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59-725: Ginsu knives are an evolution of a product line developed by the Clyde Castings Company. The company filed for a trademark on the Quikut name for use on carving knives, butcher knives , fruit knives, kitchen knives and can openers in 1921. Quikut knives were heavily advertised in the U.S. and Canada as inexpensive, stainless steel , hollow ground knives with a lifetime guarantee. Other well known brands that used Quikut knives as promotional items including Lipton Tea and Oxydol . Large national newspaper, magazine and radio campaigns were used to market Quikut as far back as

118-443: A CR test. In 2010, CR rated the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV unsafe after the vehicle failed one of the magazine's emergency safety tests. Toyota temporarily suspended sales of the vehicle, and after conducting its own test acknowledged the problem and issued a recall for the vehicle, which later passed a CR re-test. In 2016, CR found wildly inconsistent battery life in its testing of Apple's 2016 MacBook Pro . This led to

177-679: A $ 375,000 grant from an environmental group, the Climate Imperative Foundation, to examine gas stoves and indoor air quality, which resulted in the publication of an article entitled "Is Your Gas Range a Health Risk?" published on Oct. 4, 2022, with a note indicating that the article was funded in part by a grant from the Climate Imperative Foundation. This article appeared prior to an Oct. 25 memo by Consumer Products Safety Commission Commissioner Richard L. Trumka entitled 'Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Ban Gas Stoves'. Consumer Reports does not allow outside advertising in

236-409: A Kamado grill in a partnership with MyDIY Center. In 2023, Ginsu knives were still manufactured and sold by Douglas Quikut and the Quikut brand is sometimes used as well. The company also manufactures ReadiVac and American Angler brands. Butcher knife A butcher knife or butcher's knife is a knife designed and used primarily for the butchering or dressing of animal carcasses. Today,

295-658: A brand name under the Quikut Division of Scott & Fetzer. In 1986 Scott & Fetzer was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway of Omaha, NE, an insurance holding company and the Quikut and Ginsu brand knife production moved to a new plant in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas in 1972. In 2013, Consumer Reports reviewed the Ginsu Chikara knife set in their comparison of fifty knife sets and rated it as their "Best Buy." In 2022 Ginsu expanded beyond knives and launched

354-430: A car recall tracker and personalized content. An additional base of online members join for free and received guidance on a range of products (e.g. gas grills, washing machines) at no charge. CR has also launched several advocacy websites, including HearUsNow.org, which helps consumers with telecommunications policy matters. In March 2005, CR campaign PrescriptionforChange.org released " Drugs I Need ", an animated short with

413-539: A case. In 1971, Bose Corporation sued Consumer Reports ( CR ) for libel after CR reported in a review that the sound from the system it reviewed "tended to wander about the room". The case eventually reached the United States Supreme Court , which affirmed in Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc. that CR 's statement was made without actual malice and therefore

472-532: A kids' version of Consumer Reports called Penny Power , later changed to Zillions . This publication was similar to Consumer Reports but served a younger audience. At its peak, the magazine covered close to 350,000 subscribers. It gave children financial advice for budgeting their allowances and saving for a big purchase, reviewed kid-oriented consumer products (e.g., toys, clothes, electronics, food, videogames, etc.), and generally promoted smart consumerism in kids and teens; testing of products came from kids of

531-492: A magazine aimed at young women. In 2008, Consumer Reports acquired The Consumerist blog from Gawker Media . Magazine copies distributed in Canada include a small four-page supplement called "Canada Extra", explaining how the magazine's findings apply to that country and lists the examined items available there. In 1998, Consumer Reports launched the grant-funded project Consumer Reports WebWatch , which aimed to improve

590-494: A new brand name that alluded to the exceptional sharpness and durability of a Japanese sword. Ginsu commercials they created promoted “an amazing, low, low price!,” urging viewers to “Order now!” because “Operators are standing by,” and sweetened the pitch with the Ginsu trademark, “But wait, there’s more!” — was an inescapable staple of television in the 1970s. The brand also became a part of pop culture. Johnny Carson sometimes used

649-592: A precisely structured series of premium offers I call 'the lots-for-a-little approach'." Valenti and Becher later repeated the advertising formula with other products such as the Miracle Slicer, Royal Durasteel mixing bowls, Vacufresh storage containers, the Chainge Adjustable Necklace, and Armourcote Cookware. TV pitchmen Billy Mays and Vince Offer employed the hard-sell informercial to great success in more contemporary times. While

