Anybody know how Consumers Union lost control of the phrase "best buy"?

[Bossy Monkey]

I don't mean with regard to the big-box electronics chain, but instead regarding the endless litany of commercials over the last ten years trumpeting "named a 'best buy' by Consumer's Digest." It's pretty obvious, at least I think, that these folks are misleading the public that the item in question has been rated a best buy by Consumers Union/Consumer Reports, an independent testing organization that refuses advertising and refuses to let its name be used in advertising precisely to avoid appearing to be affected by corporate money. Did Consumers Union never trademark/servicemark the phrase? Are they really that naive?
Maybe Consumer's Digest is a great magazine/publication/organization/ whatever, but it appears suspicious to say the least. Doesn't it?

It's also true that I haven't looked at Consumer Reports in years. If they've dropped "best buy," well, it still looks a little shady, but if this is the case, do let me know. As should be abundantly clear by now, I don't mind looking like an idiot.

If this goes nowhere, I'll eventually ask the mods to move it to The Media or something.

[CO Liberal]

1. You're Talking About Two Separate Organizations

Consumers Union is a non-profit organization that publishes "Consumer Reports". They accept no advertising, and prohibit their recommendations from being used in product advertising.

Consumer's Digest accepts ads and allows its name to be used by advertisers.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Exactly.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Or off my fingertips as it were. :-)

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Yes, that's what I just said

Sorry if I was unclear, as I must have been as both you and GOPisEvil read it the same way. The question is, did Consumers Union not trademark the phrase "Best Buy" in the context of rating consumer products, and if not, how could anybody be so naive as not to realize that some other outfit would come along, come up with a similar name, and plaster it all over tv to confuse and mislead consumers?
Don'tchathink?

Edit: Y'all replied before I edited, didn't you? Sorry, I had indeed confused Consumer Reports and Consumer's Digest, but only in the typing error sense. Then again, that supports my point: their whole goal is to confuse the two in consumers' minds.

[BlueJazz]

3. Have you ever seen a Consumers Digest?

The Damn Thing rates just about EVERYTHING as a "Best Buy"

Every time I hear their spiel on TV, I wanna Puke.
Their recommendation is totally worthless.
And believe me...they know damn well that a lot of people don't know
the BIG difference between Consumers digest and Consumer Reports.
To me, they're the height of "Sleazy-Ness"

[Bossy Monkey]

5. That's what I was thinking

The one that set me off was a spot where they called it "the coveted 'best buy' designation from Consumer's Digest"; I was thinking, "I bet."

[Philostopher]

6. Consumer Reports uses 'Top Pick' now.

I don't have a copy of the magazine in front of me, but I checked the website to get the phrase -- now, instead of 'Best Buy' it's 'Top Pick.' I guess they gave in to it as an inevitable.

[nuxvomica]

7. They still use "best buy"

I know they use "top pick" for cars and maybe for other things as well. I'm looking at a March 2004 issue right now and it has a number of "best buys" in conventional TVs.

[Philostopher]

8. You know, you're right.

As I said, I didn't have a copy of the publication here at my computer. They do seem to have gotten away from using it with cars, though -- they seem mostly to do Top Picks or CR Recommended models. Maybe they're trying to avoid their ratings being coopted by the auto manufacturers.

[Bossy Monkey]

9. kick before asking mods to yank it to The Media

Wanna see if anybody has any clearer ideas on this

[Bossy Monkey]

10. rekick n/t