Tag: Consumer Reports

Toyota Prius Tops Best-Value List For Second Year

Motorists in the U.S. may have noticed the trend in the past few years of more Toyota Prius vehicles on the road. There’s good reason for this trend above the environmental concerns that so often surround conversations about hybrid vehicles: the Prius simply give customers great value for its price.

Consumer Reports this week announced that the Toyota Prius has topped its best overall new-car value list for 2013. This marks the second year in a row that the Prius has topped the list.

According to Consumer Reports, the Prius’ fuel economy, performance, and reliability put it once again at the top of the list. The report estimates the Prius’ five-year ownership costs at just $0.47 per mile.

“The Prius’ 44 mpg overall is the best fuel economy of any non-plug-in car that Consumer Reports has tested,” said Rik Paul, automotive editor at Consumer Reports. “Though it’s not particularly cheap to buy, the Prius’ depreciation is so low that it costs less to own over the first five years than its initial MSRP. We call that a bargain.”

Toyota’s Avalon Hybrid Limited also earned high marks from Consumer Reports in its large cars value rankings. Other vehicles to be mentioned for their high value include the Honda Fit the Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium, and the Lexus ES 300h, which topped the luxury cars category.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Nissan Armada was cited as having the worst value for a new car. Consumer Reports points to the car’s low 13 mpg fuel economy and poor reliability as factors in the ranking. The Armada was scored with $1.20 per mile five-year ownership costs. Other lower-value cars included the Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L and the Nissan Altima 3.5 SL.

“Just because a car is cheap to buy doesn’t mean it’s a good value,” said Paul. “The Nissan Versa Sedan, for example, is one of the least expensive cars that Consumer Reports has tested. For about $1,500 more, we’d go with a Honda Fit, which is fun to drive, cheaper to own, more reliable, and provides almost twice the value.”

December 18, 2013
Many Americans Still Putting-Off Holiday Shopping

This year’s Black Friday was a sales success, with customers spending more money on a variety of heavily discounted prices.

Not everyone has finished up their holiday shopping, however. In fact, a sizable chunk of the American population has yet to even purchase one present.

A new Consumer Reports survey today shows that 31% of Americans (the ones who plan to buy gifts for the holidays, anyway) had not yet bought any gifts for the holidays as of “early December.” Only about half (51%) of Americans at that time reported that they were at least halfway done with their holiday shopping.

“Even though this year [there are] less days on the calendar to get their holiday shopping done, there are still quite a bit of procrastinators out there,” said Tod Marks, senior editor and resident shopping expert at Consumer Reports. “The 11 percent who told us they’ve completely finished shopping already have certainly saved themselves the stress of frantically searching for last-minute gifts.”

Those American putting off their shopping certainly feel the pressure. The Consumer Report survey found that 36% of those surveyed are feeling stressed about holiday shopping. Another 6% felt unsure as to whether they will be ready in time for celebrations, and 3% were “almost certain” they aren’t going to make it.

The survey also found some interesting statistics on American opinions of the holidays.

Of those surveyed, 30% stated that their significant other is hardest to shop for, though 25% found it hardest to shop for a parent.

A large majority of Americans (82%) said that they would prefer a practical gift over a luxury one, while 60% said they would prefer cash over gift cards. A majority of those surveyed (56%) also prefer an artificial Christmas tree over the real deal.

December 17, 2013
Majority of Americans Will Not Shop on Black Friday

With stores opening on Thanksgiving day for Black Friday deals this year, consumers are now under more pressure than ever to fit cut-rate shopping into their holiday schedules. Though millions of Americans will line-up and fight over the inexpensive electronics and toys on Friday, it appears that most Americans will not be tempted by this weekend’s sales.

A new Consumer Reports survey has shown that 56% of Americans do not plant to shop at all this holiday weekend, either in stores or online. Though a majority of Americans will still avoid Black Friday, the 44% who will do some shopping this weekend represent a 14% increase from last year’s Black Friday.

“Those who intend to go out shopping on Black Friday probably know what to expect, and to them that’s part of the allure,” said Tod Marks, senior editor for Consumer Reports. “However, it’s easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy and spend more than you really want to. That’s why it’s important to do your homework beforehand, have a plan and stick to it.”

Of the American majority who will skip shopping this weekend, most of them (70%) cited the large Black Friday crowds as the reason they will opt out. Just over one-third of them (34%) believe that Black Friday deals are “too overhyped” and 30% simply don’t want to get up early. 33% would rather “do something else” such as spend time with family, which 29% of those not shopping this weekend would rather do.

