Sunbeltblog comments
....well, there's the biggest WTF moment of the week.
That would be like testing am MP3 Player to see if the USB connector fits only, as a criteria for recommendation to purchase.
Gee, my SanDisk Sansa, has a locking docking connector, so it is the best.
As a Test Engineer for over 30 years, this is rediculous. It shames my profession as a whole. They have erased any idea I had that they were a reputable, ethical testing facility. heck they even are independent of the Testing community as well...
This is not my first WTF moment with Consumer Reports, nor will it be my last, I'm afraid. I am in the luggage business and consider myself highly trained and knowledgable in our product lines and the industry in general. Several years ago Consumer Reports tested mid to high end luggage and the article was passed around our company. We were astounded not only at the results, but at the irrelevant ways in which they tested the product. One particular test stands out--the slalom course. Helpful if you are purchasing a car, not so much if you're pulling what amounts to a box on wheels behind you.
Their durabilty testing placed sub-par luggage at the top and the real workhorses down the list. And that's based on many years of company experience operating retail stores and a full service repair shop.
Anyway, it's disheartening to Consumer Reports is still at it and that people base their purchases on such ignorance. I'll never read another issue.
Letter to the editor (Consumer Reports) has been submitted:
With regards to your recent survey of spyware applications (Sept. 2006 issue), as a new subscriber who had the impression that Consumer Report's areas of expertise were cars and appliances, I thought it interesting to see "software" as the target of Consumer Reports "critical eye". This is mainly due to my profession in IT - software testing to be exact. Long story short, after becoming familiar with how far Consumer Reports fell short in effectively "testing" Antispyware products and their even more mystifying response to the criticism (essentially brushing it aside with the weakest of responses), I've decided, I will not be renewing my subscription with your publication. It's one thing to deliver a flawed analysis (thus misleading your readers to make bad decisions in the purchase of their software). It's another to stonewall on acceding to experts these serious shortcomings of which said response can only be described as ignorantly stubborn. This is not quality. This is irresponsible and inexcusable. It is painfully obvious that the right people were not assigned to execute this analysis.
Not at all surprising... I haven't trusted CR since they recommended buying the Ford Taurus back in the 80’s. This just proves they have flawed methodology, therefore flawed, unreliable results... and should have been disbanded a long time ago.
Saddest part is, there are people who trust CR.
At the beginning of this blog I assume you mean that Spycar mimics "spyware" behavior not "antispyware" behavior as written.
Greg -- you're right. I'll fix that.
This is fun! I'll pile on, though my issue is hardly significant. After being spoiled with the best Dutch, Belgian and German coffee brands and makers, I returned to the US and found CR saying there is no difference between flat basket makers and cone basket makers. I'm not sure I can explain, but the difference is not subtle. It's insignificant only if your tongue has been repeatedly scaleded for years, or you simply lack the DNA for subtle tasting.
Thanks for fixing that Alex... I figured the TNT was because of that "test.html" stuff... 
Yup... 
Can't say I'm surprised that CR's testing leaves so much intelligence and reality out of the picture... they are not to be trusted. Many years ago, some may recall the CR testing that rated the Suzuki Samurai as unsafe.
After the vehicle performed well in traffic avoidance maneuvers, a CR editor went *way* out of their standard tests to find a way to make the vehicle tip over and then CR called the vehicle "unacceptable".
Those little trucks are just as stable as the Jeep CJ5s and Wranglers that were/are being sold in this country. But because of CR, they were discontinued in the US (but continued to be very popular in other countries). Any US consumer that could have benefited from owning one of these small trucks got screwed by CR!
(Disclosure: Besides being an IT professional, I am a fan of and own 2 Suzukis)
I realized from the time that CR started reporting on computers and software that they really should stay out of the I.T. testing arena. It is obvious that they have never found quilified testers for this area.
The is barely a surprise to me--every time, in well over 30 years, that I have read one of Consumer Reports' "Test Reports" purporting to definitively rate some product or system, with which I happen to be intimately familiar, their methods have been suspect and their comments have been superficial, based in ignorance and misconception.
I have never had reason to suspect that they are anything but independent, however they have also demonstrated time after time that they are anything but competent...
I have not believed CR after reading their "recommendations" about two cars I was very familiar with at the time (1980). Both cars had identical survey ratings and problems but CR rated one a best buy and the other trash saying its engine was bad. The funny part the engine was bought from the company that made the "best buy". I know this because the old Plymouth Horizon/Dodge Omni had a VW engine in them complete with the VW logo. The VW Rabbit was the best buy. Obviously they never looked at the engines, how hard is that?
This is not as critical as the testing problems shown above, but serves to show that Consumer Reports may also be reporting falsely on other tests. For example, in a recent issue they say they tested the new GREEN BAGS and found them effective, especially as to bananas. We have them are this is not true. We bought six ripe but not overripe bananas. Put three in a bag and zipped it uf. Put the other three beside the bag, on the counter. They both went black at exactly the same time, in about 3 days. Ours are worthless.
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