I was looking for a mid range reliable printer.
On searching choice I found dell v313w to be ideal.
Before hitting the buy button I just decided to search web for some more reviews.
And guess what everyone else (Amazon, Cnet, others) thinks this printer is crap
while its amongst the best of the best at choice.
That was disappointing.
Dell v313w = crap. No need to go to Amazon and CNet, as there are already quite a few comments about that printer here on OzBargain.
Maybe CHOICE only used it for a few hours.
Choice recommendations are informative. We generally search reviews on their recommended items and see which products is the best for us based on the features important to us. I have had great experiences buying baby furniture, prams, carriers, highchair and even baby monitors on their recommendations and also washing machine , dyer and kettle, shavers.
didnt check there printer reviews though…
Choice are a private company. They are not "impartial", never have been.
Hello llama,
In response to your claim regarding impartiality, we can assure you that CHOICE remains a not-for-profit social enterprise. You can read more about CHOICE’s transparent and independent governing structure here: http://bit.ly/q0bmfa and you can read more about our approach to group switching in this blog from our CEO Nick Stace here: http://bit.ly/r6gM3F
As Nick makes clear, CHOICE accepts no advertising, no government handouts, no freebies; we pay our way in the world. This maintains our independence and ability to speak out without fear or favour. We are also excited by the potential of group switching to make a real difference for consumers, especially in markets where they have traditionally lacked power.
Best wishes,
Christopher Zinn
CHOICE director of campaigns and communications
Of course they are there for profit
New venture
CHOICE has partnered with One Big Switch to help 1,000 Aussies get better home loan deals with our eyes wide open – and focused squarely on the benefits for consumers.
http://www.choice.com.au/blog/2011/august/bigbankswitch.aspx
I wouldn't trust Choice's scoring on tech products any more than I'd trust those at Cnet or other tech review sites - computer, consumer electronics and software products have so many variables that an overall score is just misleading.
Your mention of Amazon reviews prompted me to have a look at those for the printer I've owned for god knows how many years, and it shows in retrospect it'd have been an exceedingly bad predictor of my experience with the printer.
The first review, one ranked highly as being "helpful", is based on a couple of very misleading falsehoods that might've caused me to rule out the printer as an option. The second review is glowing praise which brushes over the product's main shortcomings. The rest of the reviews are a mix of numerous complaints about issues I've never encountered, mentions of irks that I have experienced, and more of the type of glowing praise I mentioned.
Reviews and opinions on products or services should never be taken as gospel.
The more research you do the closer you will get to the truth.
Motor car reviews are a classic example.
Choice test for specific features, specs and ease of use..
What do the complaints from Amazon and CNet say? Are there reliability issues from users that Choice can't test for in the hour or so that they might be testing each printer?