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Question: I know that I can find out about buying automobiles
from Consumer Reports. Do they offer information on other topics?
Answer: The new Consumer Reports Buying Guide 1998 is out and
you will find information on many more topics than cars. The Buying
Guide has been published since 1931. The purpose is to give Consumers
information to make better buying decisions. Articles include
information gained from product testing and detail questions for
Consumers, so they can do their own comparison shopping at home.
Here is some of the information you can get from the Consumer
Reports Buying Guide 1998.
If you are updating your budget and wondering how long your
washing machine could be expected to last, there is a chart that gives
lifetime expectations of a number of different appliances. Washing
machines will last, on average, around 12 years and many are kept for
16 plus years. If yours is older than 16, you might start budgeting to
replace it. Gas ranges are used an average of 16 years, but are often
in people's homes for almost 25 years. Electric ranges have an
estimated average useful life of 15 years, extending to 20 years.
How do you like waiting for your appliances to be fixed? Maybe
you'll want to check the Buying Guide for the repair records of
specific brands of CD players, VCRs, TV sets, camcorders, vacuums,
ranges, refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers,
lawn mowers and tractors, and computers. Some products require far
fewer repairs than others.
Coverage in the Buying Guide often refers you to the monthly
Consumer Reports magazine. For example, the article in the Buying
Guide about refrigerators describes different models, reliability, key
features, and shopping strategies. If you want more information and
brand comparisons, you are referred to the February, 1997 issue of
Consumer Reports.
If you would like to get in touch with a major manufacturer, the
telephone numbers of more than 300 companies is listed in the Buying
Guide.
If you want to quickly find out more information about products
and services that has been researched and tested by Consumer Reports,
you can look in the 8-year index in the back of the Buying Guide. This
will give you a topic list with the month and year of the most recent
full report that has been published.
Although the Buying Guide focuses mainly on major products such
as cars, appliances, home-entertainment gear, computers and
home-office equipment, the monthly Consumer Reports branches out to
cover many Consumer services.
There is always a section of hot breaking news. A quick
description of knit sheets, lets Consumers know which brand is very
good and which is not acceptable. Don't waste your money on this new
sheet that is supposed to feel warmer in cold weather and cooler in
warm weather, before checking out the research.
Last year Consumer Reports indicated that one brand of packaged
cheese and pepperoni pizzas actually had more fat and calories than
the labels stated. This year Consumer Reports found that the
ingredient labels matched the follow-up analysis.
If you've wondered about filling your car with higher octane gas
or regular, Consumer Reports updates readers on a recent Federal Trade
Commission ruling that a major oil company could no longer claim
better performance and lower maintenance costs when Consumers used
higher octane fuel. Consumer Reports says, "Tests of regular and
premium fuel for our November 1996 report confirmed that there were no
significant differences in acceleration or mileage."
Other topics that you can expect to find in Consumer Reports
include organic food, finding professional financial help, pet food,
mutual fund ratings, long-term care insurance, and many more articles
that address important Consumer questions.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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