Some reviews on Review the Store carry an editorial score from 0 to 100. This page explains what that number is, how it is set and what it does not mean.
What the score is
The score is our editors' summary of the evidence recorded in a review. It is an opinion. It is not a customer rating, it is not an average of anything, and it is not a probability: a score of 90 does not mean a 90% chance that an order will go well.
The scale
| Score | Label | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Strong evidence | The checks we could run were consistently reassuring and the store is transparent about who runs it, how it ships and how returns work. |
| 60–79 | Mostly reassuring | Most checks were reassuring, with some gaps or unanswered questions that are described in the review. |
| 40–59 | Mixed or incomplete | Evidence points both ways, or too much could not be confirmed to reach a firmer view. |
| 20–39 | Significant concerns | Several checks raised concerns. Read the evidence carefully before ordering. |
| 0–19 | Serious warning signs | The evidence we collected includes serious warning signs. |
The bands are judgments, not measurements. Two stores a few points apart should be read as similar.
Editor-set scores
For most reviews an authorized editor sets the verdict and score directly and writes an explanation, which appears under "Why this score" in the review. The editor, the date and the explanation are recorded in the revision history, and every later change is logged with a reason.
Research-assisted scores
Some drafts are scored against the rubric below. Points are awarded per criterion from the recorded evidence, with a written reason for each, and the total becomes the proposed score. The review shows the full breakdown. A named editor must review the draft before it is published.
| Criterion | Maximum | What is considered |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and transparency | 20 | Named operator, physical address, company details that can be cross-checked. |
| Policy clarity | 20 | Delivery, returns and refund terms are published, specific and consistent with each other. |
| Contact and responsiveness | 15 | Working contact methods; whether a test enquiry was answered. |
| Checkout and payment | 15 | HTTPS throughout, recognised payment methods with buyer protection, clear total before payment. |
| Independent reputation | 20 | What independent, citable sources report. Absence of information is not a positive. |
| Site consistency | 10 | Product pages, prices and claims are consistent and free of contradictory or copied statements. |
Limits of the score
- It reflects evidence at the dates shown. Stores change.
- Missing information lowers confidence. A new store with little public record may score in the middle without having done anything wrong.
- Unless a review documents a test order, the score says nothing first-hand about product quality or delivery speed.
- Published scores do not change automatically. Only an editor can change one, and the change is logged.
Customer reviews are separate
We do not currently publish customer reviews. If we add them, customer ratings will be displayed separately and will never be mixed into the editorial score.
Stores related to the publisher
Where the publisher has a relationship with a store, the review carries a disclosure above the verdict and is not described as independent. See ownership and funding.