Shopping around has never been so simple. With just a few clicks and a couple keywords, you can find virtually any information you could possibly desire – and that includes information on a product or business you’re interested in searching up.  Here’s a few pages to get you on the right track- there are many more sources of information out there than what I’ve listed here. Feel free to share a few of your own sites in the comments below.

The Consumerist:To be fair, the Consumerist is more about looking up whether a particular business has recently goofed- and just how big their goof was. If you’re looking for the latest news on the wrongdoings of a particular organization, check up on their website, and you’re sure to find something- even if that something is only a healthy dose of schadenfreude.

Yelp!: If you’re trying to find yourself a local business, such as a restaurant, Yelp! is the place to go. Go on there and give the site a search- you’ll probably find a few amazing businesses you never even knew existed (and find out some nasty details about a few that you did). It’s entirely maintained by users, as well – so you can submit your own reviews if you know of a particularly top-notch place.

Facebook: Believe it or not, Facebook- and really, any social networking site- is pretty much the perfect place to go if you’re looking for some information on a potential purchase, or even if you’re just looking for somewhere good to have a bit to eat. You’ve probably got a boatload of Facebook friends- why not talk to them a bit? Not only that, there are also quite a few Facebook pages out there for businesses and their products. Ask around.

Reddit: Reddit is the front page of the Internet for a reason. There are several communities on Reddit devoted to helping the site’s users decide on purchases, troubleshoot problems, and do research. If you’re particularly curious, it’s worth giving it a look. Just be careful- people who go on Reddit tend to have a bit of trouble signing off.

Epinions: Here’s the mother lode. Epinions is one of the largest consumer review sites on the ‘net, and features reviews for pretty much every type of product you can think of- all written up by real people. If you’ve recently been burned by a particularly foolish purchase, or you’re wondering if that tablet you’ve got your eye on is worth the cost, have a look on Epinions.

Ebay and Amazon also have review sections, and CNet and Tom’s Hardware are great places to look for tech.

Image Credits: [Refaware]

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