As the internet has opened up many opportunities for businesses to aid consumers, it has also opened up an equally great number of opportunities for consumers to aid one another with reviews of products.In the pre-internet era, reviews were limited to such professional publications as Consumer Reports as well as magazines devoted to specific types of products, such as photography equipment, home
. theater, cooking wares, automobiles. As more and more people began to use the Internet, they started to use it more and more for shopping. While such online stores as Amazon.com had professional reviewers, they began to offer their customers opportunities to express their opinions and concerns about products with rating systems. Now, almost all online stores allow its users to review all of its products, from telephones to tires.Community reviews can serve an arguably important purpose in keeping users from overpaying or buying defective or inferior goods when something less expensive and better is available. In addition, some people believe that online reviews are more honest and less biased than professional ones because they have nothing to lose or gain by honestly stating their opinions. However, some people view online reviews with suspicion, as fan communities can artificially inflate a product's rating, especially in the case of a movie, book or CD.Many amateur reviewers have formed blogs to provide consumer advice and product reviews, and have earned the trust of their readers by striving to perform well-informed and unbiased service without access to the same rigorous testing standards as Consumer Reports or the Underwriter's Laboratories. However, there are certain things that many people prefer to buy in person, such as cars and accessories related to them, such as tires. Nevertheless, online tire reviews can keep consumers from buying defective tires or paying too much for them regardless of where they ultimately make their purchases. More reference links: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9127193 http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2004089,00.html