01-27-2014, 10:35 AM
When I am buying something on the expensive side I will trust online reviews if it's a reputable source. CNet for electronics for example, or Consumer reports.
One thing I always do online is read the negative reviews from consumers. Positive reviews are generic and often prompted by a menu button. But when somebody has a problem that passes them off enough to write about it, they go into detail. Then if I see a problem described more than once, like "blackberry has terrible apps" I will Google that phrase and it calls up all sorts of articles. That gives me a good idea about whether or not a problem one guy had is chronic or if it's just that guy.
For cars I stick with nonprofit sites like the Natl Highway Safety site that does all the testing or a repair site like Edmunds.com which does the recall lists and chronic issues. One time in the interest of safety over style I bought a big fat Mercury and I remember that review said "this car is no fashion statement but you will walk away from all but the worst accident." I drove that ugly piece of shit for three years and one day an idiot plowed into me trying to pass me. Folded the whole ass end of the car up, shattered the windows, Totalled It Out and Gave Me Chronic Arthritic Issues In my lower back, but me and the seven - year - old riding along walked away. It did what it was meant to and kept us alive. So in that case reviews proved highly helpful.
One thing I always do online is read the negative reviews from consumers. Positive reviews are generic and often prompted by a menu button. But when somebody has a problem that passes them off enough to write about it, they go into detail. Then if I see a problem described more than once, like "blackberry has terrible apps" I will Google that phrase and it calls up all sorts of articles. That gives me a good idea about whether or not a problem one guy had is chronic or if it's just that guy.
For cars I stick with nonprofit sites like the Natl Highway Safety site that does all the testing or a repair site like Edmunds.com which does the recall lists and chronic issues. One time in the interest of safety over style I bought a big fat Mercury and I remember that review said "this car is no fashion statement but you will walk away from all but the worst accident." I drove that ugly piece of shit for three years and one day an idiot plowed into me trying to pass me. Folded the whole ass end of the car up, shattered the windows, Totalled It Out and Gave Me Chronic Arthritic Issues In my lower back, but me and the seven - year - old riding along walked away. It did what it was meant to and kept us alive. So in that case reviews proved highly helpful.
Thank god I am oblivious to the opinions of others while caught in the blinding splendor of my own cleverness.