Introduction
AutoDS may sometimes display a very high source price for one of your product listings, for example, 133 or 266, that doesn’t match the price on the supplier's website. While this might seem like an error, it’s a protective mechanism when AutoDS can’t access the price.
This article explains when and why this happens, what the placeholder means, and what you can do about it.
Benefits
Why understanding placeholder prices matters:
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Avoid listing items with incorrect pricing.
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Recognize when AutoDS cannot sync prices due to supplier issues.
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Protect your store from selling unavailable or unsupported items.
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Clean up listings that may need to be removed or replaced.
Quick Jump
What triggers the high source price
AutoDS may apply a placeholder price (like 133 or 266) to your product listing when:
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The product is out of stock at the supplier.
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The product page no longer exists, or the source URL is invalid.
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AutoDS is unable to retrieve the price during scanning.
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The shipping option is not available in the supplier’s Buy Box.
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The listing requires a minimum or maximum quantity greater than 1.
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The product is customizable, and AutoDS does not support customizations. If you want to design products, you can use our Print on Demand feature.
👉 Learn More: Print on Demand Feature -
The item is sold in bundled units or multiple pieces.
Note: The placeholder price is not the real price. It is set based on your currency settings and is an internal signal that the item cannot be monitored adequately.
How placeholder pricing protects your store
When AutoDS encounters one of the situations above, it may be unable to mark the item as “On Hold.” Instead, it applies a high placeholder price so that:
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Customers are discouraged from purchasing the item.
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If a sale occurs, you gain time to review the order before deciding to fulfill.
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You might even profit if the product can be fulfilled at a lower price.
This mechanism ensures your store remains safe from pricing inaccuracies or unsupported listings.
Recommended actions
If your product displays a placeholder price:
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Wait for the next scan
AutoDS scans listings every hour. If the supplier page becomes accessible again, the price may update automatically. -
Check the supplier page manually
Open the source URL and verify whether the product is still in stock, correctly priced, and not a bundle or customizable item. -
Update or replace the product
If the issue persists, consider editing the source URL or replacing the item entirely. -
Filter and clean up
Use filters like Price or DWS (Days Without Sale) in the Products page to find listings with placeholder prices and take bulk action.
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Contact support
If you still see the issue after several scans and manual checks, contact AutoDS Support for further help by clicking the conversation icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen and selecting Technical Support.
👉 Learn More: How to Contact an AutoDS Support Agent
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why is my product price showing as 133 or 266?
A: These are placeholder prices added when AutoDS cannot retrieve the real price from the supplier. The value depends on your store’s currency.
Q: How long will the placeholder price remain?
A: It stays until AutoDS completes a successful re-scan and retrieves accurate data. Product scans run hourly.
Q: Should I delete products with placeholder prices?
A: If the placeholder price persists across several scans and the product appears unavailable or unsupported, removing or replacing the item is best.
Q: What should I do if my product has had a placeholder price for several days?
A: Check the product on the source supplier’s website to identify any missing data (e.g., price, availability, or condition) that AutoDS may not be able to retrieve. If you cannot verify the issue or the placeholder price remains after multiple scans, please contact technical support for further assistance.