Introduction – The Best Review Sites
Finding reliable review sites can be especially difficult when you are just starting out on your own and don’t have access to the same resources or connections that more established people do. It can be hard to know where to start since there is such an abundance of information available online these days. In my case, I was quickly overwhelmed when I moved into my first apartment – I knew how to research electronics and small items, but when it came to picking a refrigerator or hiring a plumber, I had no idea where to even begin.
Below is a list of the sites I now use regularly for this research, which I would have loved to know about when I was getting started. Feel free to let me know what sites you use down in the comments – if there are any that have advantages over the ones listed below then I’d love to hear it!
Table of Contents
Consumer Reports
Best for large purchases
Consumer Reports is an amazing resource for anyone making large home purchases, such as appliances. The detail of the data they compile on all these products makes navigating the shopping experience much easier. Knowing precise information about the functionality and durability of products will help you feel more secure about these large purchases, and pick items with the features you need. Consumer reports also collect user reviews so you further inform your research using real-world customer experiences.
Best for starting research in a new area
Consumer Reports also provides a library of articles useful for research. These articles explore new and trending products and services, as well as provide tips on how to do your analysis when deciding on a purchase. These articles arm you with the information needed to make an informed choice even in areas that may be entirely new to you.
This is great if, for example, you need a refrigerator but don’t know where to start, or what features are important. These articles will help you narrow down your choices and make the decision much easier.
Angie's list
With Angie’s List, you can choose from local businesses that offer professional services for whatever project you’re undertaking. With reviews from millions of local users and up-to-date ratings and prices, you’ll be able to get the quality service your project needs without any surprises.
Best for services
I like this site as reviews appear to be coming from actual customers that have used services, sometimes for very large and involved projects. As with any review site, the reviews will skew negative, given most people that are happy with a service won’t leave a review.
Take a close look at what is being criticized, and what the business owner’s response is. Ask yourself: was this review due to a sign of a flawed business and shoddy work? Or was this just a special circumstance? Did the business owner try to do good work? Did they try to make the situation right and maybe the customer just didn’t like the tone of the response?
I see a lot of negative reviews on these sites that at first look appear to be trying to call out a company on some bad practice. However, if you read through the review, in a lot of cases the real issue is a customer wanted work for free, didn’t communicate with the person doing the work, or wasn’t clear about the ask upfront. If I see these as the only negative reviews and don’t see any comments about the craftmanship itself, then to me that says there is a skilled workforce behind the business.
As with any business I hire, I know I need to be clear about the ask, check over the terms and conditions before starting the work and maintain open and honest communication throughout the project. Nothing is certain, but if I choose a company that has a history of quality work, then these practices will maximize the chances of a good outcome at the end of the project. Even if the process to get there may be a bit rocky.
Amazon
Amazon is great for everyday purchases, and even groceries now with the addition of Fresh and Whole Foods.
Great selection and fast shipping
The vast selection of items available on the site makes it an obvious go-to for pretty much anything you can think of, at least as a first stop before going to other sites like Consumer Reports if I can’t find what I need. The two-day Amazon prime shipping has also become more of an expectation rather than a benefit, as it was when I first signed up more than 10 years ago.
Check the reviews
The best choices will, obviously, be those items with 4.5 to 5-star reviews that appear to be written by humans. I also like to check negative reviews on any products that are in the 3-4 star range as well.
Similar to what I see with Angi’s list, negative reviews are often added when there are shipping issues, or if customers were expecting unrealistic performance out of the product. If all the negative reviews are not reasonable reviews of the product itself, then it may be worth giving it a chance. Also, if I only see 5-star reviews that don’t mention the product itself, or don’t mention how it’s being used, I may be more suspicious of the product – is this a good product, or something that has used bots to bump up the review metrics?
Yelp
Yelp provides ratings and price ranges for a wide range of businesses. I use this mainly for researching local service businesses and restaurants.
Best for local services and restaurants
Yelp is a great tool for getting an idea of the quality of service they can expect from local businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, salons, and more. Yelp uses reviews from real customers who have used these services to provide honest opinions of their experiences.
Wide range of ratings and reviews
Additionally, you can get an idea of the types of services each business offers by looking through their photos and menus.
Finally, Yelp also provides a forum where people can ask questions or discuss experiences with local businesses to better inform their decisions. This is a great way to get first-hand feedback from customers, which can be invaluable in helping you make an informed decision. My favorite use of these forums is to find details on wait times, parking options, and questions about dietary restrictions supported by a restaurant. All of these details may be difficult to get just from a business website alone.
As with all businesses, check the reviews. Do your research and read reviews when you can. It’s important to remember that not all reviews are reliable, and it’s also wise to look past any negative reviews if they seem unreasonable or unrelated to the product itself.
Conclusion
There are a few different avenues that you can take when looking for reviews on products or services. Consumer Reports, Angie’s List, Amazon, and Yelp are all trustworthy sources I use to help me make informed decisions, which is especially helpful when making large purchases.
Here are the reasons why I like using these sites:
- Consumer Reports – best for large purchases, like appliances, cars, and expensive electronics
- Angie’s List – best for services like those for auto and home projects
- Amazon – best for a wide range of smaller purchases and even groceries
- Yelp – best for local services and restaurants
Ultimately, do your research and pay attention to signs such as customer comments on craftsmanship and quality, you should be able to make an educated decision when selecting any business for your needs. But you don’t have to spend hours researching everything yourself – these websites do the work for you. Now good luck and good searching!
