Standards

Trust, editorial standards & affiliate disclosure

Last updated: October 14, 2026

Shortlists should reduce decision fatigue, not manufacture hype. This page explains how we pick, how we’re paid, and what we refuse to publish.

What Shortlist Lab is

An editorial shortlist site for higher-priced picks. Domain: shortlistlab.io. MVP category: Robot Vacuums & Mops. Tagline: High-ticket picks you can feel in 60 seconds.

Selection model

Define the job. Start from a scene (busy household, pet hair, under furniture), not a raw SKU dump.
Build a short shortlist. Four roles for MVP: Top pick, Upgrade, Best value, Premium.
Ground in product facts. Titles, images, prices, ASINs from PartnerBoost plus verified Amazon detail pages.
Enforce in-stock. If Amazon US (ZIP 10001) shows unavailable, the product is unpublished. We do not leave out-of-stock CTAs.
Write “who should skip.” Every card should say who the product is wrong for.
Stamp freshness. Show checked ZIP and timestamp on cards.

Affiliate disclosure

Shortlist Lab participates in the PartnerBoost affiliate network. Links labeled “Check price on Amazon” may deep-link to Amazon.com. If you click and purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Affiliate eligibility can influence which merchants we can link, but role assignment (Top / Upgrade / Best value / Premium) is an editorial judgment based on fit, value, and evidence—not the highest payout alone. When a page is sponsored beyond standard affiliate links, we will label it.

What we will not do

Publish open-ended “any Amazon URL → auto video” without editorial gates
Fake UGC, fake lab scores, or undisclosed paid placement as “Top pick”
Hide affiliate relationships behind vague “partner” language
Leave out-of-stock products on a live shortlist with a buy CTA

Prices & stock

PartnerBoost feed prices can lag Amazon’s buy box. Display prices on the shortlist prefer last verified Amazon US detail checks (delivery ZIP 10001, USD). Feed prices remain in our catalog for comparison.

Corrections

Prices and stock move fast. If you spot an error, email hello@shortlistlab.io with the page URL and what looks wrong. Material fixes get an updated Checked time.