Online product reviews can be helpful in order to gather research about a given product. When attempting to reach a decision about a product, it is important to consider several of the limitations of product reviews. We suggest asking yourself these questions before giving any product review you find online too much weight:
1) Is the review I’m reading reliable?
Could the negative review be from a competitor or troll?
If something seems off, read through the review again and try to determine if it seems fabricated or not. Also consider where the review is placed and the way it is written: did a reputable, unbiased online source write a thorough review or was it simply an untraceable, extremely negative comment on a board somewhere? Sometimes it is difficult to tell who the source is, but the possibility of it being a competing brand or simply someone wanting to cause trouble is a real concern that should be kept in mind.
Could the negative review be from someone who just bought the wrong product in the first place?
Keep in mind, poor reviews may be from people who haven’t been properly matched with an appropriate labeling printer solution and so their needs hadn’t been met. In these cases, it is understandable that they are upset. They might blame their upset on the printer, when in fact, the cause of their upset might not be that it is a bad printer at all, but simply that the printer didn’t suit their needs from the beginning.
Sometimes, the negative reviews leave out the full story, leaving you to wonder about the details. For example, they might say, “Horrible printer! It didn’t work!” but what they often really mean is that it didn’t suit their needs, likely because they (or whomever they purchased it from) didn’t assess their needs properly before making the purchase. In summary, if there isn’t enough evidence, disregard these product reviews.
What about positive reviews?
Of course, even positive reviews can sometimes be fabricated and paid for by companies wanting to boost sales. This is why it is important to seek out reputable experts, companies, and brands that you trust and are well trusted for reviews. Further, it is important to consider that plenty of excellent reviews don’t necessarily mean the product is right for you, either.
2) Do I need to seek out an expert opinion?
If you haven’t already, seeking out a trusted expert opinion to help guide your decision-making process is a good idea. Doing so will provide greater insight and a counterbalance to the product reviews you see online. They should carry a variety of brands and products from each brand in order to offer you the best solution.
A labeling expert can help you answer the all-important question: What product(s) best suits my needs?
A few things a good labeling consultant will help you with:
- Use – Will it serve the intended purpose I have for it? Is it durable enough to do so? Is it easy to use for what I need it to do?
- Value – Am I getting my money’s worth?
- After-sales Service – What resources do I have access to if I have questions or need help?
In summary, when doing research by searching for online product reviews, it is important to take all of these factors into account before making a final decision. As always, if you feel you can’t assemble enough quality information to make an informed final decision, we recommend seeking out an expert’s help so that the labeling solution you choose fully meets your needs.
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