Yes, it's true - we no longer have access to the fulltext of Consumer Reports online. Fulltext articles ended with July, 2009.
You may still use the Gale databases to pinpoint the date articles appeared in Consumer Reports print edition. See details page on how to do that.Why?
Basically EBSCO outbid Gale for the rights to offer it online. We will haVe to see if we can afford to buy new access from EBSCO--still waiting to get a price quote for more than a month.
More Bad News
Gale loses other publisher content from Time Inc. or Forbes periodical content. This means we lose access to that fulltext content sometime over this next year.
What DO we have to help patrons with consumer questions?
Other consumer resources are found at our Consumer Subject Guide, on the library website. See the Ratings and Opinions section
Best Bet: ConsumerSearch
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/
Great clearinghouse of expert product reviews, for electronics, appliances, and even personal finance tools. Reviews appear ranked according to the site’s “Credibility Rating” criteria. The site give product and service reviews (including coverage of such wide-ranging topics as movies, schools, and tourist areas) written by customers. Pros for this approach: Customer/reviewers may have a good working knowledge of the exact item you are interested in. Cons: Opinions are from a self-selected, not necessarily professional, group.
