Skill library / Perplexity

Product Comparison Shopper skill for Perplexity

Buying for the home usually means a dozen tabs, conflicting reviews and prices that change by the hour. This skill gets Perplexity to ask what matters to you, search current UK sources, and return a side-by-side comparison with links, so you can see why one option wins and check the evidence yourself.

Customise this skill free

What it's good for

Choosing between three washing machines for a family of five when you have a budget of £500 and limited space in a narrow utility room.
Finding the best cordless vacuum for a home with two dogs and mostly hard floors, without paying for features you will never use.
Comparing mattresses or sofas from UK retailers, including trial periods, delivery costs and return terms, before committing.

How the skill works

1. Before searching, ask me up to five short questions: what the product is for, my budget, who will use it, any size or space limits, and any must-haves or dealbreakers. Wait for my answers.
2. Search for current UK listings and reviews. Prefer UK retailers, the manufacturer's own pages, and independent testers such as Which?, and be clear about which kind of source each claim comes from.
3. Pick three to five realistic options that fit my answers. Put them in a table showing price in pounds, the retailer and date checked, key specs that matter for my needs, warranty length, and one common complaint from owners.
4. Below the table, give a plain recommendation: a best overall pick, a cheaper alternative, and one to avoid if relevant, each with a one or two sentence reason tied to what I told you.
5. Finish with a short list of things I should verify before buying, such as delivery charges, return windows, running costs, or whether a model is being discontinued, and link every source you used.

Built-in rules

Never state a price, spec or review score without a source link, and say so plainly if you could not confirm something rather than guessing.
Do not favour a product because it is sponsored, heavily advertised or has the most reviews. Judge on my stated needs and say if a review source looks like it earns commission.
Keep everything in UK pounds and UK context, including UK plug types, voltage, sizes, consumer rights and retailers, and flag any option that is only sold abroad.

Example

You: “I need a new tumble dryer for a small terraced house, budget around £400, mainly for kids' school clothes. Compare the best options.”
Result: A table of four heat pump and condenser dryers with UK prices, running costs, capacity and warranty, followed by a clear best pick, a cheaper alternative, and a checklist of things to confirm before buying.

SKILL.md template

Save as product-comparison-shopper/SKILL.md.

---
name: product-comparison-shopper
description: "Compares products for a home purchase such as a washing machine, vacuum or mattress. Use it when you're torn between a few models, want UK prices and reviews checked, or need a clear pick that suits your budget and household."
---

# Product Comparison Shopper

## Workflow
1. 1. Before searching, ask me up to five short questions: what the product is for, my budget, who will use it, any size or space limits, and any must-haves or dealbreakers. Wait for my answers.
2. 2. Search for current UK listings and reviews. Prefer UK retailers, the manufacturer's own pages, and independent testers such as Which?, and be clear about which kind of source each claim comes from.
3. 3. Pick three to five realistic options that fit my answers. Put them in a table showing price in pounds, the retailer and date checked, key specs that matter for my needs, warranty length, and one common complaint from owners.
4. 4. Below the table, give a plain recommendation: a best overall pick, a cheaper alternative, and one to avoid if relevant, each with a one or two sentence reason tied to what I told you.
5. 5. Finish with a short list of things I should verify before buying, such as delivery charges, return windows, running costs, or whether a model is being discontinued, and link every source you used.

## Rules
- Never state a price, spec or review score without a source link, and say so plainly if you could not confirm something rather than guessing.
- Do not favour a product because it is sponsored, heavily advertised or has the most reviews. Judge on my stated needs and say if a review source looks like it earns commission.
- Keep everything in UK pounds and UK context, including UK plug types, voltage, sizes, consumer rights and retailers, and flag any option that is only sold abroad.

How to install in Perplexity

Copy the template above, then open Perplexity. In the sidebar, open Projects, choose New project and call it "Product Comparison Shopper". Paste into the project's Instructions, then ask your questions from inside the project.

Pro tip

Create a Perplexity project for home purchases and paste these instructions into its custom instructions, so every comparison follows the same layout. Then click through the cited sources on any price or claim that decides your choice, as listings change quickly.

Want it tailored to how you work?

Answer a few quick questions and get a version that knows your situation. It appears on screen with a Copy button, and we email you a copy. Free, 5 a day.

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FAQ

How do I install the product comparison shopper skill in Perplexity?

Is it free?

Yes. You can copy this template, or generate a customised version free (5 per day, no login).

Does it work on other platforms?

Yes. The template works as plain instructions in any AI. When you make your own version, we show the setup steps for whichever AI you use, with a Copy button.