Consumer Reports

WHY IS IT so complicated and costly to get your computer or phone fixed when it breaks? Too often, your only options are to either use the manufacturer’s preferred repair service (at a possibly inflated price) or buy a new product. That’s because some companies have restricted access to the parts and tools needed to fix their products. A 2021 CR nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 adults found that a majority have replaced a broken product sooner than they wanted to because they couldn’t find an acceptable repair option. And 84 percent support laws requiring that information and parts be made available to independent services and/or product owners. CR is working to secure your right to more easily repair the products you own. Last December, we raised consumer voices in…

Fighting for Safer Furniture In recent decades, hundreds of children have been killed, and tens of thousands more seriously injured, when furniture, appliances, or televisions toppled over onto them. Tragically, many of these tip-over incidents could have been prevented. But a new federal law passed in December, known as the STURDY Act, will help reduce tip-overs by ensuring that furniture is built to be more stable. And CR—working with other consumer groups, industry representatives, and parents of tip-over victims—played a key role in getting the new law passed. Begun over a decade ago, CR’s crusade against tip-overs gained momentum in 2017 when we started conducting stability tests on dressers. That research revealed that the voluntary testing standard then in place was inadequate, and we called on the furniture industry and regulators to strengthen…

THANK YOU FOR exploring heavy metals in the chocolate I love. But isn’t it possible that the metal levels for a given brand change as time passes? Perhaps enormously? Thus the brand name may not be nearly as important as the article implies? It saddens me to say it, but maybe we just need to eat less? —Joseph Bates, Newton, MA EDITOR’S NOTE Yes, it’s possible that levels of heavy metals in the chocolate bars tested will change, and some companies are taking steps to make that happen. Your suggestion to eat less is also a good idea. All types of chocolate are best enjoyed as an occasional treat due to the calories and added sugars they contain. AS A DARK chocolate lover, I read this article with great interest. You state…

Bike Helmets WE TESTED: 89 models WE TEST FOR: The helmet’s ability to absorb the impact of a crash, how easy it is to adjust the straps for a secure fit, how much ventilation the helmet offers, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 70 Range: 33-90 AN EXCELLENT FIT ✔ Bontrager Starvos WaveCel $105 90 OVERALL SCORE BEST PICK UNDER $50 $ Bell Granite MIPS $35 82 OVERALL SCORE GREAT FOR KIDS $ Giro Raze $45 74 OVERALL SCORE Carpet Cleaners WE TESTED: 20 models WE TEST FOR: How well the cleaner removes red clay stains from carpeting, how much solution is left behind after cleaning, ease of filling the tank, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 56 Range: 31-72 FIRST-RATE CLEANER ✔ Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced FH55000 $150 72 OVERALL SCORE TOPS AT DRYING ✔ Bissell ProHeat 2X Lift-Off Pet 15651 $300 71 OVERALL SCORE NICE PRICE $ Hoover PowerDash Pet FH50700 $100 69 OVERALL SCORE WiFi Routers WE TESTED: 57 mesh models WE TEST FOR: Ease…

IT’S ALWAYS SMART to keep the box and the paperwork in it for the duration of the retailer’s return period (which can be anywhere from 14 to 90 days), particularly when it’s a pricey tech product, such as a smartphone or camera. Some retailers, including Amazon, require that their devices be returned in the original packaging. Best Buy’s return policy says that it may deny the return if a product isn’t given back in its original packaging. When it comes to larger electronic items—such as televisions and computer monitors—it’s a good idea to hang on to the packaging (including the foam padding inserts) for the duration of the product warranty, often about a year. That way, if you need to send the product for repairs, you have access to a box…

IN THE KNOW Stay Cool This Summer These smart buys will help you feel more comfortable when it’s hot out. PORTABLE COOLER Coleman 18-Quart Party Stacker Cooler $40 When we tested coolers a few years ago, this inexpensive Coleman model won a top spot for keeping ice frozen for a full day in 100° F heat. Plus, it weighs only 4.4 pounds when empty but is roomy enough to hold 20 cans of soda. ICE CREAM ALFRESCO S’well Ice Cream Pint Cooler $35 Want to bring some ice cream on your next picnic? S’well offers a great new way to do that: This small vacuum-insulated cooler is designed to keep a pint of your favorite frozen treat chilled for several hours—even when it’s hot out. A TASTY FROZEN TREAT Oatly Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Chocolate $5.50 53 OVERALL SCORE Oatly was a top…