Product Sourcing & Independence

How We Source Products

Filter Tested's credibility depends on genuine, independent evaluation. This page explains how we obtain the products we review and the policies that ensure our independence.

Purchasing Products

Whenever possible, we purchase products through the same retail channels available to consumers (Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, manufacturer direct websites). This ensures we receive the same product, packaging, and documentation that any consumer would receive.

Purchasing through retail channels also allows us to evaluate the buying experience, shipping, packaging quality, and included documentation as part of our assessment.

No Manufacturer Payment for Reviews

Filter Tested does not accept payment from manufacturers, distributors, or retailers in exchange for:

• Reviewing a specific product
• Including a product in a recommendation list
• Assigning a specific score or rating
• Writing favorable or unfavorable coverage
• Prioritizing one product over another

This policy is absolute and non-negotiable. No exceptions are made for any manufacturer, regardless of size, market position, or relationship history.

Affiliate Relationships

Filter Tested participates in affiliate marketing programs with major retailers. When readers click affiliate links and make purchases, we may earn a commission. This does not:

• Increase the price paid by the consumer
• Influence which products we review or recommend
• Affect the scores or ratings we assign

Our full affiliate disclosure is available on our Disclosure page.

Independence Guarantee

Our editorial team operates independently from our business and affiliate operations. Editorial decisions (which products to review, what scores to assign, what recommendations to make) are made by researchers and editors with no financial incentive tied to specific outcomes.

Affiliate revenue is aggregated across all content; no individual editor or reviewer benefits from the performance of any specific article or product recommendation.

Free Product Samples

Occasionally, manufacturers offer to send free product samples. Our policy:

• We generally decline unsolicited free products
• If we accept a product for evaluation (e.g., a newly released model not yet available for retail purchase), we commit to one of the following:
  • Returning the product to the manufacturer after evaluation
  • Donating the product to a qualified non-profit organization
  • Using it for long-term reliability testing and then donating it
• Accepting a free product never guarantees coverage, a positive review, or inclusion in recommendations
• Any product obtained free of charge is noted in the review

Long-Term Testing

For select products, we conduct long-term reliability testing by installing units in real-world conditions and monitoring performance over 6-12 months. Products used for long-term testing are either purchased or donated after the testing period. Results from long-term testing are incorporated into update cycles.

Transparency Commitment

If our sourcing or independence policies change, we will update this page and notify readers. We believe transparency about how we operate is as important as the content we produce.