ConsumerSearch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ConsumerSearch is an English-language search engine for consumer product reviews, plus a database of reports on consumer products and services, published and updated only online. (Thus it's an example of Online journalism.) ConsumerSearch does not review products and services directly, nor does the site publish reviews from users. Rather, ConsumerSearch writers review the print and online reviews of products and services, using a set of objective, published Ratings Criteria.
From the reviews judged most credible, information and product recommendations are then analyzed and summarized in the product report. This report also identifies the best products for specific uses or prices ranges, again based on the most credible reviews. Although the Fast Answers section that presents these products is published at the top of the report, this section is actually the culmination of the reporting process.
ConsumerSearch is published by ConsumerSearch, Inc., a privately held corporation co-founded by Derek Drew and Carl Hamaan in 1999. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with another office in New York City, with writers and technical staff spread across the United States and Europe.
Officially launched May 19, 2000, ConsumerSearch was awarded "Best of the Web" in the Consumer Advice area by PC World in 2001.
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[edit] Characteristics
The ConsumerSearch reports are multi-section reports on specific categories of products and services, such as "Lawn Mowers" or "Coffee Makers." Within each category, specific products that have received credible reviews are discussed and compared. An internal search engine makes it possible to search for a specific brand or model, but the reports are designed to recommend the two to six best-reviewed products and services within each report category.
[edit] Differences from other comparison report publications
ConsumerSearch should not be confused with Consumer Reports or Consumer's Digest, both of which also compare products within categories. ConsumerSearch is distinguished from both these rivals in three ways:
- First, ConsumerSearch derives its recommendations by reviewing, analyzing, and summarizing all the existing product reviews, rather than engaging in any direct product testing or evaluation.
- Second, all the reports published at ConsumerSearch are available to the public for personal use free of charge. No registration, subscription, or cookie acceptance is required.
- Third, ConsumerSearch is Online journalism, not a magazine or printed report.
[edit] Differences from other review sites
ConsumerSearch is distinguished from other free review sites such as Amazon.com or Epinions.com in that ConsumerSearch pays for objective, professional reports from writers, then edits them professionally, rather than publishing anecdotal, unedited reviews from users. The reporting criteria are transparent; see ConsumerSearch FAQs.
[edit] Scope and organization of content
The 235 ConsumerSearch report categories are organized into 13 meta-categories:
- Automotive
- Computers
- Electronics
- Family
- Health & Fitness
- House & Home
- Internet
- Kitchen
- Lawn & Garden
- Office
- Photo & Video
- Software
- Sports & Leisure
As of May 4, 2006, there are 235 product and service categories covered by reports. In 2005, reports on 27 new products or services were added. In order for a product or service category to be covered in a ConsumerSearch report, at least one comparative review must already exist, based on objective testing. The Frequently Asked Questions page says:
"Q. How do you decide which categories to cover? "A. We cover any product or service category that has been the subject of independent evaluation. There is no theoretical limit to the number of categories we can cover."
