Hey there,
If you’ve ever looked at the O-Score API response and wondered what the difference is between a **CANDIDATE** verdict and a **MARGINAL** verdict, you’re not alone. The score itself is a number from 0 to 100, but the verdict tells you how to act on that number. Let’s walk through what each label really means in everyday decision-making, using only the facts we know about the API.
The O-Score API returns a single score between 0 and 100. That number is built from five components: margin, eu_delivery, eu_warehouse, price_point and risk. Each component contributes a weighted slice to the final total. The API also checks for five risk flags: seasonal, fragile, ce_risk, saturated and child_safety. Depending on the final score, the API returns one of four verdicts:
- **STRONG CANDIDATE** for scores 75 or higher
- **CANDIDATE** for scores 60 to 74
- **MARGINAL** for scores 45 to 59
- **AVOID** for scores below 45
The two middle bands,CANDIDATE and MARGINAL,are where most products land. They look similar because the numeric range overlaps, but the verdict tells you something different about the risk-reward balance.
**What CANDIDATE means**
A score between 60 and 74 lands you in the CANDIDATE bucket. At this level the positive drivers,usually a healthy margin, decent EU delivery times, a local EU warehouse or a competitive price point,are strong enough to outweigh most of the risk flags. You might see one or two risk flags, such as a seasonal product or a modest ce_risk flag, but they aren’t heavy enough to push the score below 60. In practice, a CANDIDATE product is worth a closer look. You might order a small test batch, run a quick market test, or ask a supplier for a sample. The upside,good margin, reliable delivery,makes the effort worthwhile, while the remaining risks are manageable enough to mitigate with a modest trial.
**What MARGINAL means**
A score between 45 and 59 lands you in the MARGINAL bucket. Here the positive factors are weaker. Perhaps the margin is thin, the EU delivery time is longer, or the product lacks a local EU warehouse. At the same time, one or more risk flags are present,maybe the item is seasonal, fragile, or falls under a regulated category like child safety. The combined effect pulls the score down into the middle band. A MARGINAL verdict tells you that the upside is limited and the downside is noticeable. If you move forward, you’d want to do more due diligence: negotiate better terms, look for alternative suppliers, or consider a smaller pilot order to see if the risks can be mitigated. In many cases, the safer path is to look for alternatives unless you have a specific reason to pursue this product.
**Why the distinction matters**
The difference between CANDIDATE and MARGINAL isn’t just a few points on a scale; it signals a shift in the risk-reward equation. With a CANDIDATE, the potential profit usually justifies a modest test. With a MARGINAL, the same test might expose you to unnecessary cost or compliance headaches. Knowing which bucket you’re in helps you decide whether to spend time negotiating, to ask for samples, or to walk away and look for a better option.
**What to do next**
If you’re seeing a lot of MARGINAL results, it might be worth tightening your sourcing criteria,perhaps focusing on suppliers with EU warehouses or products with lower seasonal variance. If you’re seeing many CANDIDATE results, you can start running small test orders to validate demand before scaling up.
And if you want to start seeing these scores yourself, the O-Score API offers a free tier that gives you 25 scores per month. That’s enough to run a few experiments, see how your current suppliers score, and decide where to focus your sourcing efforts. You can sign up for the free tier right now and begin turning scores into concrete decisions.
Take the next step, grab your free quota, and let the scores guide your next sourcing move.
Talk soon,
[Your Name]