BoatBanter.com - View Single Post

Vic Smith

On Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:34:01 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:45:23 -0500, wrote:

Consumer Reports Magazine is a front for a crooked organization. Do some
research.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't trust them to wind my watch. They once did a review of car
stereos, and the top rated stereo was the factory installed unit in an AMC
Hornet!

Another time, they rated two identical VCR's with different brand names on them:
One was the top rated, and one was rated worst. When I say identical, I mean
they came off the same assembly line and the only differences were some slight
styling changes to the front bezel, and the brand name. Otherwise the exact same
unit.

I just addressed this in another NG. I think the CU ratings are more a
measuremernt of the respondents than the product with a huge margin of
error

I've felt the same for years. The surveys are self-selecting, and the
readership reflects a certain demographic, which used to be East Coast
professional class. For years the Volvo was rated as one of the most
reliable cars. CR has pushed for globalization for years, and I think
had editorials on good NAFTA would be for the consumer.
I generally don't agree with their "politics," and have found their
"science" lacking often enough.
Having said that, they have done some decent work in product
evaluation, IMO mostly smaller stuff, from toasters to washing
machines. Their main value has always been the surveys on
reliability, but for major purchases like cars I've never bought
their results except at the margins, since they always keep nearly all
raw data well-hidden.
I do believe that an item to which they award a red circle is "better"
and a black circle "worse," but beyond that all bets are off.
I think they provide value to those who otherwise would make
purchases with a shotgun approach, and if you like the mag, get it.
I was a subscriber until this year, finally deciding I didn't want it
after about 30 years of subscribing.
One thing that's happening for appliance selection is web sites
showing owner reviews, which are often more detailed than anything
CR ever did. I just bought a new washing machine and found the web
site reviews instrumental in my selection.
Newegg is excellent in this respect, and you can get really good info
on computer parts quality from the reviews. And you can detect the BS
from some owners - whose purchase is always the "right" one, something
never directly reflected in CR's colored circles. We all know how
reliable circa 1980's Volvos were, right? No, I don't want to argue
about it.

--Vic