fix(ui): explain a 0 Buzz threshold in the price alerts panel

The default threshold is 0 ("only tell me when a version becomes free") and the
settings copy says so, but the panel did not: a real instance with 52 priced paid
versions and an untouched threshold showed "Nothing is under your price threshold
right now" with only a small "Alert threshold: 0 Buzz" in the corner, which reads
as a broken feature.

- the payload now carries pricedCount, so the empty state can say how many paid
  versions already have a known price
- when the threshold is 0 and prices are known, the empty state says so and
  points at Settings - Library instead of implying there is nothing to show
- the read-time threshold comparison means setting one takes effect immediately;
  measured on a copy of that instance: 0 Buzz -> 0 alerts, 100 -> 44,
  500 -> 48, 5000 -> 51

docs/plans/paid-model-price-tracking.md

@@ -671,3 +671,15 @@ a price-only pass cannot silently extend the metadata TTL. Two related semantics
 Verified by copying a real instance's update DB into a sandbox and running a non-forced check:
 `bulk metadata fetches: 0` (version lists came entirely from cache) while priced versions went
 **1 → 20** and the panel listed 19 alerts.
+
+### 11.12 The empty state has to explain a 0 Buzz threshold
+
+The default threshold is 0 ("only tell me when a version becomes free"), and the settings copy says
+so. The panel did not: a real instance with **52 priced paid versions** and an untouched threshold
+showed "Nothing is under your price threshold right now" plus a small "Alert threshold: 0 Buzz" in
+the corner, which reads as "the feature is broken".
+
+The empty state is now threshold-aware, using a new `pricedCount` in the payload: when the threshold
+is 0 and prices are known, it says how many paid versions have a price and where to set a threshold.
+The read-time threshold comparison means changing it takes effect immediately — no re-check needed
+(measured on a copy of that instance's DB: 0 Buzz -> 0 alerts, 100 -> 44, 500 -> 48, 5000 -> 51).

locales/de.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/en.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
       "droppedAgo": "dropped {when}",
       "openCivitai": "Open on CivitAI",
       "openLocal": "Open",
-      "unavailable": "{count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+      "unavailable": "{count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+      "emptyZeroThreshold": "{count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
     }
   },
   "support": {

locales/es.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/fr.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/he.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/ja.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/ko.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/ru.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/zh-CN.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

locales/zh-TW.json

@@ -2411,7 +2411,8 @@
             "droppedAgo": "[TODO: Translate] dropped {when}",
             "openCivitai": "[TODO: Translate] Open on CivitAI",
             "openLocal": "[TODO: Translate] Open",
-            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)"
+            "unavailable": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have no readable price (mature models can only be read in a browser)",
+            "emptyZeroThreshold": "[TODO: Translate] {count} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops."
         }
     },
     "support": {

py/routes/handlers/misc_handlers.py

@@ -4385,6 +4385,7 @@ class PriceAlertsHandler:
             )
             newest_checked_at = update_service.newest_price_checked_at()
             unavailable_count = update_service.count_unavailable_prices()
+            priced_count = update_service.count_priced_versions()
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.error("Failed to load price alerts: %s", exc, exc_info=True)
             return web.json_response(
@@ -4410,6 +4411,9 @@ class PriceAlertsHandler:
                 # Gated versions whose price could not be read (mature models
                 # are served only by the challenged civitai.red host).
                 "unavailableCount": unavailable_count,
+                # Lets the empty state explain a 0 Buzz threshold instead of
+                # claiming there is simply nothing to show.
+                "pricedCount": priced_count,
                 "alerts": alerts,
             }
         )

py/services/model_update_service.py

@@ -1362,6 +1362,36 @@ class ModelUpdateService:
             return None
         return float(row["newest"])
 
