How we choose products
Every guide on this site follows the same process. We publish it so you can judge our picks for yourself.
Two sources
Independent Etsy shops with a few hundred sales and a 4.7 rating or higher, and Amazon listings with a few hundred ratings and a 4.3 average.
Critical reviews first
We read the one- and two-star reviews before the five-star ones, and the complaints that repeat become the "what to know" list.
Dated prices
Every price on a card carries the day we checked it. We never call anything the cheapest or the best deal.
Where products come from
We draw from two places: independent shops on Etsy and the Amazon catalogue. A product has to be sold by a shop or brand with a track record. For Etsy that means a shop with at least a few hundred sales and a rating of 4.7 or higher. For Amazon it means at least a few hundred ratings and a 4.3 average, and we read the critical reviews before the positive ones.
What we compare
- Price against similar products, so "expensive" means something
- Materials and construction, from the listing and from what reviewers report after months of use
- Delivery time, because a made-to-order piece that ships in three weeks is a different purchase from one that arrives on Tuesday
- Personalisation options and how clearly the seller explains them
- Return policy
Why every product has a "what to know" list
No product is right for everyone. We list the real drawbacks, taken from reviews and listing details, so you are not surprised after it arrives. A product we cannot find an honest drawback for has not been researched enough, and does not go in.
When we update
Prices and availability shown on product cards carry the date we last checked them. Guides are reviewed when products go out of stock, when prices move significantly, or at least every few months.
What we do not do
We do not accept payment for placement. We do not let a shop or brand see a guide before publication. We do not claim to have tested something we have not used. When we have used a product ourselves, the guide says so explicitly.