Tier5Shop operates as an independent editorial publication. Here are the rules our team works by.
Independence
Our reviews are written without input from product manufacturers, advertisers, or commercial partners. Brands cannot pay for inclusion in a list, a higher score, or favourable mention. We have turned down such offers and will continue to.
Affiliate revenue does not influence ranking. Editors do not see the affiliate commission rate when scoring a product. Our commerce team operates in a separate workflow that does not interact with editorial decisions.
Conflicts of interest
A reviewer with any meaningful relationship to a brand — past employment, personal financial stake, family connection — recuses themselves from reviewing that brand’s products.
We disclose paid speaking arrangements, advisory roles, and other potential conflicts in the reviewer’s byline at the top of every review where one might apply.
Corrections
If we make a factual error, we correct it visibly. Corrections appear at the bottom of the affected review with the original text and the correction noted. We do not silently update content.
If a re-test changes our verdict, the review is dated, the previous score is preserved in a “previously rated” line, and the new score is the headline number.
Reach corrections at [email protected] — yes, we read that address.
Sourcing
Statistics are linked to their primary source. Where we cite competitive products, we name them and link to our own review (if we have one) or the manufacturer’s spec page.
We do not cite “studies” without linking to them. We do not use language like “experts say” without naming the expert. We don’t quote review aggregators without verifying the underlying claim.
Compensation
Our reviewers are paid a flat per-review fee that is not tied to affiliate performance, page views, or score. They are not rewarded for higher scores or for picking high-converting products. The fee is the same whether the review lands Tier 1 or Tier 5.
What we will not publish
- Sponsored content presented as editorial.
- Reviews of products we have not bought and used ourselves.
- AI-generated text passed off as reviewer opinion.
- Reviews where the reviewer has an undisclosed conflict of interest.
- “Best of” lists where the ordering is influenced by commercial considerations.
This list is not exhaustive but it covers the lines we won’t cross.