Order and log
We place the order as a first-time buyer would, at the listed price, and record the order date, dispatch date, and the time of the first agent reply. We keep the message thread and count how many exchanges it takes to close a simple question.
Bench checks
On arrival we weigh the parcel, measure the box in three axes with digital calipers, and check seam width, tape adhesion, and corner crush resistance. Flexible materials get a fold-and-crease check; rigid items get a fill-volume check with our reference load of a padded box, a folded garment, and a boxed figure.
Pack and drop
We pack the reference load using only the product under test, photograph the closure, and run a three-step drop routine from waist height on flat concrete: corner, edge, face. Damage is recorded by location and size in millimetres.
Score and compare
Each item is scored on the five-point scale (5 / 5 excellent down to 1 / 5 very poor), with hands-on product scores between 4.0 and 5.0. We publish the comparison table with the figures that produced the score, and we repeat the whole routine at the six-month retest or sooner if the listing changes.
What is not in the method
We do not accept supplier samples for scored reviews, we do not run scores from a specification sheet alone, and we do not adjust a score for advertising relationships.