Editorial Policy

Last updated: January 15, 2026

ShopWise readers should always understand where our recommendations come from, how we tested products, and what we would do differently in hindsight. This Editorial Policy lays out our standards for accuracy, independence, and transparency.

1. Independence

ShopWise’s editorial team is fully independent of our advertising and business teams. No advertiser has ever seen a review before publication. No advertiser has ever paid to appear in a “best of” list. No advertiser can veto or edit a story about them.

When a product wins a category recommendation, it is because our editors and testers concluded it was the best choice for the reader — not because the brand paid for placement.

2. How we choose what to cover

Story ideas come from four places:

1. Reader questions submitted through [email protected].
2. Editorial planning based on seasonal shopping cycles, new-product launches, and unfolding retail trends.
3. Search intent research — what real shoppers are actively looking for.
4. Industry news we think shoppers or retail professionals should know about.

3. Testing methodology

3.1 Products

When we test a product, we describe our methodology in the review: what we tested, for how long, in what conditions, against which competitors. We buy most products at retail. When a brand provides a test unit, we return it within 30 days and disclose that fact in the review.

3.2 Retailers, services, and policies

For coverage of a retailer, price program, or in-store policy, we verify claims with:

• Direct visits or shopping tests (mystery-shopper style).
• Official company sources (press releases, SEC filings, investor decks).
• Publicly available data (BLS, USDA, Consumer Reports, government agencies).
• Named on-record interviews with industry professionals.

4. Fact-checking

Every article is fact-checked before publication. Numbers, names, prices, and quotes are verified against a primary source. When we cite a statistic we link to the source (or footnote it in print). If we cannot verify a claim, it does not appear in the article.

5. Sources

We prefer named, on-the-record sources. When we grant anonymity — usually because a source could face professional retaliation — we explain why in the article. We never invent quotes, composite characters, or events.

6. AI-assisted content

ShopWise does not publish articles that are wholly generated by AI. Our writers may use AI tools for research assistance, transcription, or copy editing, but every published article is written, edited, and signed by a named human editor. We disclose in the article any material use of generative AI (for example, an AI-generated illustration).

7. Corrections and updates

When we make a factual error, we correct it publicly. Corrections appear:

• At the top of the corrected article, describing what changed and when.
• On our (planned) Corrections page.
• Retracted in the original context — we do not silently rewrite the text.

To flag an error, email [email protected]. We aim to respond within one business day.

8. Disclosures

We disclose:

• Any financial relationship with a company we cover.
• Any product loaned by a brand rather than bought at retail.
• Any personal relationship between a writer and a source or subject.
• Any use of affiliate links in a shopping guide (see Advertising Disclosure).

9. Sponsored content

Sponsored posts and paid partnerships are labeled clearly at the top of the article with the word “Sponsored,” “Paid content,” or “Advertisement.” They are visually distinct from editorial content and are written or approved by the sponsor. They never carry the ShopWise editorial byline.

10. Comments and community

ShopWise does not currently host open comments. Reader letters and follow-ups are welcomed by email and, with permission, may be quoted in a future article.

11. Editorial team & contacts

Editor-in-Chief: Sarah J. Whitman — sets editorial standards and signs off on every review.
Editorial email: [email protected]

12. Complaints

If you believe we have breached this policy or otherwise fallen short of our standards, please write to [email protected]. Our Editor-in-Chief personally reviews every formal complaint.