Unbiased consumer reviews online?
October 1, 2019 3:38 AM Subscribe
The web is a sea of advertisements masquerading as content, so what are your go-to sites for fair consumer product reviews? I just found The Wire Cutter ("A New York Times Company") that seems to fit the description. What else?
I like Crazy Russian Hacker on YouTube. He posts a daily 10-minute video where he tries out various gadgets. He is generaly positive about them (possibly reflecting that he hasn't paid for the gadgets he reviews), but the beauty of his reviews is that you can see exactly how a gadget works (or doesn't work) before you buy. He's also personable and endearingly naive and funny too.
posted by essexjan at 3:48 AM on October 1, 2019
posted by essexjan at 3:48 AM on October 1, 2019
Boltcutter is the Wirecutter for mid-grade tools that would hold up to shop use.
posted by bfranklin at 3:56 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by bfranklin at 3:56 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Seconding Consumer Reports!
Re: The Wirecutter and similar product-review sites attached to news outlets--this article interestingly points out that these sites are cash cows for the major journals that host them, so there's definitely an extra layer of market sensibility guiding reviews/ choice of products, even though it may not be clear to a layperson where those pressures lie. Also, they accept free products for review from companies (they claim, predictably, that this does not bias the reviews), and many get paid on the backend via affiliate links. I was also pretty unimpressed by that article's description of the research process at such sites, which sounded very much like something organized casually on the fly by a bunch of journalists digging for clicks (understandable, given that that's pretty much what it is).
I'd go with Consumer Reports, or the early days of a lay Youtuber with relevant interests/expertise. My understanding is that by mid-career most YT folks will also have quietly converted to sponsored posting.
posted by Bardolph at 3:58 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Re: The Wirecutter and similar product-review sites attached to news outlets--this article interestingly points out that these sites are cash cows for the major journals that host them, so there's definitely an extra layer of market sensibility guiding reviews/ choice of products, even though it may not be clear to a layperson where those pressures lie. Also, they accept free products for review from companies (they claim, predictably, that this does not bias the reviews), and many get paid on the backend via affiliate links. I was also pretty unimpressed by that article's description of the research process at such sites, which sounded very much like something organized casually on the fly by a bunch of journalists digging for clicks (understandable, given that that's pretty much what it is).
I'd go with Consumer Reports, or the early days of a lay Youtuber with relevant interests/expertise. My understanding is that by mid-career most YT folks will also have quietly converted to sponsored posting.
posted by Bardolph at 3:58 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I used to be a big fan of wirecutter but ever since they were bought by the Times their reviews have a much less detailed or critical feel to them and I feel they steer heavily towards products that get them affiliate cash or advertising. They have also started pushing some woo categories which triggers alarm bells for me.
I prefer reviews done by within category specialists these days. I like runrepeat for running shoes because they have aggregated reviews at the top and then a reviewer comment section at the bottom and an email alert system for price drops. I like America's Test Kitchen on youtube for food and kitchen product reviews. Plus the "I'll see YOU later" bit at the end of each video is weird and makes laugh every time. Unbox Therapy on youtube for tech product reviews.
I still fall back on wirecutter for things like sleep products because I haven't found other reviewers that are not just SEO affiliate scams though.
posted by srboisvert at 4:05 AM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
I prefer reviews done by within category specialists these days. I like runrepeat for running shoes because they have aggregated reviews at the top and then a reviewer comment section at the bottom and an email alert system for price drops. I like America's Test Kitchen on youtube for food and kitchen product reviews. Plus the "I'll see YOU later" bit at the end of each video is weird and makes laugh every time. Unbox Therapy on youtube for tech product reviews.
I still fall back on wirecutter for things like sleep products because I haven't found other reviewers that are not just SEO affiliate scams though.
posted by srboisvert at 4:05 AM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
Nthing Consumer Reports (though I still use the Wirecutter for smallish things like minor home appliances, etc). And while a lot of CR's reviews are member-only, it's possible your library is a member and you can access CR through them -- both in dead-tree format and through the internet. My library system's website has a link to the online resources they offer, and I access Consumer Reports via the link the library provides.