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708-571: A progressive message. Consumers Union would surpass Schlink's Consumers' Research in subscribers by 1940, accumulating a readership of 71,000. Numerous businesses and corporations set out to suppress the actions of Consumers Union. In an effort to suppress the critiques of Consumers' Union, The New York Herald Tribune established an institute with the goal of demonstrating that the efforts of consumers groups were futile, in that businesses already conducted extensive product-testing. The Crowell Institute on Consumer Relations founded in 1937, sprouted from

767-557: A song from the Austin Lounge Lizards , that was featured by The New York Times , JibJab , BoingBoing , and hundreds of blogs. On Earth Day 2005, CR launched GreenerChoices.org, a web-based initiative meant to "inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally friendly products and practices". Consumer Reports was a sponsor of the Safe Patient Project, whose goal was to help consumers find

826-409: A stance in support of the war effort. The urged their supporters to put aside their personal interest by consuming less, and following the government ordered policies of consumption. They were also critical of businesses who saw the war period as an opportunity to advertise their products and as a result were wasting paper. The government's vested interest in the politics of consumption would escalate in

885-479: Is free. As of July 31, 2009, WebWatch has been shut down, though the site is still available. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is available free on Consumer Reports Health.org. It compares prescription drugs in over 20 major categories, such as heart disease, blood pressure and diabetes, and gives comparative ratings of effectiveness and costs, in reports and tables, in web pages and PDF documents, in summary and detailed form. Also in 2005 Consumer Reports launched

944-730: Is in East Haddam, Connecticut . CR is funded by subscriptions to its magazine and website, as well as through independent grants and donations. Marta L. Tellado is the current CEO of Consumer Reports. She joined the organization in 2014, following her work with the Ford Foundation , with the goal of expanding its engagement and advocacy efforts. Consumer Reports' flagship website and magazine publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory and survey research center. CR accepts no advertising, pays for all

1003-435: Is similar to the butcher's knife, but has a lighter and thinner blade for precision cutting. From the late 18th century to the mid-1840s, the butcher knife was a key tool for mountain men . Simple, useful and cheap to produce, they were used for everything from skinning beaver , cutting food, self-defense, and scalping . During this time, John Wilson , of Sheffield, England , was a major exporter of this type of knife to

1062-754: The 16-year-old test results of the 1988 Samurai in its advertising or promotional materials. In December 1997, the Isuzu Trooper distributor in Puerto Rico sued CR , alleging that it had lost sales as a result of disparagement of the Trooper by the Consumers Union of the United States (CU). A trial court granted the motion for summary judgment by the CU, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for

1121-557: The 1930s. A 1938 campaign resulted in orders for 922,000 units. A 1939 campaign included a print ad on the back cover of the Saturday Evening Post . In 1968, Quikut Corporation added spot television to their marketing effort and hired Cinécraft Productions , a sponsored film studio in Cleveland, to make a series of Quikut TV spots. In 1949 Cinécraft made the first filmed infomercial – a 30-minute filmed commercial for

1180-548: The 1940s Clyde Castings Company changed their company name to the Quikut Corporation. In early 1964 the Quikut Corporation merged with an automotive company to become Douglas Quikut. Later in 1964 the firm was purchased by the Scott & Fetzer Company a holding company that wanted to use the company's plastic molding capabilities to manufacture parts for its Oreck and Kirby lines of vacuum cleaners. Quikut continued as

1239-623: The Americans. These knives can be identified by brand markings and the stamp I. Wilson. Heavy cleavers were traditionally hung up on a hook for ease of access. This article relating to knives is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Consumer Reports Consumer Reports ( CR ), formerly Consumers Union ( CU ), is an American nonprofit consumer organization dedicated to independent product testing , investigative journalism , consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy. Founded in 1936, CR

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1298-603: The First Circuit affirmed the favorable judgment. In 2003, Sharper Image sued CR in California for product disparagement over negative reviews of its Ionic Breeze Quadra air purifier . CR moved for dismissal on October 31, 2003, and the case was dismissed in November 2004. The decision also awarded CR $ 525,000 in legal fees and costs. The February 2007 issue of Consumer Reports stated that only two of

1357-770: The Kentucky Equal Justice Center and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network among other advocacy organizations. In recent years, the organization has been vocal on key issues, including championing consumer choice and industry competition in the debate against the Sprint T-Mobile merger, advocating for consumer preference to leave net neutrality protections in place, exposing how data is used to engage in racial discrimination when determining consumer pricing offers, and advocating for stronger privacy laws in

