The five-point scale
We rate on a five-point scale written as X / 5. 5 / 5 is excellent, 4 / 5 good, 3 / 5 adequate, 2 / 5 poor and 1 / 5 very poor. Hands-on scores for agents, shipping lines and items our team ordered and tested may range from 1 to 5. We do not publish percentages or ten-point scores; older ten-point figures are converted to five points before they appear on the site.
What we test
An agent review covers the fee table, the buying process, the warehouse QC step, consolidation, support response time outside business hours, and the accuracy of tracking. A shipping-line review covers quoted versus actual transit, handling of the parcel's condition, declared weight versus our scale, customs paperwork and any surcharge that appears after checkout. A product review covers whether the item that arrived matched the listing in measurement, material and finish.
Our test run, step by step
- Capture. We screenshot the agent's fee page and shipping calculator on the day we order, and note the date in the review.
- Order. We buy at least two items across different categories so consolidation behaviour is visible. Payment is by our own card, invoice on file.
- Warehouse arrival. We log the date the seller's tracking shows delivery to the agent warehouse, then the date the agent's own system shows receipt. The gap is a signal in itself.
- QC review. We open every QC photo at full resolution and compare it with the listing photos and stated measurements. We record rejections, reship requests and any message thread used to resolve them.
- Consolidation. When we approve, we request consolidation, weigh the packed box at the warehouse stage, and compare the declared weight with the agent's figure.
- Line selection. We pick a lane on price and quoted transit, then log every carrier scan from handover to final delivery.
- Arrival. The parcel is weighed on our own 30 kg scale and measured with a tape. We photograph packaging, contents and any damage before the box is broken down.
- Reconciliation. Every invoice line is checked: item price, domestic freight, service fee, consolidation, shipping, insurance and any surcharge. The final cost per item goes into the comparison table.
Scoring
Each test run produces a score in five areas: fee accuracy, warehouse and QC handling, support responsiveness, transit and condition, and value relative to alternatives. The published rating is a weighted whole, rounded to one decimal and written as X / 5. A 5 / 5 means the service matched what was advertised and gave us no reason to look elsewhere. A 4 / 5 means it performed well with a documented flaw we would tell a friend about before they ordered.
Comparison tables
Tables compare like with like: the same parcel weight, the same destination postcode, the same declared value, captured on the same day. Where a comparison cannot be run on identical inputs, we say so in a footnote directly under the table.
Retesting
A documented change to a fee, lane or warehouse procedure calls for another check of the affected comparison. Each published reassessment adds a dated note at the top of the review, identifying the figures checked and any change in score.
Scope of the findings
The published table states the order count, capture dates and limits of the comparison. Instrument weights, warehouse declarations and billed weights remain separate so readers can reconstruct the difference.