I have been reading Consumer Reports since about 1994. During that time I have flip-flopped from subscribing, not renewing my subscription, buying the magazine at the grocery store, to subscribing again. This magazine used to be my number one resource for deciding what products to buy; now it is number two to Epinions however. Why? That's easy. Epinions gives me instant gratification when I want to know about a product. But as far as consumer magazines go, Consumer Reports is top of the line and has been for the thirteen years I have been reading it.
It is rare these days to find printed media that provides an unbiased opinion on a product. But Consumer Reports tells the bad right along with the good, no holds barred.
Articles
The articles in Consumer Reports are clear, concise, and tightly-written. They are also well-edited and written in an easy-to-read style that flows well.
While my fourteen-year-old might struggle with understanding some of the articles, for the most part they are written in plain language, aimed to help the consumer make a good buying decision.
Quality information is the focus in the articles in Consumer Reports, and I cannot recall a single instance in which an article has steered me in the wrong direction.
Price
Out of curiosity sake, I dug out one of my issues of Consumer Reports from 1994 (the November issue to be exact). Okay, I confess. I am a packrat when it comes to things like magazines that I refer back to now and again. Drives my husband nuts, but I don't like to throw away potential reference material that I have paid for!
At any rate, I was curious as to what Consumer Reports cost way back then. The subscription card insert indicated $22 for a one year subscription.
I paid $26 for my current subscription. Now, I think that only a $4 increase for a subscription in about twelve and a half years is not too bad.
Negatives
Easy section to write; I have yet to find one with Consumer Reports magazine. Most of the time the ads drive me nuts in magazines, but this one is not overpowered by advertisements. Granted, most of the articles are somewhat advertising, but on the whole this magazine has an excellent balance.
Final Thoughts
I don't see how anyone can go wrong with this magazine. The articles contain excellent information, and the magazine itself is a good one to keep around to refer back to. Even the older magazines contain good information; for example, the 1994 one I dug out has a wonderful article on the ups and downs of product recalls, which I found very helpful to re-read. Don't skip the regular features; they also contain excellent information. I read every issue of this magazine cover-to-cover.
Consumer Reports also has a website at www.consumerreports.org that contains excellent consumer information. I see it as a compliment to the print magazine rather than a replacement for it, and I refer to it when I can't find enough information on a product I want to buy. I also check it out on a periodic basis just in case it has information not contained in the magazine. For complete website information, you do have to subscribe, however but basic information is free online.
I highly recommend this magazine. As consumers, we have to demand quality in the products we purchase. Consumer Reports magazine provides helpful information in the buying decision.
Do I plan to renew my subscription? Definitely. This is one I am not going to let expire anymore. Knowledge is power in today's world.
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