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What types of reviews do you personally find to be the most accurate?
- Thread starter tzhu07
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Doesn't really matter which ones--some can be good while some can be bad. Since different people are involved in providing reviews (whatever they might be about) it can go either way without really any general or specific conclusion what would really apply.
Reviews are personal opinions and as such I take them with a grain of salt. If I see a trend of negativity on a given product/service then perhaps I'll avoid it. No matter what you research, the best highest rated product/service will still have some single start ultra-negative reviews.
I rely to some extent on word of mouth reviews, and also on reviews from serious - and respected - sources that I have come to trust and believe.
Many on line reviews are bogus. We regularly get spam emails at work offering to write positive reviews for our products. We never take them up on the offer, but I'm sure plenty do.
I'm also rather opinionated so tend to just review the product and make my own mind up.
I never use film or music reviews. I usually watch a trailer and make a decision on a film.
For music I typically by songs I've heard and like.
I'm also rather opinionated so tend to just review the product and make my own mind up.
I never use film or music reviews. I usually watch a trailer and make a decision on a film.
For music I typically by songs I've heard and like.
I have read a number of books on marketing. One thing all the books had in common was the importance of peer to peer endorsements. And they all said something like, "if they like you they will tell one best friend. If they don't they will tell 100 complete strangers." And that's the lens I look at reviews through, especially on-line.
The most accurate reviews are those with good spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
For some reason, the angriest reviews are always the bottom of the barrel in those 3 categories.
For some reason, the angriest reviews are always the bottom of the barrel in those 3 categories.
HA! I was just about to post this. My wife and I both start with the worst review on a place. They re almost always riddled with misspellings, bad punctuation, and terrible grammar. And they are almost always the case of "my waiter was mean, the food was cold, the water was dirty, the bill was wrong, the place was smelly". Like every single possible thing was wrong. I don't take those reviews seriously, at all.
We also tend to look at how spread out the reviews are. If there are ten reviews over three years, but seven of them are from within one week in the middle, I'll take those with a grain of salt, as it was likely the staff making those reviews, or the owner trotting out some discount to leave a review.
And lastly, I steer away from reviews where someone says something like "I went to Crazy Morocco Food Palace and did not like it. I spent seven years in the mountains of western Morocco learning to cook traditional fare from blind monks using ingredients sourced from local hills and picked by orphan children, and this food was not as good." Anything that looks like it's written by a hipster foodie is out.
Well, I watch so few movies (and have a very low tolerance level for poor movies) that I rely on critics, usually individuals I respect, or word of mouth from people I respect, to prompt me to view a movie.
Re restaurants, I know some people who work in or around the food world (the Slow Food Movement etc); while some are food hipsters, not all are, and their standards are exacting with regard to provenance, professionalism, skill and creativity. Hence, a word of mouth recommendation from any of them will be heeded (and my experience has taught me that they are worth heeding).
On books, as I am an avid reader, there are critics I respect, writers I admire or who interest me, and subject matters that fascinate me; choosing how to buy books are not usually an issue.
Wines, likewise; I have certain quite marked preferences - strong recommendations from within that sort of range from someone I respect will usually persuade me to produce a credit card.
Plays are a very grey area, because going to the theatre to watch a play is such a personal and subjective experience. This is because reviews, even from individuals I like and respect don't always reflect or find interesting what I would find most absorbing on the stage.
Re restaurants, I know some people who work in or around the food world (the Slow Food Movement etc); while some are food hipsters, not all are, and their standards are exacting with regard to provenance, professionalism, skill and creativity. Hence, a word of mouth recommendation from any of them will be heeded (and my experience has taught me that they are worth heeding).
On books, as I am an avid reader, there are critics I respect, writers I admire or who interest me, and subject matters that fascinate me; choosing how to buy books are not usually an issue.
Wines, likewise; I have certain quite marked preferences - strong recommendations from within that sort of range from someone I respect will usually persuade me to produce a credit card.
Plays are a very grey area, because going to the theatre to watch a play is such a personal and subjective experience. This is because reviews, even from individuals I like and respect don't always reflect or find interesting what I would find most absorbing on the stage.
I prefer listening to people talk about something than just reading it. Albums especially because it means they can play some of it and do most of the hard work for you.
I usually read a lot of reviews before watching a movie, buying a book or any item. I try to get a general picture, but I would not rely on certain or specific reviews.
Product reviews are the least subjective form of review, especially when the critic compares to competing products. Although, I do believe movie and music reviews can determine whether a piece of media is good by the criteria of the industry. Whether or not you enjoy the movie or music is another story, but there are ways to determine whether the filmmaking or songwriting was a quality effort.
I've been to some great restaurants that are better than their Yelp reviews would imply, and vice-versa.
I've been to some great restaurants that are better than their Yelp reviews would imply, and vice-versa.
Funny, I try to not listen to the guys in the office!
I must work at the wrong office!
But yes word of mouth reviews by like minded people are the most useful.
I work for the Army, and a very specific part of the Army, we all generally have almost identical backgrounds so we're all like minded.