Be an Informed Consumer

Have you ever bought something and it turned out to be a real piece of crap? Well, let me inform you of the great tricks and techniques I have learned over the course of this unit.

1) Remember to Always check the Reviews

When I buy something from Amazon such as a pair of earphones I always check the reviews. The reviews tell me what real life people thought about the product and these thoughts play a huge role in what I buy. From reading their opinions I decide is this worth my money or should I search around for a little while longer? Product reviews are the best way to understand what you are buying.

2) Look at the Price of the Product

When shopping for a product compare the store's prices to other online sites. Take into consideration if it's a rip-off or maybe even a scam. You never know if one store jacked up their prices while you could get an even better deal, for cheaper, with discounts at another store.

3) Always check Consumer Reports

This to a degree is the same as checking reviews on any other store but to a degree is different. On Consumer Reports you know the reviews are true and accurate. The reviews are not written by a person who was paid to write a great review. Which leads to tip number four.

4) Know the Difference Between a True and Fake Review

Every once in a while we get that feeling, when reading a review, that it is a little sketchy. It makes you wonder is this real or fake. With product reviews, you always have to understand the difference between a spruced up fake review and a great personal review. It takes a time to learn the difference and maybe even some testing but soon the ability sort of grows on you. One tip is to "beware of extremes", usually overly enthusiastic reviews and ideal language.

5) Always know the Store Policies

Not knowing the store policies can create a serious hole in your wallet not to mention a basement full of unusable, useless stuff. Some stores do not allow refunds or returns. Which really sucks if you get a fish tank with no fish tank in the box. So remember to always read the sign that states the store policies. This also goes along with their other policies such as a posted price does not always mean the true price. If someone accidentally puts a $999 T.V up for $9.99 then, please, out of the common sense of your heart, understand that this is not the true price.

Watch this video to understand your consumer policies as well.

And this wonderful site gives us the top 10 sites for the best professional reviews.