online customer reviews

[yello]

I was reading some of those customer reviews on wiggle (for a jacket as it happens, but it could have been anything).

I love the kind that say things like "I haven't actually worn it yet" or "not tried it in the rain"... wtf are you reviewing it for then!

 

[XmisterIS]

Personally, I take online reviews with a pinch of salt; the oldest trick in the book is for those with a vested interest in sales of the product to post lots of reviews warbling on about how great the product is.

 

[beanzontoast]

I take note of customer reviews on Amazon becasue they seem to publish the bad as well as the good. Generally whenever I've bought anything there, the positives and negatives match up pretty well with my own experience. You do get instances of people who've seen a film for example seemingly reviewing it rather than the dvd, but you can pick between them.

Plus there's a degree of people responding to other's posts, asking questions and getting clarifications which is helpful.

 

[Fnaar]

And then of course there are the Kate Price/Peter Andre reviews, which are hilarious
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000JU8FXK

 

[leyburnrunner]

And then of course there are the Kate Price/Peter Andre reviews, which are hilarious
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000JU8FXK

just read them, very good.

 

[yello]

And then of course there are the Kate Price/Peter Andre reviews, which are hilarious

Well, yes, I've read quite a few of those. Amusing in their own right but not what I meant.

I think some people just open the packing, say "oooh it's really nice" and write their review.

 

[slowwww]

It's a bit like those phone surveys. I'm always amused by the "don't knows"

Who the hell bothrs to phone up a survey to say they don't have an opinion?

 

[ColinJ]

You can choose which reviews to take seriously.

Here's one I did on Wiggle:

Rating [sub]*****[/sub]

Great Value 3/4s

Pros: Great Value, Comfortable, Versatile, Good Fit

I have a pair of XL DHB bib shorts which I like, but I have big legs and find the shorts a little constrictive on long rides. They also aren't warm enough for riding on cool days.

I decided I'd buy a pair of DHB 3/4 tights for days which are too cool for shorts but not cold enough for full tights.

The Pace Roubaix fit the bill. They kept me warm enough on a 5°C ride and I was okay at about 15°C. Colder, I switch to full tights. Warmer, to shorts. If you don't feel the cold much, then you could probably ride them down to nearly freezing point but you'd switch to shorts at a lower temperature than me.

I am about 3 stone overweight and 6' 1" tall. My experience with XL shorts convinced me to try XXL 3/4s. Good choice! They have more room for my beer belly. I find the straps the right length and the extra room for my large calves (17") and thighs (25") is very welcome.

If you are my height but very skinny, try L. Slim, try XL. A couple of inches taller, but slim - XXL will probably suit you too.

I find the pad reasonably comfortable. Not perfect, but I always tend to suffer a sore bum eventually whatever I'm wearing. If I lost weight, I'd probably find the pad perfectly okay. I got far fewer saddle sores when I was slim.

So, overall I'd give these 3/4s a good rating. The only reason I haven't given them 5 stars is because you could get better if you spent a lot more money. They are very good value for money and a lot of my riding partners [who also own DHB Pace Roubaix kit] agree with me.

I reckon that is a useful review. (It's the kind of review I like to read before buying something I haven't tried before.)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

There's a few CDs I've bought from Amazon and I usually have a look if there's any reviews, some folk really know their stuff and provide some in-depth knowledge to the background as well as the music, but then there's usually one 5 star review tucked in there which reads "looking forward to receiving this" or "got this as a present for my nephew but I haven't listened to it myself" - thanks for that, I'm definitely buying it then!!

 

[swee'pea99]

You'd be mad not to take 'em with a pinch of salt, aka subject them to some judicious review, but reviews can be very helpful. Not least those from proper websites. Especially for things like old laptops or digital cameras - or even (as I did recently) car tyres. I agree there's a strange profusion of the utterly useless 'I just got it but it looks ok' ones...but you just filter those out.

 

[yello]

the funny ones are when they say 'it dosn't fit me well'

Yes! That's exactly the sort of thing I mean!

I remember reading a review that remarked that the sleeves should be longer! Priceless!

 

[MontyVeda]

regardless of where I'm buying from I tend to check Amazon reviews and sort them worst first... can highlight a persistent problem the rave reviews don't mention, like the cheap plastic clips that easily snap on the panniers i nearly bought. Reviews on smaller websites can easily be written by the owners/webmasters and not mentioning any names... but one of my current clients has so many bad reviews they've built several websites full of good reviews with which to knock the bad reviews off the first page of results!

 

[swee'pea99]

regardless of where I'm buying from I tend to check Amazon reviews and sort them worst first... can highlight a persistent problem the rave reviews don't mention, like the cheap plastic clips that easily snap on the panniers i nearly bought. Reviews on smaller websites can easily be written by the owners/webmasters and not mentioning any names... but one of my current clients has so many bad reviews they've built several websites full of good reviews with which to knock the bad reviews off the first page of results!

Excellent!

 

[downfader]

But does the review tell you if it gives you herpes or not? (Well it is about as useful )

 

[TVC]

But does the review tell you if it gives you herpes or not? (Well it is about as useful )

Have you been looking at punternet.com again?