Caveat emptor applies today as always.
In college we learned how to evaluate sources. It was called "The CRAAP Test".
https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation
It behooves every consumer to make use of available sources of information, but to weight them appropriately and consider the components of "CRAAP" to evaluate them.
There is a lot of good signal that can be gleaned, even from a fake or negative review. Do not discount the inherent subjectivity that posters introduce.
I don't weight reviews heavily, unless some aspect is a real standout. The preponderance of reviews can sometimes tip the balance in my decision to buy/not buy, but they're often more helpful in learning comparative features/quality of similar items. If I'm shopping in unfamiliar territory, the knowledge of reviewers is invaluable to help me know more about such a product line.
Often, if enough reviewers complain about a specific defect or flaw, it will not hinder me from a purchase, but I'll be aware and informed that this product may be problematic in that specific way, and if reviewers have focused on a cosmetic or non-essential defect, I count it as an advantage that they didn't find any "showstoppers".
In college we learned how to evaluate sources. It was called "The CRAAP Test".
https://researchguides.ben.edu/source-evaluation
It behooves every consumer to make use of available sources of information, but to weight them appropriately and consider the components of "CRAAP" to evaluate them.
There is a lot of good signal that can be gleaned, even from a fake or negative review. Do not discount the inherent subjectivity that posters introduce.
I don't weight reviews heavily, unless some aspect is a real standout. The preponderance of reviews can sometimes tip the balance in my decision to buy/not buy, but they're often more helpful in learning comparative features/quality of similar items. If I'm shopping in unfamiliar territory, the knowledge of reviewers is invaluable to help me know more about such a product line.
Often, if enough reviewers complain about a specific defect or flaw, it will not hinder me from a purchase, but I'll be aware and informed that this product may be problematic in that specific way, and if reviewers have focused on a cosmetic or non-essential defect, I count it as an advantage that they didn't find any "showstoppers".