A networked system with a product finder associated with an expert system is used to assist a shopper in making a product selection. A shopper interacts with the server through a browser over the network. The system can be connected to a retail server in such a way as to allow a shopper to complete a purchase. The expert system presents a series of questions to the shopper. By answering the questions, the shopper drills down through a hierarchy to arrive at a recommended product. Alternately, the shopper fills out a screen of data which is then used as a filter to identify an appropriate product.