Consumer Reports (CR), formerly Consumers Union (CU), is a non-profit consumer organization based in the United States that focuses on independent product testing, investigative journalism, consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy.
CR was founded in 1936 to provide consumers with information to help them evaluate the safety and performance of products. Since then, CR has continued to test and analyze products and services, as well as to advocate for consumers in legislative and rule-making forums. Among the reforms in which CR played a role were the implementation of seat belt laws, the public awareness of the dangers of cigarettes, and, more recently, the improvement of consumer finance protection and consumer access to quality health care. The organization’s reach has also expanded to include several digital platforms. Consumer Reports Advocacy frequently backs left-wing environmental causes, such as tighter regulations on automakers.
The organization’s headquarters, as well as its 50 testing labs, are in Yonkers, New York, with the automotive testing track in East Haddam, Connecticut. CR is supported by subscriptions to its magazine and website, as well as grants and donations from outside sources. Consumer Reports’ current CEO is Marta L. Tellado. Following her work with the Ford Foundation, she joined the organization in 2014 to expand its engagement and advocacy efforts.
The flagship website and magazine of Consumer Reports publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory and survey research center. CR does not accept advertising, pays for all of the products it tests, and has no shareholders because it is a non-profit organization. It also issues general and specific product/service purchasing guides.
Consumer Reports has hundreds of thousands of online advocates who take action and write letters to policymakers about issues that are important to them. With 6 million paid members who have access to online tools like a car recall tracker and personalized content, this group is growing as Consumer Reports expands its reach. An additional group of online members join for free and receive free advice on a variety of products (such as gas grills and washing machines). CR has also launched several advocacy websites, such as HearUsNow.org, which assists consumers with telecommunications policy issues. The Austin Lounge Lizards’ song “Drugs I Need” was featured by The New York Times, JibJab, BoingBoing, and hundreds of blogs in March 2005, as part of the CR campaign PrescriptionforChange.org. GreenerChoices.org was launched on Earth Day 2005 as a web-based initiative to “inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally friendly products and practices.”
Consumer Reports supported the Safe Patient Project, which aimed to help consumers find the best quality of health care by encouraging public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates and medical errors. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 2 million patients (about one in every twenty) will contract an infection while being treated in a hospital for an unrelated healthcare problem each year, resulting in 99,000 deaths and up to $45 billion in excess hospital costs.
The campaign has worked in every state to pass legislation requiring hospitals to publicly disclose infection rates. Medical devices, prescription drugs, and physician accountability are also priorities for the Safe Patient Project. GreenerChoices.org provides an “accessible, reliable, and practical source of information on purchasing ‘greener’ products that have a low environmental impact while also meeting personal needs.” The website contains numerous articles about various products, with ratings based on how “green” they are. It also focuses on electronics and appliance recycling and reuse, as well as conservation and the prevention of global warming.
Consumer Reports has recently received funding from the USPIRG Education Fund, the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, among other advocacy groups.
In recent years, the organization has been vocal on key issues such as championing consumer choice and industry competition in the debate over the Sprint-T-Mobile merger, advocating for consumer preference to maintain net neutrality protections, exposing how data is used to engage in racial discrimination when determining consumer pricing offers, and advocating for stronger privacy laws in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Using our expert ratings and reviews, you can save time and money when shopping for products like appliances, electronics, mattresses, and grills. When members shop with CR Savings, they receive exclusive offers and discounts. With My Products, you can get reliability ratings, check for recalls, and track maintenance for the products in and around your home. You can also enter information about your vehicle to see tire recommendations, car care tips, and current value estimates. There are no fake reviews, no advertising, and all reviews are unbiased. Consumer Reports buy everything that they test.
Digital membership costs $10 per month or $39 per year. For $59, you can get a one-year print and digital subscription to All Access.
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