Editorial Policy

This page explains how editorial decisions get made on Pad & Polish, and what keeps them independent of the money the site earns.

Independence and buyer-first ranking

Rankings are built from the method on our How We Research page: published specs, cost math, and aggregated owner signal. Commission never changes a ranking. A product that pays a higher commission rate does not move up a list because of it — if anything, we call out when a lower-commission pick is the better buy.

No pay-for-placement

We do not accept payment, free products, or any other consideration in exchange for a higher ranking, a featured slot, or inclusion in a roundup. A brand cannot buy its way onto a "best of" list on this site. The only thing that determines whether a product appears, and where, is the published method.

Corrections policy

We get things wrong sometimes — a spec changes, a product gets discontinued, or we simply make a mistake. If you spot one, email info@padandpolish.com or use the contact form. Confirmed factual errors are corrected on the page within approximately 48 hours, and we note the date of the correction.

Update cadence

Every roundup goes through a quarterly freshness pass: we re-verify picks, re-check prices, update the "last updated" date, and swap out any product that's been discontinued. When a major product release or discontinuation affects a roundup outside that cycle, we update it within the month rather than waiting for the next quarterly pass.

How this connects to funding

Pad & Polish earns commissions on qualifying purchases, disclosed in full on our affiliate disclosure page. That funding supports the site; it does not steer it.