Product-match confidence checklist

Check product identity first

• Brand and exact model or MPN.
• GTIN, EAN or UPC where present.
• Model suffix and intended market version.
• Product family versus the exact sellable variant.
• Every conflict or missing decisive identifier.

A shared family name is not an exact match. A missing GTIN increases the evidence required from model and attributes.

Verify the decisive technical variant

For HVAC and appliances, confirm capacity/output and test basis, performance variant, power supply and market, refrigerant/version where relevant, controller/connectivity package, and every commercially distinct size, colour or configuration.

Separate bundle, condition and offer identity

• Complete system versus partial unit.
• Installation, delivery, accessories or service inclusion.
• Pack quantity, conditional rebate or promotional gift.
• New, refurbished, used or clearance condition.
• Seller, fulfilment, tax, delivery, membership, coupon and basket conditions.

Use five confidence classes

• Confirmed exact: decisive identifiers and variant agree; no material conflict remains.
• Probable exact — review: strong agreement, but one non-material field needs human confirmation.
• Comparable alternative: intentionally non-identical and used only for a stated benchmark dimension.
• Conflict: a decisive field disagrees; block exact price and availability comparison.
• Insufficient evidence: identity cannot be established; retain only in the source-gap log.

When the match must fail

A trustworthy method does not force every listing into a match. It records conflicts, separates comparable alternatives and blocks downstream exception logic when identity is not established.

Do not publish a match-accuracy percentage until there is a labelled evaluation set, error taxonomy, representative sample and review of false positives as well as false negatives. Vendor claims are not evidence of Pulse performance.