Don’t believe the hype

	THE REAL DEAL  Our testing, reporting, and surveys get at the truth behind the hype.

The real-estate section of the Sunday New York Times includes a page with large color photos of homes on the market. The text describes the house or apartment and lists the pros and cons. A recent entry for a Manhattan co-op noted that the kitchen comes with Sub-Zero appliances. That fact was listed as a “pro,” but we say it’s more of a “con.”

We say that because our independent testing, reporting, and consumer surveys, the last involving assessments of products and services from millions of readers like you, allow us to debunk the hype and steer you to top-quality products. Consider the following items that fall far short of their spin.

In your kitchen. Hyped and trendy those Sub-Zero refrigerators may be, but readers we surveyed reported that nearly a quarter of the units they bought between 2002 and 2006 needed repair or had serious problems. It was one of the worst showings of any brand we rate. Sub-Zero refrigerators can exceed $5,000. Some models have been top performers, though two Sub-Zero models we tested this year were among the lowest-ranked fridges overall.

In your car. BMW bills its iDrive controller as “access to a variety of comfort functions displayed on the monitor.” Our auto experts say that this joystick-and-menu control system is overengineered, tedious, and distracting to use. That makes it both annoying and a safety concern. We reported on the new BMW X5, which uses iDrive, in our July 2007 report  and called the system “infuriating.”

On your body. Whole-body CT screening, also known as a full-body scan, can be a lifesaver to people with symptoms of a disease. But it’s marketed to perfectly healthy people, with an out-of-pocket cost that can run in the thousands. Our medical experts have long objected to this marketing. The Food and Drug Administration isn’t aware of any scientific evidence that CT screening does more good than harm for asymptomatic people, and it might lead to additional unnecessary tests. Medical groups, including the American College of Radiology, haven’t endorsed it for people with no symptoms. The radiation from a typical CT screening is generally much higher than from most conventional X-rays.

In your wallet. Variable annuities are being pitched like fastballs, especially to people over 55. Salespeople might urge consumers to liquidate stocks and invest in annuities instead. But they are often lousy investments, since they typically carry high commissions, long holding periods, and whopping penalties for early withdrawal, our Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter has noted. Variable annuities make sense only if you don’t have access to (or have maxed out) another tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k).

Before you consider any hyped product, find out whether you’re getting something that’s really better or more reliable. That’s where we can help.