Divorce can mean months or years of pain, strife and financial mayhem. The same can be true in e-commerce when ending a relationship with a technology partner, so it’s important to vet e-commerce platform companies, web design firms and other vendors as carefully as you would a potential life mate.

That was the central message delivered this week by Michael Hughes, CEO of manufacturer and web-only mattress retailer PlushBeds Inc., at the technology workshop of the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition 2015 in Chicago. PlushBeds also manufactures its own products and sells them online at PlushBeds.com

He gave attendees 10 points to consider when choosing a technology partner that would help them avoid a bungled match.

First—and using the dating metaphor—is to ask potential partners who they’ve dated before, Hughes said. Find out with whom the company has worked on similar projects, and be sure whatever company you’re vetting has experience with companies of your same size with similar needs. “What is the average size of their client, and do we fall in their sweet spot?” he said.

Also, be sure to determine whether your potential partner is genuine or pretentious to ensure that you’re not falling for a lot of hype. For example, Hughes told attendees, it would be good to know if the team of people you’re introduced to via phone or in person is the same team that will be working with you directly on your project. “You may be introduced to a team of three MIT grads up front at the pitch meeting, but you want to be sure you’re not getting the interns.”

It would also be good to ask potential partners who else they are dating, Hughes said. How many projects are currently being implemented, for example, and how does that compare to the number of projects the company generally has going at once? These questions are important to get answered so e-retailers can understand where they fit in terms of the vendor’s priorities.

PlushBeds says it’s the largest online retailer of natural and organic mattresses in the U.S.