What do you consider a good review?

How much product information is enough?
Do you like to hear about personal use?

Just some ideas here...

Suzanne

A good review covers all the detail bases that other people might want to know about (for instace, how heavy is it?) while adding in the the personal experience that allows someone to relate it to their lives: will it fit in MY trunk? Will I be able to keep it clean with my little Pigpen?

It also is comprehensive enough so that I don't need to read 85 reviews and check the manufacturer site to get more information because I just don't have time.

I agree...

I like to read some good personal use on an item, whether it be a toy or kitchen gadget, but I also want to read the details as well.

I look for a balance between product details and personal experience. Maybe it is asking a lot, but I don't want to have to go to a manufacturers website to read about features. There are lots of details that can't be captured on a manufacturers website: does your diaper bag fit under the stroller, does the highchair tray really fit in a dishwasher.

I also like reviews that mention what a product doesn't have that may be common on other brands or models. Tell me if your high chair does not have wheels, or that the stroller does not have a snack tray.

mmcphee

Those are some good points that you bring up there!

And you are right, a web site on the product is not going to tell you whether or not a diaper big is going to fit underneath the stroller in the basket provided. ;)

Suzanne

I like a good balance too. Thinking mainly about K&F here ...

I want to know MORE about personal experience with the product - as most toys, etc "claims" are not that meaningful to me.

I especially want to know how YOUR child played with it, uses it, and for how long (like did you just get it, is it a constant toy, etc). Also the age range of the child, standard age of use for this product.

I do want to hear some about what it looks like, is put together, but if there is a good picture listed with the product I will refer often to that, so I only need so much description.

I also want to know price - I know that gets left out a lot - and it would be nice to see a general price rather than gift (I know, I am guilty of that too!)

Kimm

Mentioning the price... good point! I know that when reading a review I like it when the price is mentioned and I don't have to go surfing around trying to figure out how much a particular item my cost.

Suzanne

I agree with the price issue. I know that I personally will try to find out what you can buy it for on the web prior to giving my final rating. The reason for this is that for some of the gifts we have recieved, my boys have been very happy with the toy, but then when I find out what the price is, I will recommend with reservations. In other words, I will write that I would recommend the toy if you can find it for under $20, but all the sites I found have it listed at $30... First place I check is the 'compare prices' tag on Eps under the product heading, and if it is not there I will google it!

Jason

I don't like it when reviewers complain about the price of a product they otherwise liked. This is a very big turn off for me. It was either worth the money or it wasn't, and I assume that if you couldn't afford to spend $800 on a Bugaboo stroller you wouldn't have bought it. If I'm researching expensive highchairs, I want to know which expensive high chair is the best, not how unfortunate it is that they cost so much. I wish everyone would get over their guilt and stop writing phrases like "a little pricey, but worth every penny." Anything that feels worth the money is a bargain, no matter what you paid.