SEE THE TRAP. AVOID THE TRAP.
Hey there, this month we’re highlighting the three telltale signs of a product recommendation you can’t trust 🟡 🟠 🔴 and I’ll share some actionable tips to help you separate the good from the bad.
Let’s get to it.
1 OF 3 → HOW THEY TRY TO DUPE YOU
Heartwarming stories and anecdotal evidence
Choosing anecdotes over rigorous testing.
One quick way to spot a potentially unhelpful product recommendation or review is to look for the use of anecdotes over data.
Takeaway: When reading a review, pay attention to how the reviewer explains their testing and ask yourself: Do you get the sense that they followed a repeatable and specific testing methodology? Or are they just using personal stories peppered with spec details you can find on Amazon listings?
“Whether it’s an article or a video, always pay attention to the way the reviewer backs up the reasons why they recommend a specific product. If the only good reasons they are giving you to buy a certain product come from cutesy stories of their everyday life, take that advice with a pinch of salt.
And I’d go as far as to say that you should probably ignore any product recommendation where there is an excessive use of anecdotes and marketing jargon over first-hand test data and clear explanations.”
2 OF 3 → HOW THEY TRY TO DUPE YOU
Use of images and videos supplied by the brand
One marketing photo, countless advertorials disguised as product reviews.
As a rule of thumb, be skeptical of product reviews and recommendations that have no original photography and videos of the product.
Takeaway: When researching a specific product, take a moment to search for it on your preferred search engine and scroll through Images. Being familiar with marketing photos, will help you quickly spot them when reading or watching reviews.
“Always look for multiple original images, videos and/or GIFs of the product recommended to ensure that at least someone somewhere spent a meaningful amount of time with the thing they are telling you to buy.
And in the age of AI slop, pay attention to the signs of AI-generated images:
▶ If there’s text on the image, check to see if the letters look warped, garbled, or are pure gibberish.
▶ If there’s a person on the image, check for anatomical irregularities, impossibly smooth skin that looks almost plasticky, or a dead-eyed look.
▶ If there’s stuff in the background, check for strange textures, shadows or reflections that defy the laws of physics, or overlapping objects that seem to blur together.”
3 OF 3 → HOW THEY TRY TO DUPE YOU
There are no cons or downsides
The perfect product doesn’t exist.
After testing and reviewing over 140 air purifiers, we know that there isn’t such a thing as a perfect product.
Takeaway: Be wary of any product recommendation or review that fails to highlight the downsides of choosing the thing they are telling you to buy.
“A person with real expertise in the product they’re reviewing can’t help but find flaws, compare against other products, and use hard numbers to discuss quality and value for money.
After testing and reviewing nearly 150 air purifiers, I can wholeheartedly say that there is no such thing as a product with no cons.”
Stay safe, and don’t be duped!
~ Danny
P.S. This is a new iteration of our newsletter, where we move away from HouseFresh-related news to more practical advice for consumers. If this is not your cup of tea, feel free to unsubscribe and we won’t send future issues your way. No hard feelings.
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