How we review
Where every fact comes from, what the Wary Check measures, and what "Checked" means.
Every Search Wary review follows the same process and the same structure, so you can compare one brand with another and see where each fact came from.
1. We start from the brand's own pages
Prices, bundles, sales, product specs and policies come from the brand's own website: product and collection pages, the sale page, and the shipping, returns, warranty, FAQ and contact pages. We record the date we read them. That date appears on the review as "Checked", and each source is listed at the bottom of the review.
We may also cite published third-party reviews or reporting. When we do, we name the publication and link to it. Third-party sources are never our source for a price or a policy.
2. We attribute product claims
When a brand says its tumbler keeps drinks cold for 12 hours or its pans are oven safe to 500°F, we write "the brand says". We don't present a manufacturer's claim as our own finding, and we don't describe hands-on testing we haven't done. If a review is ever based on our own use of a product, it will say so plainly and show our own photos.
3. We run the Wary Check
The Wary Check is a fixed list of six questions about how safe a purchase is. Each is answered Yes, No or Not stated, only from what the brand publishes, with the evidence and a link to the source page.
| Check | What passes |
|---|---|
| Clear pricing | Prices visible before checkout, no hidden subscription |
| 30+ day returns | A return window of at least 30 days |
| Warranty or guarantee | A published warranty or satisfaction guarantee |
| Free shipping or clear threshold | Free shipping, or a stated minimum for it |
| Reachable support | A published email, phone number or chat |
| No forced auto-renew | Any subscription is opt-in and cancellable |
The result is shown as a count, such as "5 of 6 checks passed". We never turn it into stars or a score out of ten, and it says nothing about product quality. A brand with excellent pans and a 14-day return window still fails the returns check, and we'll say so.
4. We list only real offers
The Offer Box in each review lists the offers we could see on the brand's site on the checked date: sitewide sales, bundle pricing, free-shipping thresholds, sign-up discounts, and student or military programs. We show a coupon code only when the brand publishes it. When a brand states an end date we show it, and once that date passes the offer is marked as expired. "You save" figures are measured against the brand's own list or "compare at" price, and we say so.
5. We write the verdict last
The short answer at the top of each review is written after the research is done. It says who the product suits, who should skip it, what it costs and the best current offer, so you can stop reading after the first screen if that's all you need.
What "Checked" means
"Checked Oct 27" means we confirmed the prices, offers and policies on the brand's site on that date. Prices and promotions change often, sometimes daily, so the brand's own checkout always has the final word. We aim to recheck each brand at least once a month and around major sales. Every change is recorded in the update log at the end of the review.
Corrections
If something in a review is wrong or out of date, email hello@searchwary.com. We check every report, fix confirmed errors, and note the change in the update log with the date.