As for the Wirecutter -- if I use them, I cross-check with other places (Amazon, YouTube, other online stores, etc), to see what the overall consensus is.
posted by Janta at 4:30 AM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
As for the Wirecutter -- if I use them, I cross-check with other places (Amazon, YouTube, other online stores, etc), to see what the overall consensus is.
posted by Janta at 4:30 AM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
I've pretty much given up on anything on the web for trusted reviews. It's not so much that the fake reviews are overwhelming - I could, given some time and effort, figure out which to avoid - it's just that the situation is changing so fast that I'd have to keep putting in that time and effort over and over again.
Instead, I go to two sources:
1. the Which magazine (UK, similar to your US Consumer Reports) - because that kind of funding setup doesn't tempt them into biased reviews
2. long-established retailers of good reputation and with good refund policies - e.g. department store John Lewis - where I simply buy whatever they have on sale, and trust them to have done their homework for me.
I know I'll miss out on bargains from other sources, but it's a compromise I'm willing to live with.
posted by vincebowdren at 5:03 AM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
Instead, I go to two sources:
1. the Which magazine (UK, similar to your US Consumer Reports) - because that kind of funding setup doesn't tempt them into biased reviews
2. long-established retailers of good reputation and with good refund policies - e.g. department store John Lewis - where I simply buy whatever they have on sale, and trust them to have done their homework for me.
I know I'll miss out on bargains from other sources, but it's a compromise I'm willing to live with.
posted by vincebowdren at 5:03 AM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
Cooks illustrated for kitchen things.
posted by bilabial at 5:03 AM on October 1, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by bilabial at 5:03 AM on October 1, 2019 [6 favorites]
I have used wirecutter recommendations in the past and been satisfied with the purchase, but I am more cautious now, because of the Times thing. I'll look at what wirecutter says, scan their sources, then poke around for independent reviews and comments on the stuff, especially internet searching "(product name) + known issues". Consumer Reports is good, but my past experience is they don't pay attention to actual durability for most things (cars being one exception). Maybe that has changed. I look at customer reviews on Amazon or wherever and pay most attention to the reviews with specific, useful information. Serendipity gets me useful comments at a couple of internet communities that I hang out at, but that's not a high-probability avenue.
posted by coppertop at 5:16 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by coppertop at 5:16 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Boltcutter is the Wirecutter for mid-grade tools that would hold up to shop use, I am lost in reviews for Bolt Cutters, what is the link for this site?
posted by InkaLomax at 5:30 AM on October 1, 2019
posted by InkaLomax at 5:30 AM on October 1, 2019
Kind of adjacent to your request - Fakespot helps by judging the believability of reviews on a number of sites e.g. Amazon.
posted by achrise at 5:34 AM on October 1, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by achrise at 5:34 AM on October 1, 2019 [13 favorites]
As well as his videos on bizarre retro tech, Techmoan (previously) also does thorough and critical reviews of dashcams, action cams, headphones etc. He seems to be scrupulous and I'd be very surprised if he took sponsorship or allowed his conclusions to be influenced.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 6:05 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Busy Old Fool at 6:05 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
InkaLomax: Boltcutter.io
posted by bfranklin at 6:14 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bfranklin at 6:14 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have found that outdoorgearlab.com is good for camping & outdoors stuff.
I like to go to online communities devoted to a given topic, and then search there. Some subreddits are good for this, for example. Sometimes I find a group of passionate hobbyists and then use Google's "site:" operator in my searches to only look through their stuff -- I have explored some car sites this way without having to lurk for a month before asking my question.
I used to search the web for the product name plus the phrases "I wish I" or "I'm glad" or "happy" or "suck" or "regret" or "retrospect" or "refund" -- but that's not always useful since Google's results aren't as responsive to your actual search terms any more.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:27 AM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
I like to go to online communities devoted to a given topic, and then search there. Some subreddits are good for this, for example. Sometimes I find a group of passionate hobbyists and then use Google's "site:" operator in my searches to only look through their stuff -- I have explored some car sites this way without having to lurk for a month before asking my question.
I used to search the web for the product name plus the phrases "I wish I" or "I'm glad" or "happy" or "suck" or "regret" or "retrospect" or "refund" -- but that's not always useful since Google's results aren't as responsive to your actual search terms any more.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:27 AM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
I cautiously trust Wirecutter, but they're not a slam dunk and sometimes I wonder about their actual independence. For example, they gave their highest rating to Zoom web conferencing literally the week after the news broke that Zoom was literally installing an always-on server that would reinstall its software after removal.