1416-630: The Natural Foods Institute promoting the Vitamix blender. The studio was an early producer of TV spots and made for TV programs. The copy points used in the 1978 and later Ginsu commercials were used by Ron Popeil , the early TV marketer, in the 1950s. and the Cinécraft Quikut knife commercials produced in the 1960s. ...“Great Scott…a knife that cuts trees!” “And that’s not all.” “Well, What do you know? The other side of

1475-604: The age range a product was targeted toward. It also taught kids about deceitful marketing practices practiced by advertising agencies. The magazine folded in 2000. Consumer Reports had an annual testing budget of approximately US$ 25 million, as well as approximately 7 million subscribers (3.8 million print and 3.2 million digital) as of April 2016. The organization had around 6 million members in July 2018. In 1927, F.J. Schlink and Stuart Chase published their best selling novel, Your Money's Worth , which saw massive readership due to

1534-519: The best quality of health care by promoting the public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates and medical errors. The US Centers for Disease Control states that about 2 million patients annually (about 1 in 20) will acquire an infection while being treated in a hospital for an unrelated health care problem, resulting in 99,000 deaths and as much as $ 45 billion in excess hospital costs. The campaign has worked in every state calling for legislation requiring hospitals to disclose infection rates to

1593-528: The board of CR from 1982 to 2006 and was the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1977 to 1981, where she discussed the sequence of events leading to the publishing of the erroneous information. In February 1998, the organization tested pet food and claimed that Iams dog food was nutritionally deficient. It later retracted the report claiming that there had been "a systemic error in

1652-433: The butcher knife is used throughout the world in the meat processing trade. The heftier blade works well for splitting, stripping and cutting meat. Other similar meat-cutting knives include the carving knife and the cleaver . The carving knife is usually designed for slicing thin cuts of meat and often has a blunt or rounded point, with a scalloped or Granton blade to improve separation of sliced cuts of meat. The cleaver

1711-401: The child safety seats it tested for that issue passed the organization's side impact tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , which subsequently retested the seats, found that all those seats passed the corresponding NHTSA tests at the speeds described in the magazine report. The CR article reported that the tests simulated the effects of collisions at 38.5 mph. However,

1770-481: The consumer movement. The demand for brand research led to Schlink to found the company Consumers' Research in 1927. The company was responsible for publishing Consumers’ Research Bulletin (previously named Consumer Club Commodity List). The subscriber count in 1933 was reported to be over 42,000. It was in this year, that Consumer Research moved its operations to New York City. Following this move, employees began to unionize, citing unfair pay. Schlink proceeded to fire

1829-691: The credibility of Web sites through investigative reporting, publicizing best-practices standards, and publishing a list of sites that comply with the standards. WebWatch worked with the Stanford Web Credibility Project , Harvard University's Berkman Center , The Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, and others. WebWatch is a member of ICANN , the W3C and the Internet Society . Its content

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1888-761: The discovery of a bug in the Safari web browser , which Apple promptly fixed via a software update. In May 2018, CR said it could not recommend the Tesla Model 3 due to concerns about the car's long stopping distance. Within days, Tesla issued a remote software update. CR retested the car's brakes, then gave the Model 3 a "recommended" rating. Consumer Reports has been sued several times by companies unhappy with reviews of their products. Consumer Reports has fought these cases vigorously. As of October 2000, Consumer Reports had been sued by 13 manufacturers and never lost

1947-424: The early 2000s. At the start of 2009, Consumer Reports acquired The Consumerist blog from Gawker Media for approximately $ 600,000. Prior to 2012, the organization did business as Consumers Union. The reason for the name change was that the name of "Consumer Reports" was more familiar to the public than the name of "Consumers Union". Consumer Reports spent $ 200,000 on lobbying in 2015. The Consumerist

2006-501: The enhancement of consumer finance protection and the increase of consumer access to quality health care. The organization has also expanded its reach to a suite of digital platforms. Consumer Reports Advocacy frequently supports environmental causes, including heightened regulations on auto manufacturers. The organization's headquarters, including its 50 testing labs, are located in Yonkers, New York , while its automotive testing track

2065-506: The forum Woman's Home Companion , which had a readership of 2 million. The institute suppressed the efforts of consumer groups by giving business and advertisers the platform to putdown the consumers' pursuit of "lower distribution costs, grade labeling, and regulation," asserting that these businesses were already taking these factors into account. The New York Times proved to be an obstacle for Consumers Union, refusing CU's requests to advertise. Other major publications would follow suit. In

