How much trust do you put into product reviews and ratings?

[5030]

Like I said, the best reviews are on Harbor Freight. If it's a turd they post it too.

 

[ning]

Tell you what I put my new CS Echo to the test today and it shines. Only thing I had to do was buy a non cat muffler for it that interestingly Echo sells and add a set of bucking spikes. It's the lightest saw I've ever used and has plenty of balls too. Running it on synthetic 50-1 fuel, It's very happy and so am I. It's a one hander at 7 pounds fueled. Have to check out their pole saw. I have the HF (electric) one and it works well but the bar oil capacity is not much and it's hard to fill.

HF discontinued the Portland pole saw but replaced it with a Hercules, I think

I do know one thing, compared to a Stihl they are a bargain, Stihl has priced themselves out of the market more or less.

which CS is that?

 

[oosik]

I read the reviews. Try to pick the best two or three. THEN THE BIG CHORE - try to find one or two of the top units at a local store.

 

[2manyrocks]

The Home Depot that is 30 minutes from me hasn't had the Echo gas pole saw in stock for about 6 months, but they've had it in stock at another store about 60 minutes away. I had been hoping they'd get one in stock locally, but it didn't happen and they raised the price from $419 to $449 in the meantime.

 

[5030]

The Home Depot that is 30 minutes from me hasn't had the Echo gas pole saw in stock for about 6 months, but they've had it in stock at another store about 60 minutes away. I had been hoping they'd get one in stock locally, but it didn't happen and they raised the price from $419 to $449 in the meantime.

Still a lot less than the Stihl Combo unit. Increasing prices are everywhere and you and I both know who is to blame for that. I'll stick with my 59 buck electric Portland and struggle with filling the bar oil tank. I put my small Champion 2000 watt inverter in the back of the side by side, an extension cord and some bar oil and the Portland and trim. Portable as I require. Even the cheapo Portland came with an Oregon chain and bar. Of course it's 1/8" lo pro chain but no big deal. I can sharpen and pitch chain here.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have the Portland and have run it off a Champion generator carried in my loader bucket. Another good priced HF product that actually works. Honestly, $59 with coupon and you get the whole saw compared to buying a pole saw attachment that is priced at $69 on up depending on which one you buy.

I have areas where tractor access is limited and a self powered pole saw is much easier to deal with.

Many times, I use the pole saw more like a chainsaw on a stick rather than using it like a true pole saw to cut limbs.

Pole saw attachment saws have two advantages over fixed pole saws, IMO: 1) they are easier to carry on the tractor when taken apart and 2) if the blade gets stuck in a cut, I can take the cutting head off to work it loose.

 

[Oaktree]

I find the best, unbiased reviews on Harbor Freight actually and the worst and most biased on Amazon but I try to avoid Amazon anyway.

I don't share the hate for Amazon that some do, but of any of the on-line merchants their reviews are probably the most useful. Yeah, you've got to know how to filter them but once you ignore the obvious shills and idiots you can get some good info there.

Harbor Freight? You gotta be kidding! Don't think I've EVER seen anything less than a 4 star review for any of their products, even the junkiest "fall apart after one use" tools. They seem to have an algorithm that immediately tosses any negative comments.

 

[2manyrocks]

I think we all tend to give HF a break on ratings because we know going into a purchase that they are selling value priced tools. Their $59 w/coupon 110v corded pole saw is probably one of the best buys for a homeowner who just wants to cut some limbs in their yard and has access to a power outlet. There are no batteries, no chargers, no mixing fuel. The HF saw is fully adjustable for length. Doesn't droop. Has a good chain. I've used mine enough to feel like I got my money's worth and then some.

Or you can spend something like $340 for the M18 with a 6 amp hour battery and a charger if you can find one on sale.

If you happen not to like the HF saw, you're only out $59. The 6 amp hour M18 battery itself is $98 unless you get one as part of a kit with the M18 saw.

 

[5030]

Harbor Freight? You gotta be kidding!

Must be your browser or you aren't reading them as I have never found that to be true at all and I leave negative reviews on junk that are published on their site. Junk is junk. My issue with Amazon is they hardly ever post anything but positive reviews.

Of course I don't buy cheap HF junk anyway. Only Icon, Hercules or Chief, no Pittsburg for sure and Portland is iffy too.

Most times I practice 'due diligence' before buying anything anyway. For air tools (I have a lot and use them in the shop constantly), I use Torque Test Channel on YT for recommendations. Completely unbiased and test everything both air powered and cordless. I check out 'Project Farm' too as TTC only does air and cordless tools but they have started to get into non powered hand tools like box and open end wrenches lately.

