Just How Good Is 'Consumer Reports' Mag?
 

I used to read it years ago and it seemed pretty good back then - just wondering if it is still a pretty decent guide to the best products. Thinking of getting an annual subscription.

Ideas?

What does consumer reports say about it?

LOL

My step-FIL loves it, but I find that they don't review half of the models that I'm interested in. They tend to stick w/ the big name brands and most popular models (makes sense from a marketing prospective). As a result, I think they often lead the readers to believe they're picking the best brand/model on the market. In reality, they're just buying the best brand/model CR has reviewed.

I always felt they gave the best review to whoever slipped them the thickest envelope under the table.

On more than one occasion, I have seen how they are biased. They are very pro-Japanese car (In one review, the Toyota car wouldn't start, but somehow it ended up with a high reliability rating). I also saw how they created a testing methodology which made some products look really the opposite of reality.

For example: Bunn coffee makers keep a tank of water hot, so that when you pour the water in, you displace the hot water and it makes a pot of coffee immediately. The test proceedure had the technicians start the clock at the time the coffee maker was plugged in. So the Bunn needs a long time to heat it's initial tank. No one keeps a Bunn unplugged. They should have made a note of this in the test results, and also shown how long it takes a preheated Bunn to make a pot of coffee.

Create the test to sell the product? Hmmm...sounds like what we used to do at GE using the ol Six Sigma!

as per above, not perfect BUT they do use statistics unlike most places!
- that is why the Toyota episode did not affect their rating much

they have actually gotten better with their car reviews over the last few decades

I go to the library and read what they have to say before buying a non-specialty item

if you think about it, tools, cars, audiophile level electronics & etc. are all specialty items.

main problem I have is that by the time you read a review, the exact model they reviewed is gone and replacement may not be the same

2nd major issue is your goals have to align with theirs - e.g. you may not care about luggage space, but suspension feel is likely very imp. to those here...

My pop has a subscription and it's useful. I followed their lawn mower advice and couldnt be happier. Boring yeah, but their review was dead on.

Same goes for a mixer. The car stuff is too subjective for me. Outside of learning out major flaws or issues I dont care what the think of handling or performance.

I'm a second-hand car guy, so their reliability tracking is handy. It not only rates them, but also discusses the known failure "issues" so I know what to look for, and look at, when I shop.

James, their preference for Japanese vehicles over USA makes might have something to do with the observation that Japanese cars LAST TWICE AS LONG. Everyone knows you ditch an American car before mileage goes into a sixth digit. Hondas last a quarter-million miles whether you change the oil or not. Good poing on the Bunn thing, though, for sure.

Soup, it was 2 examples of their bias. I did find some of the information useful for many years. I don't subscribe anymore.

The magazine will not give you any advice an online forum couldn't provide. Plus you know the forum will give you at least 3 or 4 opinions that matter instead of 1 that could be biased.

They are biased, like everyone else. I've never seen any rag that could be considered unbiased.

BTW Toyota isn't at the top of their heap anymore. Also keep in mind a lot of their scoring isn't based just on their tests--they send out owners' surveys etc. and get a lot of their data that way.

I find them more useful for topics in which I have zero interest, like vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. To me, their computer reviews are pointless and their auto reviews are uninspired (though the reliability history, as Supe pointed out, is very useful).

I watched their review on the Nissan Titan for about 4 years. Nissan had taken steps to fix some of the problems with the earlier models, but C.R. just did a copy & paste year after year without taking a second look at the vehicle.

they probably lack sufficient data for a statistical analysis on the revisions
- that is another "problem" with using statistics

I find the comments in post #11 without any merit, as is the silly comment on bias below that.

I find CU useful for appliances and other stuff that is kind of hard to research through "enthusiast" forums. Like, I'm really going to go find the enthusiast forum for leaf blowers or microwaves or dishwashers or auto insurance policies, and spend hours browsing and asking about those boring things - no way, I'd rather consult CU. For stuff that I am more interested in - cars, computers, TVs - I find CU less useful, not that their information is wrong but their priorities are likely different than mine. The auto reliability data is very useful though, probably the best data that you can get short of the auto industry's internal data.

I dropped my subscription years ago when they did an article on orange juice.......What a waste of my time...........

When the 911s were very young, CR did a new car test indicating that the brakes were inadequate in some way. Don't remember the details, that was few years ago. I stopped reading then.

I've subscribed for a very long time and usually check the magazine out when I'm in the market to buy something. I don't always end up buying their top rated item, but I figure I don't have the resources or expertise to test like they do. Plus, they always mention things I haven't considered or didn't know about. That helps lots of times too at decision time.

Their wood stain review was dead on. They did a great job on conducting their experiments too. I'm glad that my parents have the magazine for the few times I need something and really can't find useful information online.

They never seem to review any particular model/item that I'm considering...