So I enjoy reading reviews as much as the next person. Its nice to see other people's experiences. But I think they can cause pre conceived notions that a product is bad and stop a person from trying something that might potentially be something amazing for them. For instance, I know a lot of people say Derby's are junk. I love them, BBS every time. I've seen a lot of new people buy a sampler pack and not even use the Derby's and in the review say they didn't bother to try them because they heard they were junk. The same goes for lathering and soaps. While everybody's technique is similar, there are minute differences that can make a world of differences. Especially with hard water. Hard water is not just hard water, some have more mineral content than others etc. My personal opinion is if a product interests you, try it. There's usually 1 or 2 good reviews in a string of bad ones. That says something. Just food for thought.
Reviews a help or hinderence?
- Thread starter OneBadBadger
- Start date
I couldn't agree more. As with everything, YMMV. What doesn't work for one person could be the best thing since sliced bread for another. I've found that, with so many things, you can try a new product and hate it. But then if you revisit it down the line, your experience could be totally different. What happens a lot of the time is someone will give something a try and have a very polarizing experience and then go write a review. I've been guilty of this as well. Now that I've got some experience under my belt, I'm taking back a number of my bad reviews and even a couple of my good ones. IMO, try everything you can/desire and then revisit down the line to see if anything has changed.
I find that a lot round here.
everyone wants you to use/buy whatever THEY thinks good.
probably the worst thing about this site.
everyone wants you to use/buy whatever THEY thinks good.
probably the worst thing about this site.
I like to read reviews. I find them to be a huge help...... but not always the answer. In the end, I have to experience the product for myself to know whether or not I like it. It works out great...... it gives me a great reason to buy stuff. 
Ben
Ben
I completely agree w/ the OP. As an example, I have also avoided Derby blades. I bought some Dorco 301's before I read the bad reviews on them and they work great for me. The same w/ Pinaud Lilac Vegital. I tried it and to me it does not smell like cat urine, but is rather a nice floral powdery smell. At the same time, I read so many positive reviews about bay rum soaps, creams, and aftershaves that I tried some. I have yet to find anything bay rum related that to me did not smell awful. I just can't stand bay rum fragrances. However, with all that being said, there are so many shaving products out there that reviews (good or bad) are a way of eliminating some just in order to try as many as you can. I hope that makes sense.
cottontop
cottontop
I find reviews useful, when used properly. I don't expect the reviewer to make my decision for me, but if multitudes of people have issues with a product I may rethink it. That said, I like MWF, many don't and to be honest I couldn't care less.
Reviews should be used to help you select the products worth ordering when funds are limited. Could you miss something great, of course, but realistically most of us can't afford to try everything. I think the characteristics in the review are more useful than simply good or bad.
Reviews should be used to help you select the products worth ordering when funds are limited. Could you miss something great, of course, but realistically most of us can't afford to try everything. I think the characteristics in the review are more useful than simply good or bad.
There's the key for me, added to whom the reviewer is sometimes.
Its about analyzing trends within or over many reviews, spotting and evaluating a bias, and drawing a conclusion that the risk of buying _______ to decide for myself is warranted. It's harder with a polarizing item, but..... That's part of living life. You'll never know till you try it.
Newbies generally flock to the review section in droves. That can be good thing as it can give you a general idea on how something is perceived. I only have problems when someone new to wet shaving can't wait to post reviews and they honestly don't have enough time under their belts to be able to use any product to its full potential. To get the fullest amount of information on a review, check how long the reviewer has been a member and look at some of their older posts and give yourself an idea about their expierience levels and whether they know what they're talking about.
- Thread starter
- #9
That being said though, you can't just go off of how long they've been on this forum. That doesn't really mean anything.
It means they have more experience and better understand the pros and cons of different things that a newbie might not fully understand having very little to compare things to.
True, that is why I recommend doing a little digging to find out if they have the goods or are just posting to build up their post count.
I find reviews exceedingly helpful. All the tools I currently love I read about here.
You will often see YMMV, which is frustrating to some - but necessary. My face is not your face. My skin is not your skin. My sense of smell . . .
I would never purchase anything after reading one review, but after the 25th post about how great the SOC was I got mine. No guarantee - but considerably less risk in my book. It is now my favorite brush.
When asked I always offer that I think Derby's suck - but I also add that many people like them. Blades are cheap so that's not much of an issue.
Some people only like cheap stuff, some only like expensive stuff. I maintain that if you put in your time and read enough posts you can get a pretty good handle on what's worth trying.
You also have to know yourself and your budget. If you think $15 is too much to spend on cream don't waste a lot of time reading posts about $60 cream.
