On this page6 sections
Fixed brief
Set the shelf before filling it
Write the intended use, product category, must-have feature, unacceptable condition, quantity, destination and budget basis. Then choose the fields that will decide the comparison.
Example brief
Carry-on backpack for a 14-inch laptop; maximum outer height 45 cm; padded compartment required; empty weight under 1.2 kg preferred; 20-unit test; compare product price separately from delivery.
First filter
Remove candidates for a visible reason
- Wrong category or use.
- Missing stable page, title or product code.
- Required dimension or specification fails.
- Source relationship cannot be followed.
- Photos do not show the decisive feature.
- Quantity or variant rule exceeds the brief.
- Critical contact or payment signal creates unacceptable risk.
Record one removal reason. Do not leave rejected pages in the active shortlist where they create repeated work.
Common record
Use one comparison row for every survivor
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Identity | Page URL, host, title or code, date checked. |
| Fit to brief | Required features and any conflict. |
| Specifications | Measurements, materials, variant and evidence source. |
| Commercial context | MOQ, price basis, packing and delivery inputs. |
| Evidence gaps | Unknowns that could reverse the ranking. |
| Next action | Ask, compare, hold or remove. |
Shortlist
Fewer well-documented candidates beat many bookmarks
Keep up to three finalists when possible: the best fit to the brief, a credible alternative with a different tradeoff, and perhaps a lower-commitment option. If two candidates are functionally identical, keep the one with clearer evidence.
Rank only after the decisive fields are populated. A polished image should not compensate for an unknown size, source or quote basis.
Stop and hand off
End browsing with a decision note
Stop when each finalist answers the decisive checks, further pages repeat the same tradeoffs, or the remaining unknown requires an inquiry rather than more browsing.
Hand off the original brief, finalist rows, removal reasons and exact next question. Another reader should understand the choice without reopening every discarded page.
