Ready for summer? Need a grill? A boat? Maybe a new car? Do yourself a favor and do some research before making a ‘big ticket’ investment. Consumer Reports [1] is the most trusted authority on consumer product reviews. Their reviews are thorough and easy to understand. They often rank products to help consumers make an informed decision.

Doing research takes time. Choosing the wrong product wastes money. Provide trusted information for making the smart choice. Enable thorough product comparisons with Consumer Reports' (CR) comprehensive archive of expert, unbiased product reviews. – from the vendor

Though it may not have the breadth and history of Consumer Reports [1], this week’s open site, the Wirecutter [2], is a favorite place for popular consumer products. With each review, they cover their top pick for a category, along with budget picks and alternate choices. The reviews are quick and to the point, so you won’t waste any time. They are especially good at reviewing tech.

Action Steps

• Using Consumer Reports [1] (note: you will need to click through to Consumer Reports from the Ebscohost landing page), research a product you’re interested in purchasing – did you find enough information to make an informed decision?
• Using Consumer Reports [1], explore some of the extra features like quizzes and the car recall search.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests seniors often consult Consumer Reports magazine. For the times when the magazine isn’t on the shelf or you’re helping a customer at the desk/on the phone, you’ll need to know how to print an article. Find a product review and/or product rating and try printing. List any difficulties you had, and you think others might want to know about, in the comments. (pro-tip: if you are wanting to email content to a customer but the email option isn't available, print to PDF. This will created a PDF version of the print view which you can save and email.)

Metro tote bags for all commenters!