TLDR: they're just like every other review site and are either run by the companies rated best or are affiliate link sites.
(I accurately guessed the above before even going to the article...)
(I accurately guessed the above before even going to the article...)
On its face, affiliate reviews are ok if the company has integrity, like Wirecutter attempts. If they pick a profitless product as first over one that makes them money.
Credit card reviews are another one that have gone off the chain. There are thousands of identical sites ranking the same cards.
"Whether or not you choose to get free credit monitoring from Equifax, the company will continue to collect information about you."
In other words:
"Even though we got hacked, we're still going to collect your information so it can get leaked again, lolz".
Awesome FTC right there.
[1]: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/eq...
I have a lot more respect for the sites that prominently disclose their relationships, like Wirecutter. Most of these sites are a business, they've gotta make money somehow. But IMO most readers aren't seeking out such disclosures automatically when they see a "review", so the hidden-in-the-footer nonsense is entirely useless.
People are always quick to throw Amazon under the buss for reviews but it's not just Amazon/Newegg etc but I don't trust reviews anymore, at all, the only time I trust a 'review' is when a friend is like "yeah man I've been using this thing for such and such and it's great".
Even when friends recommend something I've been burnt simply by listening to just 1 or 2. Altman mentions a specific mattress cooler in one of his blog posts, I bought it without even checking other online reviews because I respect Sam and value his opinions (he also has no reason to plug a specific product, especially when he is in no way involved with the company). Man it was great, oh man was it great, until I'd been using it a couple of months and was changing my sheets and saw mildew all over my mattress protector from the condensation forming on the tubes at night while I slept. San Francisco doesn't have the summer humidity that Indiana does and in the 2 weeks between sheet changing...