Advisory Mode vs. Independent Mode
How we separate merchant diagnostics that feed engineering builds (Advisory Mode, 100% fee credit) from third-party M&A and vendor RFP evaluations that require strict neutrality (Independent Mode, 12-month no-fix rule).
Report Modes
Two clear modes, chosen before kickoff
Every engagement states its mode on the cover page. Standard store audits run in Advisory Mode; M&A diligence and vendor RFPs run in Independent Mode.
| Question | Advisory (Standard) | Independent (M&A & RFPs) |
|---|---|---|
| Who commissions it | The merchant or engineering team | An M&A acquirer, PE fund, broker, or board (with target store’s written consent) |
| Can we sell the fix | Yes — 100% of the Tier 1 Audit fee is credited toward a Tier 2 build | No Tier 2 or Tier 3 build sold to that store for 12 months |
| Fee credit | 100% credited within 60 days | None (strict neutrality) |
| Report shared with | The client team | The commissioning party and the target store |
| Typical trigger | Search/recsys upgrades, catalog projects, pre-peak readiness | M&A technical due diligence ($7,500), formal vendor RFPs |
Chosen before work starts and printed on the report cover. Both modes follow the published test standard, carry the same 30-day dispute window and correction process, and cap our liability at the fee paid.
Governance Rules
- Advisory Mode (Standard for Store Audits)
- Advisory Mode is our default for merchant diagnostics (Search, Combined Findability, and Recommendations Audits). You receive the full reproducible query set, catalog truth table, and vendor-neutral fix specification—and 100% of your Tier 1 Audit fee is credited toward any Tier 2 engineering build signed within 60 days.
- Independent Mode (M&A Due Diligence & Formal Vendor RFPs)
- Independent Mode is used for our $7,500 M&A Technical & Findability Due Diligence (5 business days) and formal search/recsys vendor RFP evaluations where an acquirer, investor, or board relies on strict third-party neutrality. In Independent Mode, we sell no Tier 2 or Tier 3 build to the tested store for 12 months after delivery.
- Reproducible Engineering Standard
- Both report modes follow the exact same published Findability & Retrieval Test Standard v1.0 (/standard), with frozen query sets, timestamped screenshots, and double human adjudication.
- Zero Vendor Commissions
- We take no commission, referral fee, or reseller kickback from any search vendor, recommendation engine, feed tool, or platform named in our reports.
- Written Target Consent on Third-Party Diligence
- When an Independent-mode report is commissioned by an M&A acquirer, PE fund, or broker, the target store provides written consent before testing and receives the exact same report.
- 30-Day Dispute Window & Public Correction Log
- Any finding can be disputed for 30 days after delivery; we respond within 5 business days and log confirmed corrections in our public correction log within 5 business days.