Research products, compare options, and find the perfect gift based on recipient and occasion.
Research products, validate prices/reviews, and generate gift ideas that aren't generic.
| Category | Best source | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most consumer goods | Wirecutter (nytimes.com/wirecutter) | Long-term testing, updates picks when they fail |
| TVs, monitors, headphones, soundbars |
rtings.com |
| Lab-measured data (input lag in ms, frequency response graphs), not vibes |
| Appliances, cars, mattresses | Consumer Reports (paywalled) — search "consumer reports [product] reddit" for summaries |
| Enthusiast gear (knives, keyboards, flashlights, coffee, pens) | Product subreddit wiki/FAQ — site:reddit.com/r/[hobby] wiki | Actual users, not affiliate sites |
| Outdoor/camping | outdoorgearlab.com | Side-by-side field testing |
| Laptops | notebookcheck.net | Thermals, throttling, display calibration data |
| Skincare/cosmetics ingredients | incidecoder.com | Ingredient breakdown, no marketing |
Prefer these over generic Amazon results — they surface more interesting, unique finds:
| Source | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wirecutter (nytimes.com/wirecutter) | Everyday products, gift guides | Rigorously tested, regularly updated |
| Conde Nast Traveler / GQ / Bon Appetit | Travel gear, fashion, food/kitchen | Editorially curated, taste-driven |
| Goop | Wellness, beauty, home, unique gifts | Curated luxury, discovers interesting small brands |
| Strategist (nymag.com/strategist) | Gift guides, home, fashion, wellness | Real-person recommendations, not algorithm-driven |
Cool Material (coolmaterial.com) | Men's gifts, gear, home goods | Curated interesting finds |
Uncommon Goods (uncommongoods.com) | Unique/artisan gifts | Handmade, small-batch, creative |
Food52 (food52.com) | Kitchen, home, food gifts | Chef-tested, beautifully curated |
| Reddit gift threads | Any category | Search site:reddit.com "[category] gift" or "best [product] reddit" — real opinions from enthusiasts |
Search pattern for honest reviews: "[product] reddit" or "[product] site:reddit.com" — cuts through SEO affiliate spam. Also "[product] long term" or "[product] after 1 year".
Search pattern for curated finds: "[product/category] site:nymag.com/strategist" or "best [category] gifts site:goop.com" — surfaces editorially picked items over algorithm-promoted ones.
Amazon "40% off" is often off a fake inflated list price. Verify:
| Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
| CamelCamelCamel | Amazon price history chart — paste URL or ASIN | camelcamelcamel.com (free, webFetch works) |
| Keepa | Same but overlays directly on Amazon pages; more marketplaces | keepa.com (free tier sufficient) |
Read the chart: if "sale" price = the price it's been at for 6 of the last 12 months, it's not a sale. Real deals sit at or near the all-time low line. Flag any product where price spiked up right before the "discount."
Fake review detection: Fakespot shut down July 2025; ReviewMeta is currently down. Manual heuristics:
Always give 3 tiers so the user can self-select on budget:
For each: price, one-line "why this one," one-line "main tradeoff," and always include direct links:
Never recommend a product without at least a purchase link. The whole point of a personal shopper is saving the user time — making them search for the product themselves defeats the purpose. Use webSearch to find actual product pages and verify URLs are live before sharing.
The four gift modes (pick one, don't blend):
r/[their hobby] "gift" or "best gifts for [hobby] enthusiast reddit".Extraction questions (ask user, not recipient):
Variety rule — this is critical:
Recommendations must span different categories. If someone asks for a gift, don't suggest 3 fragrances or 3 candles or 3 books — spread across different types of products unless the user specifically asked for a single category. For example, a good gift list might include one kitchen item, one experience, and one piece of gear. Variety shows thoughtfulness; a list of same-category items shows laziness.
Hard rules:
| Occasion | Default mode | Budget anchor |
|---|---|---|
| Close friend birthday | Interest-deep-cut or upgraded-everyday | Whatever you'd spend on dinner together |
| Acquaintance / coworker | Consumable luxury | $20-40 |
| Housewarming | Consumable (nice pantry goods, wine) — no decor | $25-50 |
| Wedding | Registry. If off-registry, cash. | Cover your plate cost minimum |
| Thank-you | Consumable, handwritten note matters more than price | $15-30 |
| Host gift | Something they can use after you leave (not flowers — requires a vase and attention mid-hosting) | $15-30 |
Gift recommendations must also include direct purchase links. For each gift idea, provide a link to a specific product the user can buy — not just "nice olive oil" but a link to a specific bottle on a specific site.