Is a subscription to Consumer Reports really worth it?

[Quasmo]

I've been looking to get a new dishwasher and wanted to know if paying for consumer reports was really worth it or can I find the info online somewhere else?

 

[CrazyLazy]

No, use the internets.

 

[Ballatician]

Your local library should have a subscription.

 

[kranky]

Your library might even provide online access to Consumer Reports from home, using your library card number.

 

[spidey07]

No, they have never been a reliable source of information.

 

[Ballatician]

Originally posted by: kranky
Your library might even provide online access to Consumer Reports from home, using your library card number.

Yup. I think mine has this but you have to wait a few months for the newest issues.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: spidey07
No, they have never been a reliable source of information.

what? They have some of the most unbiased tests done. Their labs are top notch as well.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: spidey07
No, they have never been a reliable source of information.

what? They have some of the most unbiased tests done. Their labs are top notch as well.

It just depends on what you're looking for. I definitely trust them for stuff like appliances...but not so much with computers or digital cameras.

 

[Squisher]

There's this guy on these forums who keeps posting screen shots of their site., but he often doesn't scroll down enough and you really do get a lot more by reading each individual review and readers opinions.

A case in point about the reader reviews, the vacuum cleaner that everyone raves about (the top rated Kenmore) and CR gave a glowing review to, didn't do so well with the CR readers because it was prone to breaking its plastic components. I know CR will give reliability info on a brand, but not on specific model so it steered me away from buying that Kenmore.

EDIT: I will also agree that CR doesn't do the best with their car reviews, but there are a ton of other sites for that.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: spidey07
No, they have never been a reliable source of information.

what? They have some of the most unbiased tests done. Their labs are top notch as well.

They rated cars top notch without even testing. That says enough for me on unbiased.

 

[Baked]

Using Consumer Report for reviews is like buying stuff using the Sears Catalog. It's outdated.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: spidey07
No, they have never been a reliable source of information.

what? They have some of the most unbiased tests done. Their labs are top notch as well.

They rated cars top notch without even testing. That says enough for me on unbiased.

Yep, that and they out source a lot of their reviews now as well.


CR was ok 10 years ago. But I can find more, and better, reviews online.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Yep, that and they out source a lot of their reviews now as well.


CR was ok 10 years ago. But I can find more, and better, reviews online.

That gets me on one of my soap boxes. Just because you read it on the intarweb doesn't make it true.

There is so much misinformation on the intarweb it makes one's head spin. Especially user created reviews. Those generally are influenced by the need to be justified in their purchase so they normally goo-goo-ga-ga about their purchase without any knowledge of other options. If you can find real reviews by people that actually know what they are talking about then that is great, but that is getting harder and harder to find.

As far as appliances - I want to see it, feel it, check it out. Kick the tires if you will. That's more information than a review that you read on the intarweb.

Agree that CR used to be good, when they were the only source for that. Today? Not so much.

 

[Kelemvor]

I always seem to find 30 day trials for their site when I need to find something. Although I've only used it twice. I don't see why people give that place any more weight than any other people that review things. I'd rather read real people's reviews than just another company that reviews products for a living.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Yep, that and they out source a lot of their reviews now as well.


CR was ok 10 years ago. But I can find more, and better, reviews online.

That gets me on one of my soap boxes. Just because you read it on the intarweb doesn't make it true.

There is so much misinformation on the intarweb it makes one's head spin. Especially user created reviews. Those generally are influenced by the need to be justified in their purchase so they normally goo-goo-ga-ga about their purchase without any knowledge of other options. If you can find real reviews by people that actually know what they are talking about then that is great, but that is getting harder and harder to find.

As far as appliances - I want to see it, feel it, check it out. Kick the tires if you will. That's more information than a review that you read on the intarweb.

Agree that CR used to be good, when they were the only source for that. Today? Not so much.

Wait - aren't you a subjectivist audiophile? :Q

 

[arrfep]

IMO, for $5, it can't really hurt to subscribe for a month and do some research. Just another source of information.

 

[lightstar]

search the internet or go to your local library

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: Ballatician
Your local library should have a subscription.

Your best bet.

 

[Capt Caveman]

CR is pretty cheap to subscribe. I would if my father didn't already subscribe.

 

[0roo0roo]

yes it is. and now you can check online. appliances are something normal consumers cannot review from experience. you simply don't buy them enough to know much about them other then if it was basically competent or it totally failed. at best people compare their old ass model to their newer one so yea, some reasonably scientific testing from a group like consumer reports does help quite a bit. else you really are in the dark on this stuff.

 

[ultra laser]

Does anyone else view libraries as big analogue hard drives?

 

[DomS]

Originally posted by: ultra laser
Does anyone else view libraries as big analogue hard drives?

lol i was thinking something similar (well same thought, not same analogy)

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Yep, that and they out source a lot of their reviews now as well.


CR was ok 10 years ago. But I can find more, and better, reviews online.

That gets me on one of my soap boxes. Just because you read it on the intarweb doesn't make it true.

There is so much misinformation on the intarweb it makes one's head spin. Especially user created reviews. Those generally are influenced by the need to be justified in their purchase so they normally goo-goo-ga-ga about their purchase without any knowledge of other options. If you can find real reviews by people that actually know what they are talking about then that is great, but that is getting harder and harder to find.

As far as appliances - I want to see it, feel it, check it out. Kick the tires if you will. That's more information than a review that you read on the intarweb.

Agree that CR used to be good, when they were the only source for that. Today? Not so much.

The internet is a fine place for info, you just gotta be able to decipher the shit and get the correct info. That's the hard part. I usually look at the worst ratings and see if there is a common complaint among a few of them. Then I'll go to another site and see if the complaints match up. The positive reviews are pretty much useless other than letting you know some misc specs about a product.

 

[lifeobry]

they always have outdated products

 

[Triumph]

I don't get CR detractors. Usually it's people who have a lot of knowledge in one area, such as computers or cars, who have a problem with them. That's because those types of people are very particular about the items that they buy in those realms. But who in their right mind is going to do reliable testing of laundry detergents on their own to figure out the one that works best? Or who is going to buy a bunch of toasters and return the ones that don't toast evenly? CR has an ace card over every other reviewer on newegg, amazon, buy.com, etc. They actually have all of the products in front of them and can compare them head to head. CR also breaks through a lot of bullshit preconceived notions, and people have a problem with that.