Our Methodology
Transparency is core to what we do. Here's exactly how we rate providers, how we collect pricing data, and how we maintain editorial independence.
How We Rate Providers
Every lead provider in our directory is independently evaluated across six weighted dimensions. We do not accept payment for higher ratings, and affiliate relationships never influence our scores.
Rating Dimensions
| Dimension | Weight | What We Evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Transparency | 20% | Are prices published on the website? Can you purchase self-service without calling sales? Is the pricing structure clear and predictable? |
| Value | 20% | Price relative to reported data quality, contact rates, and conversion performance. Are you getting what you pay for? |
| Data Quality & Compliance | 20% | TCPA consent documentation, TrustedForm or Jornaya certificates, DNC scrubbing, consent verification processes, and overall data accuracy. |
| Flexibility | 15% | No minimum orders, no long-term contracts, reasonable return/refund policies, geographic filtering, and volume scalability. |
| Platform & Delivery | 15% | Self-service portal quality, CRM integration options, API delivery, instant download, and overall user experience. |
| Reputation & Track Record | 10% | Years in business, BBB rating, industry presence, forum sentiment, and overall market trust. |
Scoring Scale
- 8-10: Excellent. Industry-leading in this dimension. Few or no concerns.
- 5-7: Good to adequate. Meets expectations but room for improvement.
- 1-4: Below average. Significant concerns or limitations in this area.
The overall score is a weighted average of all six dimensions, published as X.X out of 10.
How We Collect Pricing Data
Our Lead Price Index tracks fair market pricing across 15 verticals and multiple lead types. Here's how we gather this data:
- Published pricing audit: We review provider websites monthly to capture any publicly listed per-lead pricing.
- Quote requests: For providers that don't publish pricing, we request quotes as a prospective buyer.
- Market analysis: We analyze industry reports, forum discussions, and public data to triangulate pricing where direct data is limited.
- AI-assisted monitoring: We use automated tools to track pricing changes on provider websites between monthly reviews.
Confidence Levels
Every benchmark includes a confidence rating to help you understand data reliability:
- High: Multiple transparent data points from published pricing. High reliability.
- Medium: Some direct data supplemented with market inference. Reasonable reliability.
- Low: Limited data available. Treat these ranges as directional estimates, not precise benchmarks.
Our Pricing Model
Where we have limited direct pricing data for specific age brackets, we use a mathematical model to estimate fair market values. The model is based on an empirically observed pattern: lead value follows an exponential decay curve over time, and the rate of decay correlates with the average deal value in each vertical.
The core formula is: aged_price = real_time_price × e-λt × exclusivity_multiplier
Where λ (lambda) is a decay rate constant calibrated per vertical from our observed data, t is the lead age in days, and the exclusivity multiplier ranges from 1.0x (shared) to 2.2x (exclusive) — a ratio that holds remarkably consistent across all verticals.
Key findings from our analysis across 10+ verticals:
- Aged (31-85 day) leads cost 88-98% less than real-time leads
- High-value verticals (legal, mortgage) have slower decay — even stale leads are worth pursuing
- Low-ticket verticals (auto insurance) have the fastest decay
- The exclusive premium is 2.0-2.5x across all verticals
Model-estimated prices are labeled "est." in our pricing tables and marked as "modeled" confidence. As we gather more direct data, modeled estimates are replaced with observed benchmarks.
Update Frequency
We review and update provider profiles and pricing benchmarks on a monthly cycle. Every provider profile shows a "Last Verified" date so you can see exactly how fresh the data is. Profiles not verified within 60 days are flagged as potentially outdated.
Editorial Independence
Some providers in our directory are affiliate partners — we may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. This is disclosed on every provider page. Affiliate relationships never influence our ratings:
- Providers cannot pay for higher scores.
- We review and rate providers regardless of whether they have an affiliate relationship with us.
- Every provider profile includes "Not Ideal For" — we publish honest limitations, even for our affiliate partners.
- Our rating methodology and scoring criteria are published here for full transparency.
Who We Are
Aged Lead Sales is run by Bill Rice, who brings 30+ years of experience in mortgage lending and sales operations. We're not an anonymous content farm — our reviews are backed by real industry expertise and a commitment to helping lead buyers make informed decisions.
Contact Us
Have questions about our methodology? Think a provider profile needs updating? Reach out at bill@agedleadsales.com.