In Reply to: Why dismiss Consumer Reports posted by Bill the K on May 1, 2012 at 08:59:44:
...we would never have invaded Iraq.
The story I like to tell about CR is about a shampoo review probably a quarter century ago. I have had dandruff since I was quite young. In this review of shampoos, the only mention of dandruff shampoos was this dismissive comment: "Any high-quality shampoo should remove dandruff flakes." The clear implication is that dandruff shampoos are a waste of money.
So I slapped my forehead and went out and bought their #1-rated shampoo. Within 2 days the flakes were raining down and my head felt like I had flees.
The other problem with CR is that their hypocrisy. Their methodology has serious problems--most importantly, that they fail to account for unit-to-unit variation, basing their judgments on a single sample. But sample-to-sample variability is one of the most important manufacturing faults.
There are other problems--like the fact that they seem not to pay attention to quality of construction. One product may have tighter tolerances and be built out of better parts than another, but if the other performs better when it's new--during their tests--they'll recommend it instead.
I haven't read the mag in years. Maybe it has changed.
Jim
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Follow Ups
- If it were not for Ralph Nader... - Jim Austin 11:55:40 05/01/12 (5)
- Sample to Sample - Bill the K 20:04:51 05/01/12 (4)
- RE: Sample to Sample - Jim Austin 04:44:07 05/02/12 (3)
- Just for you, JA - Charles Hansen 05:07:11 05/02/12 (2)
- Thanks Charles - Jim Austin 05:39:08 05/02/12 (1)
- Value Engineering - Tony Lauck 12:08:46 05/02/12 (0)