When I was just starting out I found the most valuable posts were along the line of "your 3 favorite brushes" or "your 5 favorite creams." By the time you read a couple of pages you will see a couple of creams pop up on many posts.
You will often see YMMV, which is frustrating to some - but necessary. My face is not your face. My skin is not your skin. My sense of smell . . .
I would never purchase anything after reading one review, but after the 25th post about how great the SOC was I got mine. No guarantee - but considerably less risk in my book. It is now my favorite brush.
When asked I always offer that I think Derby's suck - but I also add that many people like them. Blades are cheap so that's not much of an issue.
Some people only like cheap stuff, some only like expensive stuff. I maintain that if you put in your time and read enough posts you can get a pretty good handle on what's worth trying.
You also have to know yourself and your budget. If you think $15 is too much to spend on cream don't waste a lot of time reading posts about $60 cream.
When I was just starting out I found the most valuable posts were along the line of "your 3 favorite brushes" or "your 5 favorite creams." By the time you read a couple of pages you will see a couple of creams pop up on many posts.
As a newbie, I certainly went to the review sections, and I read threads about products interesting to me.
I like to hear other people's experiences, but ultimately, I realize that I need to try for myself. For example, I have a Parker synthetic brush that has poor reviews, but it works for me. I like it better than my VDH brush or my Omega boar right now. That could change as my technique evolves and improves, or my needs change. Another example, I did not really like my Maggard m10 at first, and I put it away. Then, I decided that I should master it so as to improve my technique. I have used it the last two days with great success, and now I am starting to prefer the razor.
I like to hear other people's experiences, but ultimately, I realize that I need to try for myself. For example, I have a Parker synthetic brush that has poor reviews, but it works for me. I like it better than my VDH brush or my Omega boar right now. That could change as my technique evolves and improves, or my needs change. Another example, I did not really like my Maggard m10 at first, and I put it away. Then, I decided that I should master it so as to improve my technique. I have used it the last two days with great success, and now I am starting to prefer the razor.
I think you can learn to distinguish between a quality review and fanboyism.
Trying new things always involves risk.
Trying new things always involves risk.
There are a lot of bad products out there. Not just sub par, but they are so bad that they **** you off.
I think what makes reviews helpful is comparing them to other products so you at least have an idea about what you are buying. Let's face it ... you guys will buy anything.
Myself included.
Here is some sage advice about B&B. You guys are real gentleman. If a product, especially an artisan product, is terrible then most guys will not write a negative review. They just don't write anything about it - good or bad. Pay attention to what is not said.
Now, some products deserve the lumps they receive and a guy should pay attention to that kind of press.
The first year, plankowner, product reviews are still some of my favorite things to go back and read.
I think what makes reviews helpful is comparing them to other products so you at least have an idea about what you are buying. Let's face it ... you guys will buy anything.
Myself included. Here is some sage advice about B&B. You guys are real gentleman. If a product, especially an artisan product, is terrible then most guys will not write a negative review. They just don't write anything about it - good or bad. Pay attention to what is not said.
Now, some products deserve the lumps they receive and a guy should pay attention to that kind of press.
The first year, plankowner, product reviews are still some of my favorite things to go back and read.
Four letters to live by :
Y.M.M.V.
Y.M.M.V.
When I started the reviews were a huge help to me. It showed me some people loved a product while others hates it. So I never let a review stop me from trying a product but help guide me on bigger purchases of hardware. Most of us can't buy every stainless steel razor and high end brush.
My 2 cents. I bought a lot of stuff based on reviews that I didn't like. After a while, I started to notice a few people who seemed to like all the stuff I was liking and had the funds and time and will to try a lot more than I did. So I started purchasing stuff based on those few peoples reviews, as their tastes were close to mine. Best decision ever.
If you're looking for internet reviews to substantiate your inclination to purchase a particular product you'll definitely them. Even on forums like this one some really mediocre products will get asskickin' reviews.
I've found it helpful to read the negative reviews carefully and to discount the positives somewhat.
I've found it helpful to read the negative reviews carefully and to discount the positives somewhat.
Reviews are like getting an estimate. You throw out the top and bottom ones and you end up somewhere in the middle. I tried Derby blades and went "wow these suck" then I read the reviews and found that others think they suck too. Arko really does smell like a commercial cleaning product to me, but it does perform well. Scents are all subjective so I keep that in mind. If you see that a lot of people like a particular product it's a pretty safe bet that it may be decent. I don't base a decision to buy something on what one person says unless I know them personally and have determined that we like the same things. People like different things. My brother in law keeps recommending movies that I have to see because they are great. I watch them and think they suck. So it's just information to help you make a decision but it shouldn't be the only information you use.