That's malware. That describes a complete ethical void. And they stood by their rec. So with anything at all technical, I feel like often they're out of their depth and don't realize it.
But on simpler things, I do tend to still trust them.
posted by uberchet at 6:51 AM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
That's malware. That describes a complete ethical void. And they stood by their rec. So with anything at all technical, I feel like often they're out of their depth and don't realize it.
But on simpler things, I do tend to still trust them.
posted by uberchet at 6:51 AM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
Rtings.com for headphones, TVs, monitors. They've been doing in-depth technical reviews for a bit now.
posted by Wilbefort at 6:56 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Wilbefort at 6:56 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Consumersearch.com is a meta-review site, in that they combine and summarize reviews from various sites (notably Consumer Reports and amazon, plus category-specific reviews). I also find Fakespot to be invaluable as another type of meta-review site. They weigh in on the validity of reviews from amazon, yelp, and so on so you know whether to trust what you've seen there.
posted by DrGail at 7:33 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by DrGail at 7:33 AM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Cool Tools has been around for years, run by Kevin Kelly. It's a pretty eclectic series of reviews of useful things, not just tools.
ToolGuyd is good at covering new releases of hand tools and cordless power tools. He posts deals sometimes (there was nice Bosch FlexiClick driver deal last week).
posted by exogenous at 7:37 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
ToolGuyd is good at covering new releases of hand tools and cordless power tools. He posts deals sometimes (there was nice Bosch FlexiClick driver deal last week).
posted by exogenous at 7:37 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
I have to vote against the Wirecutter. Prior to the NYT take over, they were great. Ever since, I've found them seriously wanting. My favorite recent example being their "The Best Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner", which makes no specific recommendations at all.
Unfortunately I don't have a better option. Even a real, verified, end user providing a review isn't a great source of information if their experience is an outlier. I've been combining Google searches with information gleaned from relevant subreddits, but that's probably more work than any rational person wants to do every time they make a purchase.
posted by Zudz at 8:37 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately I don't have a better option. Even a real, verified, end user providing a review isn't a great source of information if their experience is an outlier. I've been combining Google searches with information gleaned from relevant subreddits, but that's probably more work than any rational person wants to do every time they make a purchase.
posted by Zudz at 8:37 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I like Notebookcheck, an Austrian site, for laptop, tablet and phone reviews. But I read their very exhaustive articles in full before making up my mind about a purchase rather than relying on the overall review.
posted by tavegyl at 9:45 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by tavegyl at 9:45 AM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I agree with others that specialist/hobbyist websites are the way to go. I don't trust Wirecutter reviews for anything other than small items. For instance, the fact that they didn't include Bosch or Ankarsrum, both very popular options among serious home bakers, in their stand mixer testing makes their entire process suspect to me. And scroll down to Cate's comment on their best cake pans page for a summary of why their recommendations there are suspect as well.
So for a few examples of sources I would trust more than Wirecutter - Cake Central for cake baking, The Fresh Loaf for bread baking, this hobbyist site for ice cream makers, Stella Parks's stuff on Serious Eats for baking equipment in general, Pattern Review for sewing, Makeup Alley for makeup. It can also be helpful to browse specialist stores like Pleasant Hill Grain and King Arthur Flour.
Reddit can be helpful, but you still have to take what you see there with a grain of salt. For instance, the makeup subs are full of recommendations (see here for recs from /r/muacjdiscussion or here for recs from /r/makeupaddiction) - but the overall audience skews to very young women and teenagers who mostly ignore brands they see as being for "old ladies" (like Estee Lauder), so the recommendations are pretty filtered to brands that appeal to the Reddit audience. Still helpful to look at, but a good idea to look at other sources as well, at least for big-ticket items.
posted by LNM at 10:04 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
So for a few examples of sources I would trust more than Wirecutter - Cake Central for cake baking, The Fresh Loaf for bread baking, this hobbyist site for ice cream makers, Stella Parks's stuff on Serious Eats for baking equipment in general, Pattern Review for sewing, Makeup Alley for makeup. It can also be helpful to browse specialist stores like Pleasant Hill Grain and King Arthur Flour.
