Competence: Surveys

I have probably hundreds of surveys for Which in the last few decades. I certainly know that since Which? switched on-line surveys around five years ago I have been asked to complete well over 100 surveys. In fact checking I see 219 emails since 27th May 2011 relating to Which? Connect and surveys.

I mention this because I have been writing to Which? since the last century that Relaibility surveys that do not ask me about usage of equipment are flawed. And flawed In a major way.

My mother used to vacuum six times a week so her machine would be used seven times more than mine. So when you ask about reliability and problems perhaps this slight matter of usage should be on the Which? survey forms.

Incidentally for the garden survey I had to report no problems with my shredder and my hedge-trimmer. Never a moments problem in the four years since I no longer had a hedge.

Making Use of the Data
The only recent survey that really went into depth was one on sewing- machines last November which AFAIR had twenty plus questions and did ask about frequency of use. And also which gadgets were used and which ones were rated. Very detailed.

I thought clever planning ready for the BBC's Great Sewing Bee in February. Well no article have I seen on the subject in the magazines though the advice page has been updated. As all the Which? online pages are undated you have to read several pages to see that it relates to the November 2014 survey. Which? stopped testing sewing machines in 2009. One fact drawn out was that over half the machines in the survey were older than a decade.

It could usefully have shown if the Sewing Bee had lead to increased sewing machine purchases in the years following its first screening in 2013.