It's been a few years since I've used Consumer Reports, but I found their reviews were too few for the given category (e.g. rating perhaps eight items [TVs, detergent, whatever] out of a generally available selection of two dozen) or stale (a just-published article was for devices one or two generations old). I'd often look for a recommended appliance and find that only one retailer sold that model, two years ago. Or I'd look at rankings and products I owned and considered excellent (and not niche) weren't included. I felt that their methods needed to be updated.
There were still some places they did a good job, e.g. their car reviews provide good information for the average consumer, and I will turn to them next time I'm in the market. I certainly applaud that their unbiased viewpoint.
I absolutely agree. Consumer Reports is indispensable.
My only wish is that they'd focus more on reliability testing. I can evaluate for myself whether that new sedan handles nicely (or whatever). But it's wonderful to have somebody warn me the wheels are going to fall off after 70k miles...
There were still some places they did a good job, e.g. their car reviews provide good information for the average consumer, and I will turn to them next time I'm in the market. I certainly applaud that their unbiased viewpoint.