Importance of Reading Reviews Before Purchases

Posted by Ben

March 1, 2008

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In order to really optimize money, you need to make sure to make smart decisions about what you buy. One of the best ways of doing this is to read reviews. Naturally, we want more information on those things that we don’t know a whole lot about or there is a wide variation. One example is HD TVs.

Frank is looking for a new TV, he sent me the specs on the set he was considering a few days ago. The raw numbers sounded average but the price was really great, so after considering how the prices of flat panels are dropping, I thought it was just a really good deal. Thankfully, he is a thorough shopper and dug a little deeper. It didn’t take long to find out that that particular model, looked good on paper, but was a complete waste of plastic. (It was an Insignia, plasma by the way, don’t even look at it.) This experience carried over with a coworker of mine as well. He had recently bought a small TV for his bedroom, upon the recommendation of a salesperson. One DVD later, it doesn’t display properly. I asked him if he had read anything about it before he purchased it and he said, “no but aren’t all TVs the same? ” No, they obviously are not. (He got a Magnavox, DVD combo “thing,” again don’t bother.)

It is far better to get a solid TV and avoid the headache of returning, repairing, and to just be happy with it. The lesson here is to read reviews, especially for larger purchases, and discover the pros and cons and listen to what people are saying.

Below you will find multiple review sites and a quick look at what they have to offer:

CNET Some might say that CNet has “sold out,” or that their reviews are biased. Use it as a bench mark anyways, and continue on. Keep in mind that there are still user reviews to consider as well as the fact that they rate things on the harsh side. At least most seem harsh to me, I rarely see a product that gets better than a “Very Good.” This site is also good for cell phones and other electronics. Video reviews are also helpful for seeing a product in scale and move around. ZD Net is another good review site.

Amazon There is a huge review community at Amazon and I have found some pretty reliable accounts there. A good percentage of the reviews are people angry with something they bought that did not live up to it’s expectations, but this can still be helpful if there are commonalities among the reviews. Again, electronics are a good thing to review. As far as books go, that’s a little more difficult. What one person might like is a matter of opinion, but if the post is written well, they will site what makes a book not worthwhile and this can be helpful. Be cautious of authors plugging their own books.

Edmunds Edmunds is the premier place to look at the value of different cars, in conjunction with Kelley Blue Book. See everything from guides, reviews, road tests, consumer ratings and photos. Buying a car is a huge purchase, you don’t want to bring it home and two days later see a better car for less. You will lose sleep over it.

For those of you that dabble in video games, you probably already have a site for this in mind, but allow me to recommend IGN. They, along with Gamespot, are one of the best video game review sites out there. This is subject to variability depending on personal preference but a fine site none the less. They are just over 10 years old and have advanced their services that make them a great deal.

Most would say that Rotten Tomatoes is the site to visit, in order to determine if new box office movie is really as good as you heard it was. If you live in the Washington DC area, or have access to a Washington Post, do NOT consider their review of a movies as anywhere accurate. I read the Post everyday and every single time I read the movie review section, they have something negative to say. Honestly, what does it take!?

This is for the more in-depth computer users. Tom’s Hardware is a bit over board but we’ll call them “thorough.” Check them out for the bleeding edge of video cards, motherboards, etc.

If you can’t seem to find a review on something, check Epinions. There are users here that do nothing but review various products all day. Its well rounded, but don’t let it be your only stop.

Let me stress that these sites are just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to doing research on a product. There is little substitute for word of mouth from your friends and family. That level of trust and same values aspect will be a large indicator as to what intelligent and frugal decision should be made. As always, take your time, and once you convince yourself of a good deal on a solid product, you will never doubt your decision. $

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