Sites offering reviews are similar to Consumer Reports. Offered in a magazine format and also online, Consumer Reports professionals select a category like vacuum cleaners and run tests and offer rankings and buying suggestions. Such reviews are widely respected and quite valuable but do have limitations. A short term organized testing procedure simply does not compare in some ways to day-to-day use by those purchasing items for personal use.
Although I read extensively on the Nissan Xterra before purchasing, test drivers simply can’t give the details that come into play especially after a few months use. Though I love my Nissan, I know that the hub covers are bad about popping off and that the air flow system really does not cool the back seat area in the same way a standard air condition system with extra vents would. It's very unlikely that a test drive would highlight these minor concerns.
How to Use Consumer Review Sites
When clicking to a review site, take a few minutes to get familiar with the set up and the features. Most offer fairly detailed guidelines with helpful tips. Note sorting options. These are usually available from a pull down menu. For example, a date search will be more helpful when looking at online vender reviews. An online store that performed well two years ago may be struggling under new ownership. You’ll want to see what recent customers have to say about an online vendor—not thoughts based on ancient visits. In the online world, a month or two can make a world of difference. On the other hand, a review on a video (if written by someone with a good eye for quality) can be helpful for years. Some of the older reviews (which may drop lower on the reading list) can be some of the most helpful.
Note the overall balance of positive to negative reviews site wide. Though this information is not readily identifiable at most sites, clicking around to a few familiar products (both ones you love and hate) will highlight such patterns. Companies focusing on product sales may be inclined to feature or highly list more positive reviews. Even neutral, non-vendor sites score income with click-through purchasing, so it’s often the case that positive product reviews are listed higher than negative product reviews.