Standards we apply

  • Every factual statement about a store traces to an evidence item with a date, and a source link where a public source exists.
  • Attribution is explicit. We say whether something is the merchant's claim, our own observation or a third party's report.
  • Dates are real. The observation date is the day the check was made. The "evidence last reviewed" date moves only when the evidence is actually re-checked.
  • Uncertainty is stated. Each review lists what we could not confirm.
  • No invented material. We do not fabricate purchases, customer experiences, complaint counts, ratings, testing or staff credentials. Illustrations are labeled as illustrations and are never presented as evidence.

What our research cannot establish

  • A published policy is not proof of practice. A returns policy shows that the policy exists. It does not prove that every refund is honored.
  • We usually have not placed an order. Unless a review documents a test order, we have no first-hand knowledge of product quality, packaging or delivery times.
  • Absence of complaints is not evidence of quality. New stores often have little public record in either direction.
  • Things change. Stores change owners, suppliers and policies. Check the dates on a review and confirm the current policy on the store's own site before ordering.
  • Company records have limits. A registered business can still treat customers poorly, and a missing record can have an innocent explanation.

Sources

We prefer primary sources: the store's own published pages, official registers and regulators, and payment or carrier documentation. We link to sources so you can check them yourself. We do not treat anonymous reviews on other platforms as established fact; if we mention them, we describe them as reports.

Software-assisted research

Some drafts are prepared with software that helps collect published information and apply the scoring rubric. Software does not publish anything. A named editor reviews each draft against the evidence before publication and is responsible for the result.

An order problem is not proof of fraud

Late deliveries, wrong items and slow refunds happen at legitimate businesses. Our order-help pages use conditional language for that reason and focus on what to do next.

If you believe a review falls short of these standards, please use the corrections process.