How Product Reviews Can Ease Up Your Online Shopping
Purchasing online resembles the trip you make to the store, since most manufacturers offer a large amount of details. On many occasions however, such information is not enough, especially when you look for specific options or rare technical specs. Product reviews can bring up some key facts about oils, natural cosmetics or food supplies.
Product reviews are third-party opinions which usually come from users or specialists in a specific industry. Sometimes, they also include ratings and photos or videos of product unboxing and usage. Other said, most of the details that a product’s description lacks are in the reviews.
The Status of Product Reviews
Product reviews and testimonials derive from the basic article comments we know for ages. Online stores now develop integrated review systems and compensations or discounts for clients that write opinions on their products. There are users and specialized reviews available for those who look for certain products. After a few looks on a specialized review site, third-party expert testimonials include charts and countdowns based on:
- Technical specs.
- Manufacturer reputation.
- Pros and cons.
- User opinions and product popularity.
Meanwhile, user testimonials are informal opinions about product after one or more uses. Comparison buying is now so popular that platforms such as Amazon now pay their customers to review purchased products in money or discount vouchers. To secure the system, stores also compiled verification systems that state if a user actually bought a product.
What to Look for in Product Reviews
There are many facts and additional pieces of information you can learn from a product review. They come useful especially if you’re a mom with sensitive skin or have a child with allergies. Typically, testimonials contain info about:
- Speed of delivery and transport quality.
- Product real sizes and weight.
- Differences between product editions.
- Price comparisons with other retailers.
- Potential usage side effects for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
- Maintenance tips and safe storage.
- Ingredients lists, if not available within the product description.
Why Product Reviews Can Change Your Mind
Product reviews and testimonials can first protect you against fake or unreliable retailers. Large online stores have reviews and star-rating features you can see during your search. A product without reviews implies a risk you may not take if you encounter the same product from another retailer containing dozens of reviews.
Buyers also review products when making recurrent purchases. Someone who used a product for years and is satisfied with its results will share a complete opinion about usage and maintenance. On the other hand, those who bought a product only once can compare them with offers from other brands, based on personal experience.
Also, customer opinions can reveal details the manufacturer may try to hide. Let’s take vanilla or lavender oil or any other natural product. What if you’d read a review that a specific organic brand sells an oil which contains synthetic substances as preserving agents? If the article comes with a picture or proof, you might just avoid purchasing a product that harms you instead of being helpful.
Opinions don’t require a lot of search work. Online stores are encouraged to use them. Also, marketers claim that such testimonials may change a customer’s mind. Even more, Amazon was awarded with a patent for its content-based price reduction and incentives based on videos. Customers see videos and are more willing to write or record an opinion about a product they prefer.
How to Use Product Reviews in Your Favor
If you’re as environmentally-conscious as I am (and I think you are) and fond of green living, you will find interesting details in reviews. Here’s what I do before purchasing something online.
- The easiest part – search for a product in some online shops. Add the product’s name and the brand, if you know it.
- Select the products with most reviews. This is your first list of favorite products.
- Select the products with convenient prices. This is the shortlist you will choose from.
- Scan the reviews and see their dates – a review from 2014 will not be useful anymore, because most products change attributes. However, another review from last years is still valid as the purchase is only made some months ago.
- Ignore the reviews that only have ratings and no text. Some first dislike a product then change their minds – or vice versa.
- Read reviews thoroughly and notice what buyers say. You can even take notes and research more if a certain detail raises questions.
- If possible, check the Q&A section and see how manufacturers respond. This might help if you have trouble with transportation or the product.
Reviews have changed the online shopping experience ever since they developed and became popular. Some even search for online reviews while being in store. However, they also gave birth to the product trial period that some manufacturers offer with the purchase. Warranties now last longer and include more risks you might encounter.
I encourage you to make informed decisions whenever you need to purchase something. Even if you need some tools or ingredients to create DIY cleaning products or cosmetics, you will find out more about their resistance and quality. Once you purchase something and feel happy with (or dislike) it, you might even feel the need to contribute to others’ well being and write a review yourself.
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