For those who will brave the cold and the crowds this Friday (and this year, Thursday), a majority (55%) simply can’t resist the low prices and plan to shop this weekend because the specials will be “the best deals of the year.” 43% also cite the “door-buster deals” as the reason for shopping this weekend, while a full 23% of those planning on shopping this Black Friday now consider it to be a tradition.

November 26, 2013
Sprint Tanks in New Consumer Satisfaction Survey

With smartphone industry growth in North American now slowing, mobile providers in the U.S. are getting creative to scoop up the last few customers who have yet to sign up for mobile plans and to maintain their large subscriber bases. T-Mobile has been wildly successful at this in the past year, with its market share and subscriber base both growing substantially this summer on the back of its “uncarrier” initiatives such as “Jump!”

As T-Mobile quickly rises from its position as the fourth largest mobile provider in the U.S., third place carrier Sprint is heading the opposite direction. The company saw a $1.6 billion loss during its second quarter this year while also losing 2.7 million subscribers.

This new reality is reflected in a new Consumer Reports survey that shows Sprint is now the lowest-rated carrier out of the big four in the U.S. Though Sprint ranked second in the same survey one year ago, the company has now fallen hard, with consumer ratings of its value, voice network, and 4G service all falling.

“Our latest cell service satisfaction survey revealed a somewhat precipitous decline by Sprint that shuffled the rankings of the major standard service providers,” said Glenn Derene, team leader for Electronics Content Development at Consumer Reports. “And smaller, no-frills, no-contract and prepaid service providers continue to do a better job of satisfying customers, and provide an increasingly viable alternative to some of the expensive, long-term contracts that many consumers find themselves locked into.”

Verizon continued to top the customer satisfaction list for major U.S. carriers on the back of high consumer ratings for its data network and customer support. AT&T and T-Mobile came in second and third with average ratings for their services, though AT&T did get what Consumer Reports describes as a “top rating” for its 4G network.

November 22, 2013
Best, Worst Airlines of 2013 Ranked by Consumer Reports

Flying can be one of the most unpleasant experiences in life. Even if passengers’ eardrums aren’t bombarded by crying babies or some woman singing Whitney Houston songs, the prices, accommodations, and service can often leave a lot to be desired.

This week, Consumer Reports has shed some light on the variations of the flying experience that can be found on different airlines. The publication has ranked U.S. airlines from best to worst in its latest issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The rankings are based on a survey of 16,000 people conducted in February. The survey included questions about comfort, baggage handling, check-in service, fees, and in-flight entertainment.

The top-ranked airlines will come as no surprise for frequent flyers. Virgin America topped the list due to its leather seat cushions and free bag checking. Jet Blue and SouthWest also placed highly for their baggage handling and service, though Jet Blue scored higher than SouthWest for cleanliness and comfort.

On the other side of the list, Spirit Airlines scored what Consumer Reports says is one of the lowest overall scores it has ever given. Though Spirit charges much lower airfare than almost any other airline, the company makes up for its low ticket prices by charging flyers for nearly everything they can. This includes fees for flight booking, carry-on bags, checked bags, in-flight snacks, and having a ticket agent print a boarding pass,

May 22, 2013
Tesla Review From Consumer Reports Is Publication’s Best-Ever For A Car

The 2013 Tesla Model S has received a rave review from Consumer Reports. This was just published (though a subscriptions is required), and is bound to be huge for the car maker.

The car got a 99 out of 100, which is reportedly the highest it has ever rated a car. Here’s Consumer Reports’ overview:

The Tesla Model S takes everything you know about cars and stands it on its head. It’s a very agile, super-quick electric luxury sedan (with a hatchback!) that seats seven and gets the equivalent of 84 mpg. Got your attention yet? With the 85 kWh battery, the largest available, it can go between 180 and 225 miles on a charge, depending on the weather. That’s about twice as far as any other electric car. With optional equipment, it can be charged from empty in as little as five hours. Performance all-around is exceptional, with short stops, a superb ride, and an eerily hushed cabin. Almost all controls are done through a quick and capable iPad-like center screen. Tight access and visibility and initial teething pains are demerits, as is the luxury-car price.

