|
Jun. 2, 2006
Product Reviews? A Review
Have you ever read a negative product review in a magazine? Maybe this
is typical for all magazines, I don't know. I am not in the habit of
paying much attention to product reviews....other than in homeschooling
magazines. The books, curriculum and resources are always of interest
to me, even if it is something I clearly do not need or would ever use.
But every review I read seems to think that product x, y, z is the
greatest thing to come out since homeschooling itself. There are far
too many superlatives, and I suppose that should cue me to the fact
that the product review is more of an advertisement than an actual
review.
Every so often, a product catches enough of my interest
that I do go ahead and order it. Or I might have a chance to take a
look at it in my homeschool group. Or I might find someone in an
e-group who has purchased it. By and large, I would say that I am
disappointed in the overall quality of a lot of the homeschool
materials being offered. Catalogues and even curricular materials are
full of typographical errors. If a published work is so careless about
simple errors, how are they on facts? Concepts? General scholarship?
Not to mention overall writing quality?
I am ready and willing
to admit that I might be a bit spoiled in this regard coming from the
public schools. I am accustomed to looking at highly professional
product catalogues featuring companies seeking to gain a foothold in
the mutli-million dollar business within the public schools. A
self-published curriculum provider does not have quite the same kind of
capital behind them. But most do have the love of Christ. Which should
inspire to the higher quality? Simple proofreading, an attention to
detail and overall writing quality really do not cost anymore to
produce. They just take time and care. If the only difference between
professionally produced school materials and the many self-published
products were the quality of the paper and binding, I would not be
concerned.
A little more honesty in some of the reviews would
also be appreciated. I don't really bother to read them anymore because
they havent' built in me the confidence that they are an honest,
impartial reporter of the best homeschool resources available. They
more have established that they desire to maintain a positive
relationship with their advertisers.
I do like well-done product
catalogues, however. I guess I expect a company to tell me their
products are the best thing on the market. And if they have a quality
catalogue, free of errors, visually appealing and well-written, I just
might be inclined to believe them.
|
| •
Post A Comment! •
Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
Posted by
Jun. 2, 2006 - some good points!
Kris