+    def count_priced_versions(self, model_type: Optional[str] = None) -> int:
+        """Versions with a known price, for the panel's empty state.
+
+        Without it, a user whose threshold is 0 sees "nothing is under your price
+        threshold" while dozens of paid versions already have a price.
+        """
+
+        params: List[Any] = []
+        type_filter = ""
+        if model_type:
+            type_filter = "AND s.model_type = ?"
+            params.append(model_type)
+
+        with self._connect() as conn:
+            row = conn.execute(
+                f"""
+                SELECT COUNT(*) AS priced
+                FROM model_update_versions v
+                JOIN model_update_status s ON s.model_id = v.model_id
+                WHERE v.should_ignore = 0
+                  AND s.should_ignore_model = 0
+                  {type_filter}
+                  AND v.price_buzz IS NOT NULL
+                """,
+                tuple(params),
+            ).fetchone()
+        if row is None:
+            return 0
+        return int(row["priced"])
+
     def count_unavailable_prices(self, model_type: Optional[str] = None) -> int:
         """Gated versions whose price we tried to read and could not.
 

static/js/managers/UpdateService.js

@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ async function fetchPriceAlerts(limit = 200) {
         enabled: payload.enabled === true,
         thresholdBuzz: payload.thresholdBuzz ?? 0,
         newestCheckedAt: payload.newestCheckedAt ?? null,
-        unavailableCount: payload.unavailableCount ?? 0
+        unavailableCount: payload.unavailableCount ?? 0,
+        pricedCount: payload.pricedCount ?? 0
     };
 }
 
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ export class UpdateService {
         this.priceAlertsThreshold = 0;
         this.priceAlertsNewestCheckedAt = null;
         this.priceAlertsUnavailableCount = 0;
+        this.priceAlertsPricedCount = 0;
         this.priceAlertsLoading = false;
         this.priceAlertSegment = 'below_threshold';
         this.unreadPriceAlertCount = 0;
@@ -407,6 +409,7 @@ export class UpdateService {
             this.priceAlertsThreshold = payload.thresholdBuzz;
             this.priceAlertsNewestCheckedAt = payload.newestCheckedAt;
             this.priceAlertsUnavailableCount = payload.unavailableCount || 0;
+            this.priceAlertsPricedCount = payload.pricedCount || 0;
             this.refreshUnreadPriceAlertCount();
             this.renderPriceAlerts();
             return this.priceAlerts;
@@ -512,17 +515,7 @@ export class UpdateService {
 
         list.innerHTML = '';
         if (!alerts.length) {
-            empty.textContent = this.priceAlertSegment === 'became_free'
+            empty.textContent = this.buildPriceAlertsEmptyText();
-                ? translate(
-                      'update.priceAlerts.emptyFree',
-                      {},
-                      'No version has become free yet.'
-                  )
-                : translate(
-                      'update.priceAlerts.empty',
-                      {},
-                      'Nothing is under your price threshold right now.'
-                  );
             empty.classList.remove('hidden');
             return;
         }
@@ -533,6 +526,33 @@ export class UpdateService {
         });
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The empty state has to explain a 0 Buzz threshold: "nothing is under your
+     * threshold" is technically true but useless when dozens of paid versions
+     * already have a known price.
+     */
+    buildPriceAlertsEmptyText() {
+        if (this.priceAlertSegment === 'became_free') {
+            return translate(
+                'update.priceAlerts.emptyFree',
+                {},
+                'No version has become free yet.'
+            );
+        }
+        if (!this.priceAlertsThreshold && this.priceAlertsPricedCount > 0) {
+            return translate(
+                'update.priceAlerts.emptyZeroThreshold',
+                { count: this.priceAlertsPricedCount },
+                `${this.priceAlertsPricedCount} paid version(s) have a known price, but your threshold is 0 Buzz so only free versions are listed. Set a threshold in Settings - Library to catch price drops.`
+            );
+        }
+        return translate(
+            'update.priceAlerts.empty',
+            {},
+            'Nothing is under your price threshold right now.'
+        );
+    }
+
     buildPriceAlertItem(alert) {
         const item = document.createElement('li');
         item.className = 'price-alert-item';

tests/frontend/managers/updateServicePriceAlerts.test.js

@@ -218,6 +218,36 @@ describe('UpdateService price alerts panel', () => {
         expect(note.textContent).toContain('3 paid version(s) have no readable price');
     });
 