2124-541: The independence of its judgment". In 2007, in response to errors in infant car seat testing, it began accepting advice from a wide range of experts on designing tests, but not on final assessments. Also, at times CR allows manufacturers to review and respond to criticism before publication. CR also accepts referral fees from websites such as Amazon for including "affiliate links" to websites where customers can purchase reviewed products. Some objective and comparative tests published by Consumer Reports are carried out under

2183-472: The interwar years. The rise of Consumers Union happened simultaneously with women's groups interest in consumption. Despite the mobilization of citizens interested in consumption, the pursuit of consumer rights were not validated until the New Deal. The programs represented an acknowledgment of the consumer movement, by actively working to improve consumer purchaser power. In World War II, Consumer Union took

2242-451: The knife is sharp enough for a professional meat cutter.” “The knife’s safeguard handle, beautifully finished in simulated ivory, is boil proof, dishwasher steam proof, and shatterproof.” “guaranteed for life by Quikut.” “The new forked tip, let’s you carve and serve with one hand.” “Yes, but how much? 69 cents! Where?” Because the brand name "Quikut" was said to lack panache , Ed Valenti , Barry Becher, and copywriter Arthur Schiff created

2301-429: The knives in his routines, and Jerry Seinfeld did a Ginsu bit on the “Tonight Show.” Media scholar Robert Thompson , of Syracuse University, called the Ginsu advertising campaign "the pitch of all pitches." "Ginsu has everything a great direct-response commercial could have," said John Witek, a marketing consultant and author of Response Television: Combat Advertising of the 1980s . "Ginsu had humor, demonstration, and

2360-709: The magazine, but its website has retailers' advertisements. Consumer Reports states that PriceGrabber places the ads and pays a percentage of referral fees to CR , who has no direct relationship with the retailers. Consumer Reports publishes reviews of its business partner and recommends it in at least one case. CR had a similar relationship with BizRate at one time and has had relationships with other companies including Amazon.com , Yahoo! , The Wall Street Journal , The Washington Post , BillShrink, and Decide.com. CR also accepts grants from other organizations. Consumer Reports says its secret shoppers purchase all tested products at retail prices on behalf of

2419-460: The name Ginsu was invented by Becher, Becher later (satirically) told an interviewer the word translates to, "I never have to work again." In April 2009, a stretch of road in Warwick, Rhode Island , which passes the office of Ed Valenti, was named "Ginsu Way." The knife brand gained notoriety in 1993 when Lorena Bobbitt used a Ginsu kitchen knife to sever her husband's penis while he slept. In

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2478-536: The online data includes coverage that is not published in the magazine; for example, vehicle reliability (frequency of repair) tables online extend over the full 10 model years reported in the Annual Questionnaires, whereas the magazine has only a six-year history of each model. In 1990, Consumer Reports launched Consumer Reports Television . By March 2005 it was "hosted" by over 100 stations. On August 1, 2006, Consumer Reports launched ShopSmart ,

2537-427: The organization, that they do so anonymously, and that CR accepts no free samples in order to limit bias from bribery and to prevent being given better than average samples. Consumer Reports pays a rental fee to manufacturers when using these press samples and does not include the products in its ratings. For most of CR ' s history, it minimized contact with government and industry experts "to avoid compromising

2596-442: The postwar period. Government would encourage to consume both through propaganda as well as the protections instituted to promote individual consumption. Consumer Reports has helped start several consumer groups and publications, in 1960 helping create global consumer group Consumers International and in 1974 providing financial assistance to Consumers' Checkbook which is considered akin to Consumer Reports for local services in

2655-433: The products it tests, and as a nonprofit organization has no shareholders. It also publishes general and targeted product/service buying guides. Consumer Reports has hundreds of thousands of online advocates who take action and write letters to policymakers about the issues its advocates take on. This group continues to grow as Consumer Reports expands its reach, with 6 million paid members who have access to online tools like

2714-605: The public. The Safe Patient Project also works on medical devices, prescription drugs, and physician accountability. GreenerChoices.org offers an "accessible, reliable, and practical source of information on buying 'greener' products that have minimal environmental impact and meet personal needs". The site contains many articles about different products, rating them on how "green" they are. It also focuses on electronics and appliance recycling and reuse, as well as conservation and global warming prevention. Funding for Consumer Reports has recently been provided by USPIRG Education Fund ,

