How the Regret Score Is Calculated
A transparent breakdown of the formula behind every Pregret score — time-weighted satisfaction, no black boxes.
This formula is applied identically to every product on Pregret, whether it was purchased in the United States or Canada. We think product scores should be transparent. Here's exactly how a Regret Score is calculated.
The inputs
Every owner who tracks a product on Pregret answers a satisfaction question at three checkpoints:
- - Day 30 — rate 1 to 5
- - Day 60 — rate 1 to 5
- - Day 90 — rate 1 to 5
They also answer: Would you buy this again? (yes/no)
The weights
Not all checkpoints are equal. Day 90 matters most because it's the truest signal:
| Checkpoint | Weight |
|---|---|
| Day 30 | 1× |
| Day 60 | 2× |
| Day 90 | 3× |
A product that scores 5/5 at Day 30 but 1/5 at Day 90 will have a high Regret Score. A product that scores 3/5 at Day 30 but 4/5 at Day 90 will have a low one. The formula rewards products that get better with time and penalizes products that disappoint after the return window closes.
The formula
The Regret Score (0–100) is the weighted percentage of low ratings (1 or 2 out of 5) across all checkpoints:
1. Count low ratings at each checkpoint, multiply by the weight 2. Count total ratings at each checkpoint, multiply by the weight 3. Divide weighted low ratings by weighted total ratings 4. Multiply by 100
A score of 0 means nobody rated it below 3 at any checkpoint. A score of 100 means everyone gave it a 1 or 2 at every checkpoint.
AI estimates
When a product is new to Pregret and doesn't have enough real owner data, we generate an AI estimate based on patterns in public reviews. These are clearly labeled with an "AI estimated" badge. As real owners check in, the AI estimate gets replaced with real data.
Why not just use star ratings?
Star ratings are broken for three reasons:
- Timing bias — most reviews are written on Day 1
- Selection bias — people with extreme opinions review more
- Incentive bias — sellers offer discounts for positive reviews
Pregret's structured, time-gated approach eliminates all three. You can't leave a Day 90 review on Day 1. You can't skip ahead. And nobody is offering you a coupon to inflate your check-in score.