Online ratings and reviews: Which ones to believe?
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A lot of people these days won't make a major purchase or hire a company before they go online and check the ratings and reviews. And that's good.
But with so much information out there, it can be difficult to know what you can trust. And that's important.
Just because it's online doesn't mean it's legit. A smart consumer knows the web can be a helpful resource that can steer you to good, reliable products and services. We also know that it's important to be skeptical and to filter this information to make sure we don't get led astray.
For many people, online reviews have replaced checking with family and friends. You can find a review for almost any product or service from contractors to medical providers. Is that eye doctor willing to answer your questions? Does the flooring company show up on time and clean up the mess when they leave? It's all there for you to find.
“When consumers turn online to get information on services they might want to hire, the first thing they want to do is understand how the site works,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “How are the reviews compiled? How do companies get listed on the site? These are all important questions for consumers."
It's best to use a site that does more than give the company a grade so that you can find out what led to that score.
One more thing to consider: does someone stand behind those reviews?
“I'm completely against anonymous reviews, because that leads to information not being reliable,” Hicks said. “Consumers are making too big of decisions based on information they read online, and we need for people to be accountable for what's being said."
Even if you trust the source and find a company with glowing reviews, you still need to do all of your homework.
“Remember, online reviews are only part of your research. You still need to get three estimates, interview the company in person. And I always remind people - don't ignore your gut instinct,” said Hicks.
When it comes to online reviews, you need to be skeptical. Are all the reviews overwhelmingly positive; are they too good to be true? They might be bogus.
Do many of the reviews sound the same? They could be form letters submitted by someone trying to stack the deck.
But with so much information out there, it can be difficult to know what you can trust. And that's important.
Just because it's online doesn't mean it's legit. A smart consumer knows the web can be a helpful resource that can steer you to good, reliable products and services. We also know that it's important to be skeptical and to filter this information to make sure we don't get led astray.
For many people, online reviews have replaced checking with family and friends. You can find a review for almost any product or service from contractors to medical providers. Is that eye doctor willing to answer your questions? Does the flooring company show up on time and clean up the mess when they leave? It's all there for you to find.
“When consumers turn online to get information on services they might want to hire, the first thing they want to do is understand how the site works,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “How are the reviews compiled? How do companies get listed on the site? These are all important questions for consumers."
It's best to use a site that does more than give the company a grade so that you can find out what led to that score.
One more thing to consider: does someone stand behind those reviews?
“I'm completely against anonymous reviews, because that leads to information not being reliable,” Hicks said. “Consumers are making too big of decisions based on information they read online, and we need for people to be accountable for what's being said."
Even if you trust the source and find a company with glowing reviews, you still need to do all of your homework.
“Remember, online reviews are only part of your research. You still need to get three estimates, interview the company in person. And I always remind people - don't ignore your gut instinct,” said Hicks.
When it comes to online reviews, you need to be skeptical. Are all the reviews overwhelmingly positive; are they too good to be true? They might be bogus.
Do many of the reviews sound the same? They could be form letters submitted by someone trying to stack the deck.