 

[5030]

I think we all tend to give HF a break on ratings because we know going into a purchase that they are selling value priced tools. Their $59 w/coupon 110v corded pole saw is probably one of the best buys for a homeowner who just wants to cut some limbs in their yard and has access to a power outlet. There are no batteries, no chargers, no mixing fuel. The HF saw is fully adjustable for length. Doesn't droop. Has a good chain. I've used mine enough to feel like I got my money's worth and then some.

Or you can spend something like $340 for the M18 with a 6 amp hour battery and a charger if you can find one on sale.

If you happen not to like the HF saw, you're only out $59. The 6 amp hour M18 battery itself is $98 unless you get one as part of a kit with the M18 saw.

My 59 Buck Portland pole saw (other than the crappy bar oil tank) has been golden. Cut a ton of limbs with it and it's paid for itself. Of course I do keep the chain sharp (have an Oregon professional chain grinder) and flip the bar after every sharpening (which I do with all my saws anyway) and like you said, it don't 'droop' at full extension. Project Farm did a test on them a while back and they all droop except the cheapo and now discontinued, Portland.

As an aside, I'm not a Milwaukee or DeWalt fan. Stuff is over priced and is made across the pond anyway. I have a full array of 20 volt HF Bauer cordless tools and use them regularly and not one has ever failed, plus the batteries are cheap and I only use the 5ah packs.

Carry my Bauer cordless shop blower in the tractors when running hay to blow out the radiators in the field. Works excellent for that task.

Have a DeWalt cordless drill as well but the batteries are way too expensive and seem to fail regularly so it's a dust collector.

 

[GeneV]

I definitely pay attention to ratings and reviews, but PAY ATTENTION is the key phrase. Like take Amazon for instance, more than once I noticed that the reviews posted were for a different product!

Another thing to pay attention to is the date of the reviews. The default how they're listed is "top reviews", as in how many people found them useful. I want to see "most recent", so always switch it to that. Sometimes product quality changes over time, and or there could be a bad batch. I just experienced this actually, bought a pair of Sketchers, received them with stains on the leather. Great reviews overall, but did notice the latest reviews had some customers complaining about receiving the shoes in same condition. I took a chance because I really wanted those shoes to replace my wornout pair, and yup sure enough. But Amazon's customer service is awesome so no worries there.

 

[Oaktree]

I definitely pay attention to ratings and reviews, but PAY ATTENTION is the key phrase. Like take Amazon for instance, more than once I noticed that the reviews posted were for a different product!

I've noticed that from time to time myself. Usually it's for a similar, but not identical product. I wonder if the seller updated the page with the new product, but the reviews were from what was there before?

 

[2manyrocks]

I was able to get the Echo PPF-225 at the $419 price from last year plus a 10% discount buying the pole saw plus a Echo arborist chainsaw from a nearby Echo dealer. I feel like the extra expense is worth getting a gas powered unit that should cut faster, cut all day and will never need a replacement battery, and the dealer had both the pole saw and the chainsaw in stock.

 

[GeneV]

I've noticed that from time to time myself. Usually it's for a similar, but not identical product. I wonder if the seller updated the page with the new product, but the reviews were from what was there before?

Nah, I've seen entirely different products being reviewed.

 

[2manyrocks]

Some of the product reviews are so bad that they do appear to have other products mixed in.

One thing that they all of them lack to my knowledge is the ability to ask questions back and forth like we do here.

And the other thing is that most of the reviews are given early in using the product. After a year of use, sometimes shortcomings become more evident or our impressions change after the honeymoon period ends.

 

[masscity]

The reviews that I find somewhat believable are the ones that are two or three paragraphs long and say what is good and bad about the product. The ones that say great product or is junk, mean nothing.

 

[orezok]

A new restaurant opened up in a town near me. They started out by telling customers that if they would provide a 5 star review, they would take 10% off their bill. Talk about crooked! Word spreads pretty quickly in a small town.

I never ate there and they are now closed.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Here's a good one...

 

[GeneV]

Here's a good one...View attachment 787676

He read it was comfortable and thought it meant comfort food!

 

[two_bit_score]

Reviews are a scant step above spam for me.

They are a step below spam for me. Ever since companies went to entering you in a drawing for a $1,000 gift card (or whatever) for reviewing the product you just purchased and haven’t even had a chance to use yet I read them just for laughs.

Pictures submitted with the review count a little bit, not much.