Griswold Lights writes guides to planning, hanging and fixing holiday lights, and recommends specific products where one helps. This page explains how those recommendations are made, and what the labels on them mean.
Researched picks
Most picks are researched: we compare the listings, not the product in hand. Before a product is added we check the listing itself: the specs that matter for a display (bulb type, lit length, how many sets connect end to end, wattage, indoor/outdoor rating), the average rating and how many people left one, and whether Amazon flags it as frequently returned. Products that fall short are left out, and we re-check listings when we update a guide.
We only show a spec once we’ve checked it against the listing. If a number is missing from a pick box or comparison table, it’s because we haven’t verified it, not because it doesn’t matter.
Tested picks
A pick marked Tested by us has been in our hands: plugged in, measured (wattage and lit length) and photographed by us, with the date. That badge only appears when we have a test record for that product. If a pick doesn’t carry it, we haven’t tested it.
Prices and availability
We don’t show prices, ratings or stock status unless they come straight from Amazon and are less than a day old, with the time they were checked. Prices change constantly; the button takes you to the current one.
How we make money
Griswold Lights is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be recommended, and we don’t sell or ship anything ourselves.
Corrections
If a spec, a link or a recommendation is wrong, tell us and we’ll fix it.