Every product on Tier5Shop gets the same treatment. Here is exactly what happens between a product appearing in our queue and a review going live.
Step 1 — Selection
We add a product to our queue for one of three reasons: it’s a category leader worth testing, a reader suggested it (we read every suggestion that comes in by email), or it’s a new release getting attention we want to verify.
We do not test products because a brand asks us to. We’ve turned down dozens of pitches. We do not test products in exchange for samples — every unit on every review was bought at full retail price using our own money.
Step 2 — The purchase
We buy from the channel a typical reader would: the brand’s website, Amazon, or a major regional retailer. We use a non-trackable consumer account so we get the same shipping, packaging, and customer service experience you would.
We keep the receipt. We don’t return the product after the review (with rare exceptions for genuinely defective units).
Step 3 — Testing window
Minimum two weeks. For categories where longer testing matters — mattresses, hair care, supplements, anything wear-dependent — we extend to four to twelve weeks.
The reviewer keeps a daily log. Not for show, but because honest impressions drift quickly: what feels exciting day one is often unremarkable by day ten, and what feels mediocre on arrival is sometimes the thing you reach for daily after a month. The log keeps us honest.
Step 4 — The 5-tier score
We assign a tier based on five weighted criteria that vary by category. For a smart-home device, these might be:
- Performance (35%) — does it do what it claims?
- Setup and use (20%) — friction at install, daily use, troubleshooting.
- Build and durability (15%) — does it feel like it will last?
- Value (15%) — at this price, against alternatives.
- Support and updates (15%) — is the company still here in two years?
We score 0–10 on each, weight, then map to a tier:
- 9.0+ → Tier 5 (rare)
- 8.0–8.9 → Tier 4
- 6.5–7.9 → Tier 3
- 5.0–6.4 → Tier 2
- Below 5.0 → Tier 1
Step 5 — Second-editor review
Every review is read by a second editor who didn’t test the product. They challenge the conclusions, flag missing comparisons, and verify that the score matches the writing. Roughly 10% of drafts come back for revision.
Step 6 — Re-test and re-score
We come back to high-traffic reviews every six months. Pricing changes, firmware updates, formula reformulations, competitor launches — anything that could shift the score gets a fresh look. When a re-test changes a tier, the review is updated and dated.
If a product you’ve bought based on our review changes meaningfully, email us — we will look at it.