+    it('explains a 0 Buzz threshold instead of claiming there is nothing', async () => {
+        // The exact confusion a real user hit: 52 priced versions, threshold 0,
+        // and an empty panel saying "nothing is under your threshold".
+        global.fetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
+            createFetchResponse(
+                alertPayload([], { thresholdBuzz: 0, pricedCount: 52 })
+            )
+        );
+
+        await service.loadPriceAlerts({ force: true });
+
+        const empty = document.getElementById('priceAlertsEmpty');
+        expect(empty.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(false);
+        expect(empty.textContent).toContain('52 paid version(s) have a known price');
+        expect(empty.textContent).toContain('threshold is 0 Buzz');
+    });
+
+    it('keeps the plain empty message when a real threshold is set', async () => {
+        global.fetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
+            createFetchResponse(
+                alertPayload([], { thresholdBuzz: 500, pricedCount: 52 })
+            )
+        );
+
+        await service.loadPriceAlerts({ force: true });
+
+        const empty = document.getElementById('priceAlertsEmpty');
+        expect(empty.textContent).toBe('Nothing is under your price threshold right now.');
+    });
+
     it('keeps the last known list when the request fails', async () => {
         global.fetch = vi
             .fn()

tests/routes/test_misc_routes.py

@@ -2950,10 +2950,11 @@ def _price_alerts_adapter(update_service, scanners=None):
 
 
 class _FakeUpdateService:
-    def __init__(self, alerts, *, unavailable_count=0):
+    def __init__(self, alerts, *, unavailable_count=0, priced_count=0):
         self.alerts = alerts
         self.calls = []
         self.unavailable_count = unavailable_count
+        self.priced_count = priced_count
 
     async def get_price_alerts(self, model_type=None, *, threshold_buzz=None, limit=200):
         self.calls.append((model_type, threshold_buzz, limit))
@@ -2965,6 +2966,9 @@ class _FakeUpdateService:
     def count_unavailable_prices(self, model_type=None):
         return self.unavailable_count
 
+    def count_priced_versions(self, model_type=None):
+        return self.priced_count
+
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_price_alerts_handler_returns_the_global_list():
@@ -3002,6 +3006,7 @@ async def test_price_alerts_handler_returns_the_global_list():
     assert payload["thresholdBuzz"] == 300
     assert payload["newestCheckedAt"] == 1791039694.5
     assert payload["unavailableCount"] == 0
+    assert payload["pricedCount"] == 0
     assert payload["alerts"][0]["civitaiUrl"] == (
         "https://civitai.com/models/2981320?modelVersionId=3379626"
     )

tests/services/test_model_update_service.py

@@ -2023,6 +2023,20 @@ async def test_failed_price_attempt_is_not_retried_within_the_ttl(tmp_path):
     assert service.count_unavailable_prices("lora") == 1
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_priced_count_reports_known_prices(tmp_path):
+    service = _price_service(tmp_path, price_tracking_enabled=True)
+    scanner = DummyScanner(LOCAL_RAW_DATA)
+    provider = PriceProvider(GATED_RESPONSE, prices=PRICE_PAYLOAD)
+
+    assert service.count_priced_versions("lora") == 0
+
+    await service.refresh_for_model_type("lora", scanner, provider)
+
+    assert service.count_priced_versions("lora") == 1
+    assert service.count_priced_versions("checkpoint") == 0
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_forced_refresh_reprices_within_the_ttl(tmp_path):
     service = _long_ttl_service(tmp_path, price_tracking_enabled=True)