Eclectic Chronicles

Ah, Which?. The venerable institution of consumer advocacy, the knight in shining armour for the discerning shopper. But let’s be real for a moment—sometimes, the armour gets a bit tarnished, doesn’t it? If you’ve found yourself rolling your eyes at the latest Which? review or wincing at their subscription fee, you’re not alone. There’s a growing number of people who find Which? a bit, well, out of touch with the realities of everyday life.

Let’s dive into some of the reasons why Which? might not be the holy grail of consumer advice for everyone.

1. The Cost of Subscription

First off, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—the subscription fee, Which? isn’t cheap [side note: why does everything have to be a subscription these days]. For a service that claims to be about helping people save money and make informed decisions, it can feel a bit ironic that you need to shell out a decent chunk of change just to access their advice. Sure, they offer trials and discounts, but after that honeymoon period, the price tag can be a bit of a slap in the face, especially if you’re already counting your pennies.

2. Focus on High-End Products

Value for money isn’t just a consideration — it’s the whole ball game.

Have you ever scrolled through a Which? review only to discover that the top-rated products are way out of your budget? It’s a common gripe. Which? often seems to focus on premium products—things that, while lovely, aren’t exactly realistic purchases for the average person. It’s like being told the best car for your daily commute is a Rolls-Royce. Great, but I was thinking more along the lines of a second-hand hatchback, thanks. This focus on high-end products can make their reviews feel irrelevant to those of us living in the real world where value for money isn’t just a consideration—it’s the whole ball game.

3. Lack of Detailed Testing for Affordable Options

And then there’s the issue of testing. Which? is known for its thoroughness, but if you’re expecting deep dives into budget-friendly options, you might be disappointed. It’s not that they don’t review cheaper products—they do—but the level of detail often seems to be reserved for the pricier items. This can leave those looking for the best bang for their buck feeling a bit underserved. After all, a review site should cater to all budgets, not just the upper echelons of consumerism.

4. Disconnect from Typical Human Use

Now, this is a big one. Which? tests products under conditions that sometimes seem more akin to a laboratory experiment than everyday life. For instance, they might test a vacuum cleaner by making it suck up industrial quantities of dust, but does that really reflect what happens in your average living room? I want to know how it copes if I accidentally vacuum over my daughters dolls hair or my sons hot wheel cars.

These extreme tests can be helpful, sure, but they can also be misleading. What most of us really want to know is how the product will perform when used normally—like how a kettle will fare when you’re just trying to make your morning cuppa, not when you’re running a cafe out of your kitchen.

5. Price vs. Performance—An Overlooked Factor

Then there’s the price-to-performance ratio. This is where Which? often misses the mark. While they do give ratings, it can sometimes feel like the price of a product isn’t given enough weight in the overall score. Let’s be honest: if a £300 vacuum cleaner gets a 95% rating but a £100 model gets 85%, many people would rather save the £200, even if it means a slight drop in performance. But Which? often crowns the more expensive option without fully appreciating that, for most of us, a small compromise on quality is worth a big saving on price.

6. Incorrect or Missing Price Information

Speaking of prices, another frustrating issue is when Which? doesn’t seem to get the pricing quite right. There have been instances where the prices listed in reviews don’t match what you find in shops, or they don’t take into account ongoing sales and discounts. This can be incredibly misleading—especially when you’re trying to make a decision based on the cost. If you’re going to be the go-to guide for consumers, getting the price right is kind of important, wouldn’t you say?

Is Which? Really for Everyone?

So, is Which? bad? Not necessarily. It’s a valuable resource for many, especially if you have the budget to afford their top recommendations or if you appreciate their extensive, albeit sometimes overzealous, testing methods. But if you’re someone who’s more interested in finding value for money rather than the absolute best product on the market, or if you feel that your everyday needs aren’t being reflected in their reviews, Which? might not be your best bet.

There are alternatives out there—sites and forums where real people share their experiences with products in everyday settings, often with a focus on budget options. These might provide a more relatable, and sometimes more useful, perspective than Which?.

In the end, Which? has its place, but it’s not the one-size-fits-all solution it might present itself to be. It’s always worth shopping around, not just for products, but for the advice you use to buy them.