Open the destination, confirm the product and exact option, compare images and visible information, then assign one of four statuses: active, changed, unclear, or broken. Add the date you checked.
Check six fields in order
- Destination: does the link load on the expected domain without an unusual prompt?
- Product identity: do the title, category, and key image still match the row?
- Exact option: is the intended size, color, model, or bundle still visible?
- Visible information: has the price context, option list, or description materially changed?
- Image consistency: do current images still represent the same item or has the listing been repurposed?
- Duplicate control: is this the same destination already saved elsewhere in your shortlist?
Use honest status labels
| Status | Use it when | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The destination loads and the intended product and option still match | Continue the normal comparison |
| Changed | The page loads, but a material field or option differs from the row | Update the note and reconsider the row |
| Unclear | The page partly matches, but a required fact cannot be confirmed | Ask, investigate, or pause |
| Broken | The link fails, disappears, redirects unexpectedly, or no longer identifies the item | Remove from the active shortlist |
Avoid the label “verified” unless you define exactly what was verified. A link being active does not verify quality, seller claims, authenticity, inventory, shipping, or final cost.
Control duplicate rows
Two rows can use different titles or images yet lead to the same final product URL. Normalize the destination domain and product identifier where possible, then keep the row with clearer notes. If two listings are merely similar, keep them separate and record why each remains useful.
Choose rechecks based on the decision
There is no universal recheck interval. Recheck when you return to a saved shortlist, before acting on a time-sensitive detail, or when a link has already shown signs of change. The closer a decision is, the more recent the supporting information should be.
Do not silently substitute a new listing
When a row breaks, a visually similar search result is a new lead. Give it a new record and repeat the source, option, photo, and measurement checks. This preserves the history of what changed.
Make freshness specific to the decision
A row does not become trustworthy merely because it loaded today. Record which facts were current enough for the decision: product identity, exact option, measurements, visible price context, photo set, or weight information. For example, a recently loaded page with an old measurement image may be active but still unclear for fit. A page with a changed title can be marked changed even when its URL is stable. This field-by-field approach makes the status useful, prevents “last checked” from sounding like a broad endorsement, and tells the next reviewer exactly what must be rechecked.
Use a dated freshness note
Row or item: [name]
Final destination: [URL or domain]
Checked on: [YYYY-MM-DD]
Product identity: [match / changed / unclear]
Exact option: [present / changed / missing]
Image consistency: [match / unclear / no]
Duplicate of: [row / none]
Status: [active / changed / unclear / broken]
Next action: [one sentence]