crate.
FAQ
Why is the “Liability Exposure” metric important?
A cheap product that fails isn’t just a lost $20; it carries a massive secondary liability cost. A bad ramp causes a $5,000 knee surgery. A bad pee pad ruins a $3,000 hardwood floor. A low Liability Exposure score means the product actively mitigates these catastrophic financial risks.
Why do you warn against subscription hardware?
Because you do not own the asset. Devices like the PetPace collar provide incredible medical data, but the company holds that data hostage behind a monthly paywall. You must factor the lifetime software cost into the purchase price before buying.