Here’s their quick take:

“We’ve been testing cars at Consumer Reports for a very long time, but we’ve never seen anything quite like the Tesla Model S,” says Jake Fisher, Director, Auto Testing at Consumer Reports. “This car performs better than anything we’ver ever tested before. Let me repeat that – not just the best electric car, but the best car. It does just about everything really, really well.”

The car, he says, ties as the quietest car they’ve ever tested, in addition to be extremely energy efficient.

It turns out that 99 out of 100 was originally 110 out of 100. Matt Hardigree at Gawker’s Jalopnik says:

I spoke with CR’s Jake Fisher who explained to me that the car actually scored 110 out of a 100-point scale, but that because of the limitations still inherent in owning an electric car (range, access to charging) they regularly subtract about 10% from a car’s score. It’s still the best score they’ve ever given, tied only with the 2007 Lexus LS but that car, according to Fisher, isn’t even in the same league as the Model S.

The car is designed and built in California. The rear wheel drive vehicle does not use gasoline, and is engineered to perform in both hot and cold climates. It accelerates to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, according to Tesla (though Consumer Reports said a “lightning quick 5.6 seconds”). More specs here.

May 9, 2013
Energy Drinks May Contain More Caffeine Than You Think

Consumer Reports today published a report on the level of caffeine in popular energy drinks. Their findings suggest that many of the energy drinks Americans consume on a daily basis have wildly varying levels of caffeine, and in some cases have more than anyone might suspect.

Consumer Reports purchased 27 popular energy drinks from stores in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. It tested three lots of each beverage for the caffeine, sugars, and calories found in one serving of the beverage. An average 8-ounce cup of coffee has around 100mg. of caffeine.

Topping the list is 5-hour Energy Extra Strength, which has an incredible 242mg. of caffeine in just 1.9fl. oz. of liquid. Following that is Rosckstar Energy Shot with 229mg. of caffeine and NOS High Performance with 224mg, though that is a 16fl. oz. beverage.

Monster Beverage’s Monster X-presso placed fourth highest on the list with 221mg. of caffeine in 6.8fl. oz. of liquid. Regular Monster Energy drinks showed up near the middle of the chart, with 92mg. of caffeine in 8fl. oz. of liquid. This may seem surprising, since Monster Beverage has recently come under fire for the high caffeine content of its drinks.

Just this week, the family of a 14-year-old girl who died of caffeine toxicity sued Monster Beverage over the death. The lawsuit alleges that the girl consumed two 24fl. oz. cans of Monster Energy drinks in under 24 hours shortly before dying. Going by Consumer Reports’ measurements, that works out to 552mg. of caffeine the girl consumed. Consumer Reports states that “data suggests” healthy adults can consume up to 400mg. of caffeine per day, while children can handle up to 45mg. or 85mg., depending on their weight.

Oddly enough, a 5-hour Energy drink, the company’s “decaf” shot, also placed as having the least caffeine content of the drinks tested with only 6mg. of caffeine. Red Bull, perhaps the most well-known energy drink in U.S. markets, placed near the middle of the pack with 83mg. of caffeine.

October 25, 2012
Netflix Users Aren’t Really That Keen On Netflix

Despite vigorous efforts from competitors to dethrone them, Netflix remains the most popular streaming service out there. This is mighty impressive considering the fact that Netflix’s public image went through the wringer last year – with the price hike, and the incredibly short-lived and short-sided Qwikster idea and all.

In fact, a new report from Consumer Reports found that 81% of their survey respondents said they have used Netflix Instant (streaming service) in the past month. That’s a huge share of the streaming market.

But here’s the thing: Their survey didn’t just look at subscriber figures, but it also considered customer satisfaction. And in that department, Netflix finished far from the top spot.

Out of an overall score of 100, Netflix’s subscriber satisfaction score came in at 69. That put Netflix in sixth place on the list of streaming video providers. Vudu took the top spot with a score of 76. In between those two, in order, fell iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Amazing Prime and Hulu.

Of course, with such a large user base, Netflix is ripe for plenty of bad feedback. While 81% said they stream using Netflix, only 2-14% used the other services mentioned in the survey.

According to Consumer Reports, the biggest problem that was cited by those who scored Netflix low on the satisfaction scale was a lack of quality content. It’s true that Netflix has suffered some pretty significant content losses due to failed deals – Starz comes to mind.

But, Netflix is ramping up the production of original content, which could be a big draw for the service in the future. Between original series like Lilyhammer and upcoming exclusives like the new season of Arrested Development, Netflix could make up for some of the lost studio content with their own shows.

