Which? Best Buy - Dont Buy Catalogue

Which? has been the UK's leading consumer champion since 1957, when Michael Young launched the first issue from a converted garage in Bethnal Green. Funded entirely by subscriptions and refusing all advertising, the organisation operates as a registered charity through the Consumers' Association, giving it the independence to deliver honest verdicts on thousands of products every year. The Which? Best Buy and Don't Buy guide brought that expertise together in a single handy reference, covering household goods and gadgets from mobile phones and microwaves to vacuum cleaners and digital cameras. Every product featured was independently purchased and tested under controlled lab conditions before a rating was awarded.

How Which? Tests Products

Which? buys every product it reviews rather than accepting manufacturer samples, eliminating any commercial influence over the results. Dedicated laboratories put appliances and electronics through standardised tests designed to mirror real-world use, while owner surveys add reliability data drawn from thousands of actual users. Only products that satisfy or exceed the expert criteria earn the coveted Best Buy label. Those that consistently underperform – typically scoring 45% or below – receive a Don't Buy rating, warning shoppers away before they part with their money.

What the Guide Covers

The Best Buy and Don't Buy guide spans the everyday household categories where poor purchasing decisions are most costly:

• Mobile phones and smartphones
• Televisions and home entertainment
• Microwaves and kitchen appliances
• Vacuum cleaners
• Digital cameras
• Washing machines and other large domestic appliances

For each category, the guide cuts through marketing claims to identify which models genuinely deliver on their promises and which should be left on the shelf.

Which? as a Consumer Champion

Beyond product ratings, Which? has a long record of campaigning for consumer rights. The organisation successfully lobbied for mandatory seatbelts in 1983, led the Whirlpool washing machine recall in 2019, and secured automatic broadband compensation for customers affected by outages. This heritage of independent advocacy underpins the authority that makes a Which? Best Buy recommendation one of the most trusted endorsements a product can receive in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Which? Best Buy rating mean?

A Which? Best Buy is awarded only to products that have satisfied or exceeded the organisation's expert criteria following rigorous comparative testing. It indicates the top-performing options in a category and is considered one of the most reliable independent endorsements available to UK shoppers.

What does a Which? Don't Buy rating mean?

A Don't Buy rating flags products that consistently underperform in Which? testing, typically scoring 45% or lower. These products have been found to be poor value or potentially unreliable, and Which? advises consumers to avoid them regardless of price or marketing claims.

How does Which? stay independent?

Which? is funded entirely by subscription revenue and accepts no advertising or government funding. It also buys every product it tests rather than accepting free samples from manufacturers, ensuring no commercial relationship can influence its ratings or editorial decisions.

When was Which? magazine founded?

Which? was founded in October 1957 by Michael Young, launching its first issue from a converted garage in Bethnal Green, London. It is operated by the Consumers' Association, a registered UK charity, and has been testing and rating products independently for nearly seven decades.

What product categories does Which? cover?

Which? tests a wide range of consumer products including domestic appliances, consumer electronics, mobile phones, televisions, kitchen equipment, vacuum cleaners, cars, financial services, travel products, and gardening equipment. Specialist editions covering money, travel, computing, and gardening extend the coverage further.

Is Which? still publishing?

Yes, Which? continues to publish reviews and ratings, testing thousands of products each year. Subscribers can access more than 8,000 independent product reviews online, as well as the print magazine, digital tools, and specialist publications covering money, travel, and computing.

This catalogue is part of the Catalink archive and may no longer be available to order. The information above describes Which? and its Best Buy and Don't Buy guide. For current details, visit the company's official website.