CONSUMER REPORTSWhat Facts Online

By Ariana Haze

CONSUMER REPORTS Web. 21 Oct 2013.

<http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm>.

WHAT IS CONSUMER REPORTS? An online compilation of

unbiased product and service ratings and recommendations as well as selections from the latest issue of Consumer Reports.

Expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.

WHAT QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED?

What Facts A list of items with reviews so someone can be

“in the know” when choosing to buy a new product.

What is the best microwave, fridge, cell phone, tablet, car, etc, to buy?

AUDIENCE AND ACCESIBILITY

Consumer Reports is an online source for the general public. You need a subscription in order to get full access to the site, but most public libraries subscribe to it.

Anyone can look up buying advice on consumerreports.org, even without having a library card, but it does have features that only subscribers can access such as: Product reviews and ratings A mobile app An ad-free shopping feature A build & buy tool for creating a car and then

getting dealership prices without having to commit to buy.

USABILITY

The site is easy to use.

To find a product, type in your product of choice in the box that says “find ratings” or browse their A-Z index.

NEED TO KNOW

The person using Consumer Reports needs to know what product they are looking for or what kind of brand. They need to have some kind of starting point or former knowledge in order to find ratings for the item they want. This starting point can be as basic as “what refrigerator will last me the longest without making me spend a ton of money?” They would then look at Consumer Reports' appliances or type “refrigerator” into the find ratings box.

RATING SYSTEM

One would also need to have some understanding of their rating system.

They supply a key for how to read it though, so it should not be too hard to figure out.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS? As an example, I'm going to look up the answer for

“What is the highest rated cell phone?” To access the full site, I am signing in through my

public library's proxy server.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS?

As soon as I started typing “cell phones” in the search box, a screen saying cell phones appeared. Click on it.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS?

On the left side of the page, click on “smart phones”.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS?

The page is set up so that the cellphone with the highest overall rating is at the top of the page. As you scroll down the page, the ratings decrease.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS?

The smart phones are separated by cell phone providers. Mine is AT&T, so I am looking at the phones under that category.

HOW DO I USE CONSUMER REPORTS?

Based on the overall rating, the best phone to get would be the Samsung Galaxy S4

CAN THEY BE TRUSTED?

All of Consumer Report's work is informed by the more than 1 million readers who respond to their Annual Ballot & Questionnaire, among the largest and most comprehensive consumer studies in the world.

They employ lobbyists, grassroots organizers, and outreach specialists who work with online activists to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest.

YES!

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

You may reach me by email at arianahaze@gmail.com