Our Mission 
FW: Institute Mission OnlineThe Hammacher Schlemmer Institute is a non-profit organization created in 1983 to research, test, and rate consumer products objectively and determine which products are the Best. Today's marketplace is more accessible and has more competing merchandise than ever before, and it has become increasingly difficult for consumers to decide which products are truly superior. As a consumer advocate, we test products so customers can make informed purchasing decisions. We strive to reassure consumers that when they buy a Best item from Hammacher Schlemmer, they've selected a product that has been thoroughly vetted and is superior to all other models in its field. Independence The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute performs independent comparative testing of consumer products without influence from manufacturers, vendors, or merchants. A product earns the Best designation only when its cumulative scores in categories such as effectiveness, ease of use, and safety features prove to be superior to its competition. External considerations like a product's cost or profit potential have no bearing on testing methods or results. Testing Methods The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute performs a wide-ranging search to identify the leading products in a specific category. Even products from Hammacher Schlemmer's competitors are included in tests to ensure that a Best product is truly the best of its kind. We survey consumers to determine which features and capabilities they deem most important for a given product category, and most tests are designed to replicate the manner in which consumers use the devices. We seek out professionals or experts whose specialized knowledge and skills provide valuable insight into a product category and help us evaluate products more effectively. A professional chef helped us determine The Best Cast Iron Skillet, the proprietor of an award-winning coffee roaster conducted the tests for The Best Automatic Espresso Machine, and a collegiate chess team assessed chessboards for The Best Electronic Chess Game test. For certain tests we use sophisticated, calibrated equipment. A sphygmomanometer was used to determine The Best Heart Rate Monitor, a digital sound meter measured the noise emitted by fans and air cleaners, and a wind meter calculated the power emitted by leaf blowers. When necessary, we commission the services of certified independent laboratories that follow established testing standards and procedures. We worked with a hydrostatic weighing facility for The Best Body Composition Measuring Scale test and commissioned a certified air quality-testing laboratory to determine The Best Tabletop Air Cleaner. We also rely on consumer testing panels that use the products as they would in a domestic setting and record their experiences. With the brand names hidden, panelists read instruction manuals, assemble devices, and evaluate the different models based on their overall effectiveness, ease of use, safety features, and other relevant categories.
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