True Price Index
Direct booking prices vs. marketplace prices for the same operator. Where we can match an operator across both sources, we compare prices to quantify the marketplace premium.
Data populating
The True Price Index requires matching operators across direct websites and marketplace listings. This matching is ongoing. Check back soon, or contact us to request priority matching for a specific town.
What this measures
Many dog boarding operators list on one or more booking marketplaces in addition to their own website. Marketplaces typically charge operators a commission, which may or may not be passed on to customers as a price premium.
For each matched operator, we record the minimum advertised price on their direct website and the minimum advertised price on each marketplace where they list. The True Price Index shows the difference as a percentage premium over the direct price.
Methodology
Operators are matched by business name and postcode. Prices are recorded at the same point in time to avoid seasonal variation. We use the standard overnight rate for a single medium-sized dog. Marketplace prices include any mandatory booking fees shown at the listing level.
Limitations
- Matching is manual for edge cases — name variations can cause mismatches.
- Not all operators list on marketplaces; this dataset covers only those that do.
- Marketplace prices may include or exclude service fees shown at checkout — we record only fees shown on the listing page.
- We do not capture promotional or member pricing.
Download
CSV download available once the matched operator dataset reaches 100 entries. Contact us for early access.