Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
When buying items for the first time, many of us turn to reviews. We rely on the input and experience of others to help us make informed decisions during the buying process. Whether it’s a small item like cosmetics or a bigger purchase like a home appliance we all find ourselves scouring the internet for advice.
Unfortunately, there are reports of companies falsifying reviews. When we can’t rely on the reviews on a company’s website – where do we turn? We’ll cover ways to detect false reviews, how to cross-reference reviews, and some of the best websites for fair and accurate consumer reviews to help you get through this holiday season.
What we do:
First we’ll check Amazon, even if we aren’t planning on buying the item on their website. You’re more likely to find a lot of reviews on Amazon, and you can check and see what other items the reviewer(s) reviewed to see if they are legit.
Google is always a great option for finding reviews. Depending on the item you are buying, you can come across competitor websites, Consumer Reports, Test Freaks, or CNET. Want to hear a more descriptive review, it’s amazing how many people upload will do reviews on YouTube, a benefit of YouTube is you’ll most likely be able to see the product in action.
Be suspicious if…
- There are too many reviews around the same date (for example, the item has 20 reviews but all of the reviews were written within the same couple of days) – Unless it’s a brand new item, check other sites
- The reviewer hasn’t reviewed anything else. What type of language are they using? If it sounds formal and they are using product names/model numbers or talking marketing speak – be careful!
- All the reviews are all positive. Of course all companies strives for 5 stars, but make sure to check other websites to make sure you’re getting the full picture.
Just remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Safe shopping!
