Whatever did the world do before Google Reviews existed? Though most of us lived through those years, it’s hard to remember the time when we all went out and bought things without spending hours researching online. So before reading google reviews on tech products, here’s a complete guide to spot fakes, quality of reviews, and more!
Google Reviews have completely changed the game when it comes to buying tech products, and it’s never been easier to find the perfect device to suit our needs. While there are sites available like Shopper Approved that have aggregations of helpful reviews, Google is by far the most popular platform for most companies. Whichever platform you use to look at reviews, there are certain things to look out for before you start scrolling reviews.
What to Look Out For
It’s easy to waste time reading dozens of tech reviews on Google, only to walk away more confused than ever. Here’s what really matters when you’re reading all of those Google Reviews:
1. Is the Product in Good Shape When It Arrives?
If a large portion of reviews say the product arrived broken, battered, or damaged, this is a major red flag. The product could be more fragile than advertised, or the packaging design or materials are flawed, and you’re probably better off choosing another option that will hold up over time. This is especially true when it comes to tablets, game consoles, desktop computers, and handheld devices. This will also be something to consider when/if you have the choice of a delivery service. With Amazon’s delivery service becoming more popular, they are a good system to consider.
2. Does the Product Arrive with All Necessary Parts?
Sometimes products arrive without charging cords, USB cords, or other important accessories. When many customers complain about this in reviews, it’s a sign that the distributor and manufacturer may not be of the highest quality. Though you may be able to easily find the part elsewhere, you shouldn’t risk buying a product that could be of low quality overall or has poor quality assurance and inspection practices.
3. Is the Product Working As It Should?
Many first-generation technology products come with lots of bugs if they aren’t thoroughly tested. For example, the first wave of XBOX 360s didn’t have proper cooling systems, and many consoles would overheat, and malfunction after a period of time. Be wary of products that don’t seem to work as intended for a large number of customers.
What to Ignore
Reading Google reviews can tell you a lot about which technology products you should avoid. But some reviews point out flaws that aren’t really all that concerning. Here are some of the things you can ignore if you see them come up in a Google review:
1. Complaints About Shipping Time to a Rural Area
When lots of customers are frustrated about long shipping times, that’s one cause for alarm. But if just one or two customers complain about shipping times to a rural area, you don’t have much need to worry. Many products take longer to ship to remote areas, and if you live in a city or suburb, you probably won’t have the same issue.
2. Complaints About Ordering the Wrong Thing
Plenty of bad reviews are justified, but when a customer leaves a bad review because they ordered the wrong thing, you can discount their feedback right away. This one is on the customer, not the manufacturer. If all other reviews look pretty good, you can rest assured the product is likely of decent quality.
3. Product Misuse or Abuse
Often times, the product is of good quality, and it would have served the customer well for many years if properly used and maintained. But the customer simply abuses or misuses the product, and leaves a bad review, hoping the manufacturer or distributor will send them a replacement if they agree to remove the bad review. Unfortunately, this is pretty common. For example, there have been thousands of complaints about cell phones failing to work after a short period, just to find out that the user dropped it without a protective case, or submerged it in water. This became such an issue that many manufacturers now install moisture detection and shock detection devices to detect such fraud.
4. Review Bombing
Some consumers and competitors leave bad reviews for a product they’ve never even tried before. This might happen if the product has caused a stir on social media, and it probably doesn’t have much basis. If you see unverified reviews, you can’t trust that the reviewer has any personal experience with the product. There are even review services that will leave negative or positive reviews for a fee. Amazon is fraught with millions of fake paid reviews for example. You can use free services to help you spot fake product reviews on Amazon, Walmart and many other sites at Fakespot.com or for a pure Amazon review analysis you can try ReviewMeta.com
Happy Shopping!
Keep these tips in mind next time you’re reading up on the latest device. By knowing what to look out for in Google Reviews (and what to ignore), you’ll optimize your research phase and be able to make a well-informed decision when it comes to your tech purchases, especially on new hardware like the Google Pixel Buds 2. Happy shopping!
FEATURED IMAGE: CHRISTIAN WIEDIGER, UNSPLASH.COM
