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In Reply to: Consumer Reports has repeatable non-biased tests -- other magazines write 3 pages on wires with no audible differeences! posted by Richard BassNut Greene on March 19, 2007 at 07:28:19:
they test something you know about. Then you discover that the assumptions they make in their testing are often wrong, sometimes ludicrously so.Apart from audio, I know bikes and photography equipment. I learned years ago that CR was incompetent to test and report on these things. I haven't checked in over a decade, maybe they've improved. But it makes me wonder if you can trust them to be right about toasters.
Follow Ups:
I wonder if non-hobbiest categories are something they might be doing a good job on. The nuances that hobbiests go into...audio or whatever...and the prices they are willing to pay...make me think they are not good judges of those categories where anything thing like 'value' or common sense are reasonable factors to include. I know one person period who spends more on hi fi than I do (and I don't spend that much). Everyone else gives me a funny look. Music lovers, musicians, composers....most of them could care less about sound the way audiophiles do. If toasters were your hobby, you probably wouldn't find cr worth anything. But if you want a safe, reliable machine that pops up a couple good pieces of toast when you want it, it might be another story.
It also just so happens that anything that I have purchased that happened to be recommended by Consumer Reports has been a bad purchase.
*Dishwasher that caught on fire due to faulty knob
*Horrid tires only acceptable to those with the least stringent requirements.
*Vacuum cleaner that repeatedly broke and did not even do a very good job.
*many more...When they write about things I know about I just have to laugh and feel sorry for those who follow it. I know they mean well but they either outsource too much or just have non-experts doing the reviews.
Anybody remember the recent baby seat fiasco?
< < *Vacuum cleaner that repeatedly broke and did not even do a very good job. > >Yes, CR only recommends cheap plastic junk vacuums. For uprights, the best vacuum is an all-metal Royal (made in the USA). These are often used by hotels and other commercial outfits. It's like a Kirby, but half the price, half the weight, and without all the useless attachments. They last forever, are easy to maneuver, and clean great.
But I guess to CR it doesn't make sense to recommend something good.
I'm an Oreck man, and I say the best vacuum is an Oreck, dammit! That little bastard really sucks! You have been proven wrong Mr. Hansen, for I have performed multiple triple blind tests that prove conclusively that Orecks are indeed the BEST! I challenge you sir, to prove otherwise (using the proper test methodology, of course)!!
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