By Scott Nyerges on August 11, 2010 in
Like many publications and websites, we at ConsumerSearch welcome reader feedback, be it a question, a comment or a complaint. From time to time, we like to answer reader mail on the blog; in some cases, the particular question or comment is a common one. Read on for a sampling from the ConsumerSearch inbox. In some instances, letters have been edited for length.
Dear ConsumerSearch: My experience over time with Snapfish is very different than yours. As HP deteriorates with service, they care little about issues with orders. You cannot talk to anyone except offshore, they only know what is on the screen, there is no tracking of orders and they hide from the public. That is not number one! — Tom
Dear Tom: Thanks for writing. Our reviews are based on a consensus of professional reviews and user opinion. Although Snapfish is named the best digital photo printing service in our report, the law of averages suggests that not all consumers will have an equally positive experience, as you yourself can attest. We are planning to update our report on digital photo printing services later this year, and we'll keep your comments in mind when we do.
Dear ConsumerSearch: I just want to say, "Thank you." I have been waiting for a website like yours. I used to spend hours, days, even weeks reading reviews and ratings on all kinds of websites. I have easily 50 or more bookmarks stored in my favorites that I used to scan through before making a purchase... I can now declutter my favorites and replace them with your website and most importantly use my time so much more efficiently. You're my time-saver #1. Thank you!
I also appreciate that while you are not completely independent it seems you are honest about it, and it seems you are making every effort to be objective. I have always been suspicious about the credibility of individual consumer opinions; with you now, I have a way of not having to rely solely on those types of info or researching (sometimes dubious) experts' opinions. I read through your FAQ, but I do have more questions: How do you know, find out if a reviewer/ rater is an expert/ a guru? Do you have access to their resume? Do you interview them? Or how? And how do you know if something is what you call a "puff piece", where the publisher got advertising and is then asking editors to write a review? — Andrea
Dear Andrea: We always love hearing from readers who find value in the service that we provide. As it happens, our editor in chief recently discussed how to find trustworthy consumer reviews on the NPR program "Talk of the Nation."
In some instances, such as our report on webcams, where the top source (CowboyFrank.net) is not a professional publication but instead an "enthusiast" site, we do reach out to these persons to interview them to find out more about their methodology and motivations. We also look for a clear "About Us" section on every site -- a section that identifies the site's owners and authors, and discloses a site editorial and ethics policy. Websites that don't divulge this information often aren't trustworthy. (You can find the ConsumerSearch "About Us" page here, and our FAQ page covers questions about our editorial policy and ethics.)
Dear ConsumerSearch: Are off-shore music sites, legal and are any real? I found a site called mp3eagle.com It seems legal, but I have my doubts. It charges a membership of like $100 for a year of unlimited downloads. Sounds good to me just not legal. Is there anyway to check out if its legal? — A reader
Dear Reader: The Recording Industry Association of America offers a tip sheet on its website that discusses downloading music. You can also check out our recommendations for the best music download site.
Dear ConsumerSearch: I'm trying to find where you have the last few reviews. I looked up dishwashers. It says it was updated July 2010. Where is the one before that? And the one before that one? And the one before that one? I may be able to find a great review for an older dishwasher that a retailer might be able to let go at a lower price. — Dennis
Dear Dennis: We revise our reports every four to 12 months, and while we don't archive old editions of them, we do archive select reviews of recommended models. The easiest way to find older reports is to type "dishwasher" into the search field, found in the upper right-hand corner of our website. This will bring up a list of current and previously recommended products.
Do you have a question or comment about something you read at ConsumerSearch? Drop us a line! We also have a FAQ section with answers to many common reader queries. And thanks for reader and writing!