Evaluating a product or service, review websites, consumer rating websites, getting user feedback
All companies only highlight the positive features of the product and services they sell. Only after a customer has spent money on the product and faces a problem, does the customer realize that the product is different from what was promised. To prevent this, a customer should check online sources of information, before making a purchase decision.
How to evaluate a product or service online:
1. Forums are a good way to get user feedback about a product or service. Though some companies may sign up at forums and post positive reviews about themselves, in most large forums, you will get a fairly accurate picture of a company or product if you spend some time reading. Most forums are moderated to remove junk postings. Usually older members with a high post count are considered more reliable. Forum users who are facing a problem are more likely to complain than users who are satisfied with a product or service.
2. Reviews by customers posted in their blog are also a good indication of how good a particular product or service is. Unlike news published in newspapers, for whom advertising is a major source of revenue, personal opinions are more likely to be accurate. Many times the “news” is directly lifted from the press releases issued by the company.
3. There are many online consumer rating websites. In most, a consumer has to register and create a profile. Depending on how useful the review is, the reviewer is rated by other members of the website. Members are also rated based on the frequency and number of reviews contributed to the website. Some websites like eopinions pay members for their contribution. Reviewcentre is a UK based review website , featuring products and services available in UK. Mouthshut has reviews of products and services available in India and also products used by NRIs. It has periodic contests and peer review system. Complaints.com is another website where complaints about products and services are listed.