Consumer Issues
Library E-Resources
Features unbiased ratings & recommendations on thousands of products and services in categories including appliances, cars, electronics & computers, home & garden, food, health, personal finance, travel, and more.
Remote access from home is limited to Maynard residents only. For more information, contact the Reference Desk at 978-897-1010 x103.
Boston Consumers' Checkbook gives you independent, non-profit, no-advertising ratings you can trust of local auto repair shops, plumbers, veterinarians, banks, doctors, dentists, carpet cleaners, and much more!
It also includes in-depth articles with advice from Boston Consumers' Checkbook's award-winning magazine.
Remote access from home is limited to Maynard residents only. For more information, contact the Reference Desk at 978-897-1010 x103.
Magazines
Note: Magazines can be checked out for 2 weeks with the exception of the most recently received issue, which is non-circulating.
Boston Consumers' Checkbook
Consumer Reports
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Retirement Report
HGTV Magazine
Martha Stewart Living
Money
General Consumer Websites
Trying to find when Consumer Reports magazine last reported on a product/service? Access this handy index to their coverage.
Evaluates a wide variety of products and includes helpful buyers guides. Includes multiple sources of reviews and evaluates the quality of the reviews.
Ratings and reviews are collected from consumers for everything from shoes to refrigerators.
Broken down by category, this site provides price comparisons, product reviews, and deals.
Experts perform extensive research on home items, picking the best buys at reasonable price points.
The fastest, best phone numbers, live chat, tips & shortcuts for any company.
Requires free membership. Verified reviews and ratings in hundreds of categories help you find the best companies to help you complete your projects.
Look up a business or charity, find BBB approved organizations, file a complaint with an organization, get information on any scams, and even chat with live representatives to get details on issues affecting consumers.
Travel and Food
The Internet has transformed consumer ratings, allowing consumers to speak for themselves. This has perhaps had the greatest effect on consumers rating their hotel, travel, and dining experiences. While valuable, be aware that the first-person reviews on these websites are seldom controlled.
Focuses on hotels, bed & breakfasts, flights, restaurants, and other vacation-related services.
Provides many consumer reviews with competitive prices for booking hotels.
Useful when looking for location-specific services and stores such as a top-rated Thai restaurant in Maynard or best toy store in Waltham.
Looking for entertainment, dining, or an idea for something to do? This website combines user comments with editorial insights.
Car and Truck Guides
Pricing for New & Used Cars
Buying and Selling New & Used Cars
Vehicle Hisory Reports
Fuel Economy/Emission
Computer and Tech Guides
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PC Magazine
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PC World
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CNET
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MacWorld
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Wirecutter
Please note that while our website does contain a small number of outside curated links (primarily to local, governmental, and non-profit sites covering subjects of interest to our patrons), we regret that we are unable to spend the time to fully evaluate unsolicited links that are sent to us for inclusion on our site; therefore we do not act on these recommendations.
Revised 7/12/2023 J.J.R.