Five Reasons to Use Consumer Reports Before Your Next Big Purchase

Whether you've got your eye on a dream car, or your next computer and electronics purchase, the decision-making process can be a lengthy one without the right information. Now that you don't have to count on a salesperson to guide you through the steps, jumping online to review products, learn about consumer feedback, and tracking commentary on your next prized possession is easier than ever. Publications such as Consumer Reports have long served as a handy guide to outline the top brands in various categories; appliances, cars, health and fitness, and even personal finance reviews are readily available each year to share the pros and cons of leading products. If you haven't made use of this unbiased resource yet, here are five reasons to use consumer reports before your next big purchase:

1. RSS feeds on your favorite products. If you're not too keen on checking the comprehensive website on a regular basis, now you can sign up for the RSS feed of your top categories. Just setup the simple feed in each category of interest. You'll get headlines and summaries of all of the newest reports, making it much easier to track down what you need, when you need it.

2. Recall and safety information. The blog on ConsumerReports.org is a very useful tool to see the most current updates on products. It's updated daily, and you can look at an entire month's worth of entries in one quick click.

3. Subscriptions for 24/7 access. If you prefer an online version of your favorite magazines and publications, ConsumerReports.org is available on a subscription basis; you can chose a $5.95 monthly charge, or just $26.00 for the annual subscription. If you're already a magazine subscriber, online access is just $19. per month

4. The Consumer Reports Web Watch. If you've always been hesitant to share your personal information on travel websites, health organizations, or new business sites, the Web Watch is filled with information and updates on recent complaints, scams, and potentially fraudulent businesses. You can also file an internet fraud complaint here, and take a peek at investigations underway.