How I Rate Products

I use a three-part scoring system built for Australian buyers: RefDat Score, Repairability Rank, and Smart Score. Every rating uses real AUD pricing from local retailers, factors in your rights under Australian Consumer Law, and is based on real data from Australian community sources. I update scores when prices change significantly or new models land.

RefDat Score

The RefDat Score is a 0-5 star overall rating based on six key signals. I weight Australian availability and pricing heavily because it's pointless to recommend a product that's rare or costs significantly more here than overseas. Australian Consumer Law provides automatic consumer guarantees based on a product's price and reasonable expected lifespan, regardless of what the manufacturer's stated warranty says. A $2,000 TV should last well beyond a 12-month warranty period, and the ACL backs you up on that. I factor this into every score.

Signal Weight Source
Verified Buyer Rating 30% Verified-purchase customer reviews and ratings
Community Sentiment 25% Whirlpool, ProductReview.com.au, OzBargain
Value Score 20% Price-to-feature analysis, longevity
Safety Record 10% ACCC recalls, reported failures
AU Relevance 10% Warranty, support, and availability in Australia
Recency 5% Reviews from the last 12 months

Hover over any RefDat Score to see the exact breakdown of how it was calculated.

Repairability Rank

I evaluate repairability based on six equal-weight criteria, rated 0-5 stars. This is about how easy it actually is for you to fix something, not what manufacturers claim. I use iFixit scores where available, but I also look at parts availability, community repair guides, and whether products use screws or glue. Products that last longer and are easier to repair get higher scores.

Six Repairability Criteria (equal weight):

  • Disassembly & Design - Can you open it without destroying it?
  • Spare Parts Availability - Are replacement parts readily available?
  • Repair Documentation - Are service manuals and repair guides accessible?
  • Manufacturer Repair Support - Does the maker offer affordable repairs?
  • Community Repair Ecosystem - Are there third-party repair services or communities?
  • Longevity & Sustainability - Will this product last 5+ years?

Score Bands:

4.0-5.0: Excellent - Easy to repair, long lifespan, parts available
3.0-3.9: Good - Reasonably repairable with some limitations
2.0-2.9: Fair - Repairs possible but difficult or expensive
1.0-1.9: Poor - Very difficult or costly to repair
0.0-0.9: Disposable - Designed for replacement, not repair
Real-World Focus: This is about your actual ability to get parts and fix things, not what manufacturers say. I prioritise how long you can keep the product working.

Smart Score

For connected devices, I score the smart experience across five areas, rated 0-5 stars. I check ecosystem compatibility (Google Home, Alexa, HomeKit, Matter), app quality, automation support, and data privacy. Non-smart products don't get a Smart Score because it's not relevant.

Five Smart Criteria and Weights:

Criterion Weight What We Evaluate
Connectivity 25% WiFi, Bluetooth, or other connection reliability
App Quality 25% Mobile app functionality, updates, and stability
Ecosystem 25% Integration with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, etc.
Feature Value 15% Do smart features actually improve your life?
Privacy & Longevity 10% Data handling, security updates, vendor support timeline

Score Bands:

4.0-5.0: Genius - Smart features are excellent and enhance daily life
3.0-3.9: Smart - Good connectivity and features with minor limitations
2.0-2.9: Basic - Smart features exist but feel limited or unreliable
1.0-1.9: Dim - Smart features are poorly implemented or unstable
0.0-0.9: Brick - Smart features barely work or data security issues
Only for Connected Devices: Dumb products don't get a Smart Score. Simple as that.

What I Don't Do

  • I don't copy scores from other review sites. I calculate ratings independently.
  • I don't accept payment from manufacturers to boost ratings or hide negative content.
  • I don't use automated scraping to grab scores. I verify data myself.
  • I don't hide methodology. Every rating links back to this page so you see exactly how I got to the score.

Data Sources

I pull data from Australian and international sources I trust:

  • Verified-purchase customer reviews and ratings
  • Whirlpool Forum - Australian consumer discussions
  • Choice.com.au - independent product testing
  • ProductReview.com.au - verified customer feedback
  • ACCC (Australian Consumer Law) - safety recalls
  • OzBargain - community product recommendations
  • Manufacturer websites - warranty and support info
  • International tech sites - feature and compatibility data

Australian Consumer Law in Every Review

Every product review on TopProducts includes a tailored Australian Consumer Law section. This is not boilerplate. I customise the ACL advice based on the product type and what you paid for it.

Under Australian Consumer Law, consumer guarantees apply automatically when you buy a product. These guarantees are separate from any manufacturer warranty. The key question is: what would a reasonable consumer expect from a product at this price point? A $300 air fryer should last at least 3 to 4 years. A $2,500 espresso machine should last 7 to 10 years. If it fails within that period, you may have rights to a repair, replacement, or refund, even if the stated warranty has expired.

My advice on every review: If something goes wrong, start with the retailer where you bought it. Under the ACL, the retailer cannot refuse to help you and cannot simply redirect you to the manufacturer. This is one of the strongest consumer protection frameworks in the world, and I want every reader to know how to use it.

This is general consumer information, not legal advice. For disputes, contact the ACCC or your state/territory fair trading body.