How scores work
Every score on Clientele is derived from specific, verifiable facts: not impressions, not aggregated user reviews, not weighted averages of other sites' ratings. Here's the process.
Know the brand first
Before scoring anything, we establish what a brand is genuinely known for: its market position, what owners say about it, what distinguishes it from competitors. That identity drives the tagline and "best for" summary, and anchors everything else.
Scores follow facts
We don't assign a score and then justify it. We gather the facts first (specs, warranty terms, return policies, documented support reputations, product lineup breadth) and let the score follow. If a score can't be tied to a specific fact, it's wrong or the research is incomplete.
Pros must be specific
Every listed pro has to be genuinely differentiating. If the same bullet could appear on a competitor's page, it's not specific enough and gets cut or rewritten. Generic benefits don't help anyone decide.
Honest limitations
Cons are real limitations, not vague disclaimers added to look balanced. If a brand has a genuinely weak area, it's listed plainly.
Scores are updated
Products change. Policies change. Scores are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated when material facts shift, not just when a brand asks nicely.
Verified before it's published
Every score change goes through an independent check before it goes live: we re-research the claim from scratch, search for a current source that confirms or contradicts it, and only publish if that search backs it up. Changes that come back unconfirmed or contradicted are dropped, not published — you'll never see a score move on a guess.