How we research
SurfGirl publishes buying guides, reviews, comparisons, deal roundups and buyer news. This page explains where our information comes from and how we check it. The short version: our work is research-based. We read primary sources, compare them and tell you what they say, with links, so you can check them yourself.
What we do not do
We do not run hands-on product trials, and we do not claim to have used, worn or installed the products we cover unless a page explicitly says otherwise. When a review discusses performance, noise, reliability or ease of use, that comes from the sources listed on the page, such as manufacturer specifications or published owner reviews, and the page says so.
We do not invent prices, specifications, ratings or quotes. If we cannot confirm a fact from a source, we leave it out or say plainly that it is unconfirmed.
The sources we use
Most of our pages draw on a mix of these sources, in roughly this order of weight:
- Official brand and retailer pages. Product pages, specification sheets, user manuals, warranty terms, return and shipping policies, and rewards program terms. These are the main source for specs, prices and policies.
- Company filings and press releases. Quarterly results releases and official announcements, used for facts such as store counts, ownership and product launches.
- Regulators and safety bodies. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for recalls and safety data, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and similar agencies for health and usage guidance, and organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
- Independent survey data. For retailer reviews we use published customer satisfaction research such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), and we note the survey period.
- Aggregated owner reviews. Ratings and review summaries on retailer and brand sites. We report the average, the number of ratings and the recurring themes, and we flag when a site shows only some reviews or when complaints point to reliability problems.
- Independent publications. Used for context and cross-checking, never as the only source for a key fact.
Every page lists the sources it relies on in a single References section at the end.
How we check prices and deals
Prices and stock change often, especially around sales events. When we quote a price, we give the date we read it on the seller's page, and deal roundups are verified against the live product page on the date shown. We do not describe a price as a deal unless the seller's own page supports it. Always confirm the final price in your cart before paying.
How we write reviews
Our reviews are labeled as research-based. A typical review covers:
- What the product or service is, using official specifications and terms
- What owners and customers report, with ratings counts and the main praise and complaints
- What it costs to own, including upkeep, accessories, return windows and warranty
- Pros and cons, and who it suits, based on the evidence above
When sources disagree, for example when a manufacturer's figure differs from an owner's measurement, we report both and say which is which.
Images
We use official product images supplied by brands, public domain images from government agencies, and original illustrations made for SurfGirl. Original illustrations are decorative and do not show real products. Image sources are recorded with each image.
Keeping pages current
Policy pages, prices and recalls change. When we update a page, we change the facts and the date they were checked. When a material fact was wrong, we follow our corrections policy.