How to research and compare products before buying abroad

1. Compare specifications, not adjectives

“Premium”, “powerful”, “top of the line” — adjectives cannot be compared; numbers can. Before deciding between two products, put the spec sheets side by side: capacity, power, dimensions, warranty, compatibility. Two columns in a spreadsheet often reveal that the model costing 30% more differs only in color.

If you shop on Amazon, that work already exists: AmazonBests publishes side-by-side "X vs Y" comparisons, buying guides, and best-of lists per category — all built on real specifications, without the marketing gloss.

2. Check price history before trusting the “deal”

Retail's oldest trick works in every country: inflating the “original price” so the discount looks generous. The defense is checking the product's price history over recent months — if the Black Friday “50% off” costs the same as it did in March, you are saving nothing. Price trackers do this automatically and alert you when a product drops to your target. Rule of thumb: a real deal beats the lowest price of the last 90 days.

3. Learn to filter fake reviews

• Be suspicious of dozens of 5-star reviews posted the same week with generic text.
• Read the 3-star reviews first: they are the most honest about pros and cons.
• Look for real customer photos — a product with only studio shots in its reviews deserves caution.
• Prefer independent reviews that compare the product against competitors instead of judging it in a vacuum.

4. Think in local currency — and total cost

Mentally converting everything to your home currency is a habit that hurts: what matters is the price relative to the local market and your local income. And the sticker price is not the final price — add sales tax (which in the US only appears at checkout), shipping, and the return policy. A product 10% cheaper at a store without free returns can cost far more at the first problem.

5. The same method applies to digital services

Subscriptions deserve the same research discipline as electronics: compare what each service actually delivers, distrust introductory prices that triple on renewal, and test before paying. We apply that standard to ourselves — Tunells keeps a comparison page against other VPNs, the price is flat with no renewal traps, and the free trial requires no card. It is the standard you should demand from any subscription, ours included.

The method in one line: side-by-side specs, price history, filtered reviews, total cost in local currency. Twenty minutes of research that pay for themselves on virtually every purchase — whether it is headphones on Amazon or the VPN that brings Brazilian TV back to your living room.