Review methodology

The six checkpoints

Every order that becomes a scored review passes the same six checkpoints. We record the minute, not the day, for the first four.

• Checkpoint 1 - Order placement. We pay with our own money, note the platform, the payment method, the exchange rate applied and every line item of the fee breakdown.
• Checkpoint 2 - First agent reply. Time from payment to the first human response, plus whether the reply answered the question asked.
• Checkpoint 3 - QC photo upload. Time to photos, count of photos, lighting quality and whether the requested angles (sole, heel, label, stitching, hardware) were delivered.
• Checkpoint 4 - Consolidation. Declared parcel weight against the reading on our calibrated 30 kg scale. Any gap above 5% triggers a re-weigh, a photo ticket and a written query to the agent.
• Checkpoint 5 - Dispatch and transit. Time from consolidation request to tracking number, then lane transit averaged over our last 12 weeks of that route.
• Checkpoint 6 - Doorstep condition. Box crush level, tape integrity, moisture, inner packing and whether the item matches the QC photos.

Weighting

Agent responsiveness 20%, fee transparency 20%, QC accuracy 20%, shipping speed 15%, packaging integrity 15%, item as described 10%. Components are published individually; the composite is a weighted calculation, not a round-up.

Hands-on product testing

Unboxing is filmed and photographed at fixed angles before and after opening. Stitch density is checked with a 10x loupe, heel height and insole length with digital calipers, and colour against a daylight-balanced light box compared with the listing photos. Wear tests run 14 days of daily use, with notes at day 1, day 7 and day 14 covering stretching, colour transfer, sole abrasion and hardware loosening. Fit is compared to the listed size chart and to a measured insole, not to a brand label.

Comparison tables

Fee and lane tables identify the receipt or rate card, collection date and parcel conditions behind each figure. Keep superseded versions in the archive; a number without a traceable source should not be published.

Comparison scope

Separate purchasing fees, domestic delivery, storage, consolidation and international shipping before comparing totals. Record the currency, exchange rate, destination, quoted weight and final billed weight. Retain the package dimensions used for dimensional billing. Separate warehouse processing from carrier transit. A quote is not a final invoice; compare equivalent parcels rather than unrelated routes.

The review identifies the sample, dates, conditions and any steps omitted. A hands-on claim requires documented inspection or use; desk research is labelled. Scoring uses the complete 1-to-5 scale with the criteria and evidence explained, including unfavorable findings and missing information.