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About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports® and ConsumerReports.org® are published
by Consumers Union (CU), an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission
is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower
consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, CU tests, informs, and
protects. To maintain their independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside
advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of
consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of information products
and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants. Consumers
Union is governed by a board of 18 directors, who are elected by CU members and
meet three times a year. CU's President, James Guest, oversees a staff of more than
450.
HOW CONSUMERS UNION TESTS
The Consumers Union National Testing and Research Center, in Yonkers, N.Y., is the
largest nonprofit educational and consumer product testing center in the world.
Consumers Union buys all the products used as test samples, receives no special
treatment, and accepts no free samples. If a manufacturer sends a free product,
it gets returned.
More than 100 testing experts work in seven major technical departments — appliances,
auto test, baby & child, electronics, foods, health & family, and recreation & home
improvement, while more than 25 research experts work in three departments —
product acquisition, product information, and statistics & quality management. In
addition, Consumers Union has more than 150 anonymous shoppers throughout the country.
Cars and trucks get tested at a fully equipped auto-test facility in East Haddam,
Conn. Consumers Union also surveys millions of readers to bring the public information
on the reliability of hundreds of auto models and of major products such as appliances
and electronic gear. Reader-survey data also helps CU rate insurance and other consumer
services.
HOW CONSUMERS UNION INFORMS
Consumer Reports (CR) magazine alone has about 4 million subscribers.
Consumers Union reaches millions more consumers through ConsumerReports.org, the
CR Money Adviser newsletter, a health newsletter and Web site, radio programs,
television programs, auto price services, and a New Car Buying Kit. For more information,
take a look at these products.
HOW CONSUMERS UNION PROTECTS
Consumer safety is a priority. Consumers Union research and testing uncovered dangers
that led to the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Child Protection and Toy Safety Act,
and many product recalls, government standards, and regulations. Check recalls on the CR site to learn about hazardous consumer
products. All product safety-related reports are free to all site visitors.
Consumers Union operates three Advocacy offices — in Washington, D.C., Austin,
Texas, and San Francisco — that work for consumers' behalf on such issues as
health care, food safety, financial services, and product safety. They testify before
Federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies, petition government agencies,
and file lawsuits on behalf of consumers. The Consumer Policy Institute, at CU's
Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters, conducts research and education projects on issues
of importance to consumers such as biotechnology, food safety and labeling, recycling,
and sustainable consumption.
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