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Why not look at consumer reports (https://www.consumerreports.org/)? I purchased a subscription and use them quite a bit. The problem here is in willingness to pay. If companies are willing to pay to promote their product, you will need to pay to get objective information. Any attempts at free objective information is going to be vulnerable to pollution by those willing to spend resources.



I find that their ratings are often not very meaningful, at least for products that I feel informed. They don't seem very objective, and instead feel like a testimonial from a certain kind of person. If you happen to have similar sensibilities, then their ratings may work out quite well for you. I've never had that experience with them, though.


Then you will need to find a group that shares your tastes, but the consumer reports approach (if not their specific tastes) is the long term solution, IMO.


What are your (or others') impressions of the usefulness of CR's ratings from a durability / longevity standpoint?

It's easy to create a product that will score well in a 1-day, or even 1-month trial.

It's harder to make (or assess) one over a multi-year lifespan. I've long felt CR falls flat on this mark, though it's a difficult one to make.

I'm not sure who else even plays in the space. J.D. Power comes to mind.


I find that they engage in many practices they decry in others. It is at best not clear that they are on the good folks side.




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