Reddit can be helpful, but you still have to take what you see there with a grain of salt. For instance, the makeup subs are full of recommendations (see here for recs from /r/muacjdiscussion or here for recs from /r/makeupaddiction) - but the overall audience skews to very young women and teenagers who mostly ignore brands they see as being for "old ladies" (like Estee Lauder), so the recommendations are pretty filtered to brands that appeal to the Reddit audience. Still helpful to look at, but a good idea to look at other sources as well, at least for big-ticket items.
posted by LNM at 10:04 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Lately, I've been using DC Rainmaker to get reviews of cycling gear.
posted by crLLC at 11:50 AM on October 1, 2019
posted by crLLC at 11:50 AM on October 1, 2019
Along with Wirecutter, I use Reviewed.
Between these and the reviews on Amazon, I get an idea if it is worth it.
One thing is, I have stopped buying stuff on Amazon. There is too much fake stuff on there and it looks like Amazon has given up on QA. I find Ebay sellers to be better.
posted by indianbadger1 at 12:10 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Between these and the reviews on Amazon, I get an idea if it is worth it.
One thing is, I have stopped buying stuff on Amazon. There is too much fake stuff on there and it looks like Amazon has given up on QA. I find Ebay sellers to be better.
posted by indianbadger1 at 12:10 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Strongly seconding Cook's Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen. They review both kitchen equipment and food products. (Also, the recipes and videos you will get as part of any subscription are top-notch.)
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 12:54 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 12:54 PM on October 1, 2019
Seconding DC Rainmaker for cycling things, and Cool Tools for many other things. SweetHome (a sister site of Wirecutter) is good for at least narrowing the search, but I'll echo the sentiment that they aren't as good since the NYT buyout.
posted by Wild_Eep at 1:58 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by Wild_Eep at 1:58 PM on October 1, 2019
Thom Hogan's site is good for camera and photography-related reviews.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:41 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:41 PM on October 1, 2019
I may have picked this up here or on the aforementioned Cool Tools, but googling “best [name/description of thing] reddit” often turns up some good information. Reddit acts as a magic keyword that strips out the content mill “10 best” lists and gets you closer to actual user reviews.
posted by clark at 3:55 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by clark at 3:55 PM on October 1, 2019
And for people who wear bras, the subreddit abrathatfits. This is most helpful if you are willing to post a photo of you in the bra in question and folks who know can tell you what fit adkustmentsbyou might need, and suggest other brands for your particular shape.
posted by bilabial at 7:44 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bilabial at 7:44 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you just want results from reddit and you're using google to search, one tip is to use "site:reddit.com best [name of thing]" The 'site:' only returns results from that particular website's domain name.
posted by Wild_Eep at 8:16 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Wild_Eep at 8:16 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Consumer Reports got a lot of recommendations, without the why.
Why: they're a nonprofit that doesn't accept advertising or sponsorship money. They literally have to survive on the quality of their reporting, and that's what they do and do well.
posted by talldean at 9:52 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Why: they're a nonprofit that doesn't accept advertising or sponsorship money. They literally have to survive on the quality of their reporting, and that's what they do and do well.
posted by talldean at 9:52 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
DPReview, as recommended on AskMe some years ago, for all things digital camera.
posted by TravellingCari at 10:06 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by TravellingCari at 10:06 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
DC Rainmaker is amazingly exhaustive. I rely on him a LOT.
That calls out an interesting fact: GENERAL review sites, like the Wirecutter, are never going to be as good at a given niche than a site devoted to that niche will be -- like America's Test Kitchen, or DCR, or DPReview, etc.
posted by uberchet at 12:23 PM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
That calls out an interesting fact: GENERAL review sites, like the Wirecutter, are never going to be as good at a given niche than a site devoted to that niche will be -- like America's Test Kitchen, or DCR, or DPReview, etc.
posted by uberchet at 12:23 PM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Wirecutter is shitty, too many categories I know something about are conspicuously missing the consensus top grade vendor. I trust them as much as Amazon reviews.
Nowadays I try to pay attention to what brands are carried by stores with good return policies (e.g. REI) and check out those models.
posted by benzenedream at 12:28 AM on October 8, 2019
Nowadays I try to pay attention to what brands are carried by stores with good return policies (e.g. REI) and check out those models.
posted by benzenedream at 12:28 AM on October 8, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:44 AM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]