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BeforeYou Buy

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The first guide is on its way.

Each week, one kind of product, explained well enough that you can judge any model on your own.

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Five questions, every guide

Every guide takes one kind of product and answers the same five questions, from regulators, standards bodies and manufacturers' own terms. You decide; we never name a winner.

  1. How it works

    What the thing actually does inside, so the spec sheet stops reading like a foreign language.

  2. What matters

    The few specs that change how it feels to own, and the ones that are mostly marketing.

  3. What it costs

    The price tag plus everything after it: energy, refills, parts, repairs, and how long it is likely to last.

  4. What protects you

    The warranty, your return rights, and the recalls to check before you pay.

  5. What to ask

    The questions to put to the seller, and a checklist you can tick on your phone in the store.

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