2773-438: The service Greener Choices , which is meant to "inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally-friendly products and practices". It contains information about conservation, electronics recycling and conservation with the goal or providing an "accessible, reliable, and practical source of information on buying "greener" products that have minimal environmental impact and meet personal needs". Consumer Reports published

2832-409: The seven metropolitan areas they serve. Prominent consumer advocate Ralph Nader was on the board of directors, but left in 1975 due to a "division of philosophy" with new Executive Director Rhoda Karpatkin . Nader wanted Consumer Reports to focus on policy and product advocacy, while Karpatkin focused on product testing. Karpatkin was appointed executive director in 1974 and retired as president in

2891-511: The steering; the manufacturer claimed: "Some do, some don't" show this behavior, but it has no "validity in the real world of driving". Nevertheless, the next year, these models included a lighter weight steering wheel rim and a steering damper , and Consumer Reports reported that the previous instability was no longer present. In a 2003 issue of CR , the magazine tested the Nissan Murano crossover utility vehicle and did not recommend

2950-513: The strikers. The former Consumers' Research employees, teamed up with "journalists, engineers, academics, and scientists" to found the company Consumers Union —now known as Consumer Reports—in February 1936. Consumers Union differentiated themselves from Consumers' Research by establishing a community amongst readers. Within the overall mission of creating more informed consumers, Consumers Union united with women's clubs and citizen groups, creating

3009-540: The tests that were completed in fact simulated collisions at 70 mph. CR stated in a letter from its president Jim Guest to its subscribers that it would retest the seats. The article was removed from the CR website, and on January 18, 2007, the organization posted a note on its home page about the misleading tests. Subscribers were also sent a postcard apologizing for the error. On January 28, 2007, The New York Times published an op-ed from Joan Claybrook , who served on

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3068-441: The umbrella of the international consumer organization International Consumer Research & Testing . Consumer Reports also uses outside labs for testing, including for 11 percent of tests in 2006. ConsumerReports.org, the website of Consumer Reports, is largely available only to paid subscribers. ConsumerReports.org provides updates on product availability, and adds new products to previously published test results. In addition,

3127-406: The vehicle because of a problem with its power steering, even though the vehicle had above-average reliability. The specific problem was that the steering would stiffen substantially on hard turning. CR recommended the 2005 model, which had addressed this problem. BMW changed the software for the stability control in its X5 SUV after replicating a potential rollover problem discovered during

3186-589: The wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal . Consumer Reports is well known for its policies on editorial independence , which it says are to "maintain our independence and impartiality ... [so that] CR has no agenda other than the interests of consumers". CR has unusually strict requirements and sometimes has taken extraordinary steps; for example it declined to renew a car dealership's bulk subscription because of "the appearance of an impropriety". However, Consumer Reports in 2021 took

3245-402: The year 1938, CU would find itself at the center of The Dies Committee's investigation into "unpatriotic propaganda". The committee brought on former member of Consumers' Research' board, J.B. Matthews as its research director. In Matthews' official report, he accused CU and its CEO Arthur Kallet of holding Communist ideals, and going as far as to label CU as "Communist front". The smear campaign

3304-438: Was created to serve as a source of information that consumers could use to help assess the safety and performance of products. Since that time, CR has continued its testing and analysis of products and services, and attempted to advocate for the consumer in legislative and rule-making areas. Among the reforms in which CR played a role were the advent of seat belt laws , exposure of the dangers of cigarettes , and more recently,

3363-513: Was criticized by Consumers Union for its lack of legitimacy. The allegations proved fruitless, and rather served to delegitimize CR and Congressman Dies. In part due to actions of Consumers' Research, the House Un-American Activities Committee placed Consumers Union on a list of subversive organizations, only to remove it in 1954. Consumers Union established themselves as an advocate for consumer rights during

3422-573: Was not libelous. In 1988, Consumer Reports announced during a press conference that the Suzuki Samurai had demonstrated a tendency to roll and deemed it "not acceptable". Suzuki sued in 1996 after the Samurai was again mentioned in a CR anniversary issue. In July 2004, after eight years in court, the suit was settled and dismissed with no money changing hands and no retraction issued, but Consumers Union did agree to no longer refer to

3481-686: Was subsequently closed in December 2017, when its content was folded into the Consumer Reports website. In the July 1978 issue, Consumer Reports rated the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon automobile "not acceptable", the first car it had judged such since the AMC Ambassador in 1968. In its testing they found the possibility of these models' developing an oscillatory yaw as a result of a sudden violent input to

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