Comments on: When Evaluating Products, Which Sites Do You Trust?

By: Lise

Lise — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:54:34 +0000

I use Consumer Reports mainly. It’s a paid site, they’ve been around a long time and they have an outstanding reputation.

I also check out other sites like epinions, but for 100% confidence, Consumer Reports is my main source.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:19:26 +0000

I use the web alot for reviews. On technical stuff the detail are very important. I try to look for consensus. Frequently reviews are inconclusive. I look for bias. On some sites I’ve noticed a bias or probability that they are paid for the review. You have to follow a site for a while to catch on. With less important things like movies, I frequently find that I can read between the lines. From what is praised and what is panned, I often form a pretty good picture of whether I would like it even if the reviewer and I would completely disagree.

By: Lin

Lin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:16:16 +0000

I believe Amazon reviews are a very good place to start. I also use Consumer Reports as a guide, and it has proven very useful.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:55:49 +0000

I think considering the source of opinion is important as well. e.g. If a scientific study gets published on the positive affects of caffeine, and I later find out the study was sponsered by Maxwell House, I’m concerned at it’s validity.

Lisa

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:43:39 +0000

Thanks so much for posting this Lynnae. :)

By: Ron@TheWisdomJournal

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:25:09 +0000

I also generally use Amazon, and I look at the general tone as well as the detail. Some people cannot be made happy no matter what and they are more likely to post something than a person with either an acceptable or fantastic experience.

By: Carrie at Natural Moms Products

Carrie at Natural Moms Products — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:06:28 +0000

I’m losing faith in the Amazon reviews because I keep seeing big huge book launches in which it seems people are getting paid to promote their fellow marketer’s books.

I try to consider the source, if it’s a review site I look around or follow it for awhile to evaluate the reviews.

I have a review blog and all the reviews are written by actual moms (or myself or business partner). I pay the moms for their trouble, but I don’t pay a mom if she is submitting her own product for review, and I review products in which I have no financial interest in the product (including no affiliate link).

By: ChristianPF

ChristianPF — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:12:06 +0000

I am with susan – it is the detail in the review that helps you draw out the value… Everyone has an opinion and there will be people on both sides of the map. But recurring comments about a detail of the product will be a good indication of the truth…

By: Kyle @ Rather-Be-Shopping.com

Kyle @ Rather-Be-Shopping.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:43:17 +0000

I use Amazon.com reviews as well. Some reviews may be biased but I think overall they are the best. Nothing is perfect but I tend to find their customer reviews honest and believable.

By: Four Pillars

Four Pillars — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:31:55 +0000

I find book review opinions are useful but not so much for products.

When I’ve researched electronic products in the past – there was such a wide variance of opinion that they reviews were pretty useless.

Mike