Just don’t expect any sort of content deal with HBO in the near future.

Earlier this week, Netflix released their Q2 earnings report which showed a return to profitability.

[via CNET]

July 26, 2012
Every Poll Ever: Nobody Likes Being Tracked Online

Internet privacy is steadily becoming the battle meme of 2012 and as the topic permeates the household vocabulary, one fact emerges more salient than any other: people don’t want to be tracked.

To wit: a Consumer Reports survey released yesterday reveals that 71% of internet users are “very concerned” about the way companies are collecting and distributing user information gathered from their internet activity. Among consumers concerns:
58% weren’t too keen on advertisers targeting children with personalized ads.
56% didn’t like the idea of companies holding onto users’ data.
44% were wary of being targeted for personalized ads because of their browsing interests and online purchases.

A separate poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times and USC Dornsife revealed that nobody really trusts the Silicon Valley pantheon with their personal information. In a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning absolute trust and 0 meaning “I wouldn’t trust them to change my lightbulbs,” no company scored above a 5. Apple scored the highest at 4.6; Google followed at 3.8, LinkedIn at 3.0, YouTube at 2.8, Facebook at 2.7, and Twitter bringing up the rear at 2.4. Beyond that, 82% of California voters said they are “very/somewhat concerned” about companies tracking their internet activity.

If that wasn’t enough, Google’s own Justin Cutroni had a rude awakening when he decided to use Google’s recently released Consumer Surveys tool and asked Google users if they thought businesses should be able to anonymously track your actions on their website. A walloping 84.7% replied with a resounding “No.” It was amusing to see Cutroni attempt to minimize what seemed like a backhanded rebuttal to Google’s own practices: “I was a bit surprised!”

Poll after poll, the point is clear: nobody wants to be tracked. More polls will surely be conducted in order to show us this fact we already know. So the question is, who among these tech companies is screwing up? If the practice of tracking user information online is really not such a bad thing, then companies like Facebook and Google need to start over with a new stable of handlers because the current ones effectively suck at convincing consumers that they mean no harm. To his credit, Cutroni did remark on the Google Consumer Polls results that Google “really needs to explain what we do and why we do it.”

Until then, the majority of people are going to operate – possibly correctly – that all data-collecting tech companies are up to no good. Without a satisfying, fear-extinguishing explanation, why should people presume otherwise?

And if tech companies can’t sufficiently and truthfully explain the practice in a way that allays any concern of consumers, then it probably means that the companies are, in fact, up to no good.

April 4, 2012

In a year where AT&T was prevented from acquiring T-Mobile, dealt a lawsuit by Sprint, ran afoul with the FCC, and then got ensnared in the Carrier IQ debacle, they have to be eager to put this year behind them.

Unfortunately, 2011 isn’t over yet and it’s still got some despair in store for AT&T.

Consumer Reports released the results of their annual satisfaction survey today and, probably to the surprise of exactly no one, AT&T was rated the lowest among the four largest cellphone service providers in the United States for the second year in a row. Ranked worse than Verizon (which scored the highest), Spring, and erstwhile AT&T acquisition T-Mobile, the report deals AT&T some damaging news – and this isn’t even the full report yet so who knows what terrors lurk ahead for AT&T once the entirety of the results go public. Then again, maybe it’s old news to AT&T since they’re on a losing streak lately.

The report assesses customers’ satisfaction in areas of general service as well as customer-support experience. The full details of the report will be made available in the January 2012 issue of Consumer Reports. If you can’t wait to see all the ways in which the survey damns AT&T, consider what last year’s survey unloaded:

Over half of the survey respondents who used AT&T as a carrier owned some version of the iPhone, the Apple smart phone that is exclusive to AT&T, at least for now. Consumer Reports data, reflecting all versions of the phone, found that iPhone owners were much less satisfied with their carrier and rated data service (Web and e-mail) lower than owners of smart phones on other carriers that, like the iPhone, have a host of apps to encourage heavy data use.

“Our survey suggests that an iPhone from Verizon Wireless, which is rumored, could indeed be good news for iPhone fans,” said Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor for Consumer Reports.

Not only did the prediction of a Verizon-based iPhone come true but Sprint customers got the opportunity to get their paws on an iPhone, as well, so it will be curious to see if the wider availability of iPhones affected cellphone users’ selection of service provider.

If you’re an AT&T subscriber, how do you feel about this report? Does it sound pretty familiar to your experience?