How this works

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SORT has one form that does everything — whether you're shopping for a machine, you own one, it's broken, or you fixed it. You tell us what you're doing; we take it from there. No subscription, ever. And you don't even need a machine to join.

Start the form →

Step 1 — Pick what brings you here

🛒 I'm shoppingWe research the machine before you buy — known issues, parts availability, and a fair price.

✅ I own itWe build your machine's profile and its "bill of materials" (the exact part numbers).

⚠️ I have a problemTell us what it's doing. You get an instant answer if we've confirmed the fault — or it goes into review.

🔧 I have a fixShare how you solved it. Your fix helps the next person — and earns you credit.

💬 Just joinBe part of the community with just an email. No machine needed. Contribute anytime.

📞 Book a callWant a technician walking you through it live? Book a live call — we register the machine first, then a tech reviews your profile to prep for the call.

You can always come back later — same form, same record. Everything stays in your one profile.

How “Book a call” works: it's the one choice that starts with a machine. We register it, a technician reviews the profile to prepare, then you meet live — so the session solves the problem, not the paperwork. Booking is also the fastest way to move a profile from ⏳ first pass to ✓ tech-verified. See what the tech review produces →

📞 Book a live call →

Step 2 — Have a few things handy

None of it is mandatory, but the more you give, the sharper the answer:

The model number — on a sticker on the machine's frame (e.g. "NordicTrack 2450" or "NTL19815.8").
The serial number — same sticker. Links everything to your exact unit.
The error / LED / blink code — the single most useful thing if it's a problem. What does the light on the board do? Solid red? Green flashing? 3 blinks then a pause?
What you've already tried — including what didn't work ("a new board didn't fix it") is just as valuable.
A photo or screenshot — the board, the LED, the label, or an error screen. You can paste a screenshot right into the form (Ctrl/⌘-V) or drag it in.

Not sure where to find the sticker? It's usually on the frame near the base, or under the hood. A quick photo of the label is plenty.

Step 3 — What happens after you hit submit

You get an answer on the spot. If yours is a problem we've confirmed across several owners, we show you what we know right away — the likely cause, what to check, the parts involved, and how many owners confirm it.

If we haven't confirmed it yet, we say so. We won't guess. Your report goes into review — a real technician looks at it, and we email you if you left an address.

Own or shopping? We build your machine's profile and bill of materials and email it to you the moment it's ready. If it hasn't been tech-verified yet, it says so clearly — and if you book a live call, we prioritize a tech review (the tech reviews it to prep for your call anyway).

Curious what that email actually looks like? See exactly what arrives in your inbox →

We only ever tell you what we can stand behind. Answers come only from confirmed data — never a guess dressed up as fact.

Privacy — in plain English

Your email stays private. It's how we send your answer — never published.
Reports help other owners anonymously — your name isn't attached to what you share.
We don't publish or search a database of reports. You get your answer; nobody browses your problem.
You can unsubscribe anytime. No spam, no sales pressure.

Credit for contributing — points & badges

Every contribution earns points, and points roll up into a badge:

Join / register a machine — 5
Submit a problem — 10
Submit a fix — 25
Your report gets verified by SORT — +15

Badges: Member → Contributor 🥉 → Trusted 🥈 → Expert 🥇 → Master 🏅. For technicians, that badge is a real trust signal — earned by contributing and verifying, not just claimed.

Safety first

⚠️ Never open a machine that's plugged in. Some parts are lethal — high-voltage capacitors (microwaves), gas valves, lithium batteries. Don't attempt those without a licensed professional. Share only what you safely observed.

Quick answers

Do I need to own a machine to join?

No. "💬 Just join" needs only an email. You can be a member — and a contributor — with no machine at all.

Does it cost anything?

No. Being a member and reporting a problem or fix is free. Deeper options (keeping your whole house on file for $5/yr, or the Owner's Circle) exist, but nothing here requires paying.

No — and right now everything is free during our beta, including registering your whole household. Nothing to pay.

What's a "bill of materials"?

A plain list of your machine's parts with the exact part numbers and typical prices — so when something breaks, you know the right part the first time.

I don't know the model or serial — can I still submit?

Yes. Give us whatever you have (a photo of the label works). It just makes the answer more precise.

What if I'm not sure it's a "problem" or a "fix"?

Pick the closest one. If it's still broken, that's a problem. If you got it working, that's a fix. You can always come back.

Is my email ever shared?

No. It's used only to send you your answer or research. Reports help others anonymously.

Ready?

Start the form →