[argiope]

In Germany there's Stiftung Warentest [1] which offers reviews without the apparent conflict of interest. They release paid articles with review and comparison all kinds of items. I find their offering a breeze of fresh air compared to the dumpster fire that online reviews have become.

[1] https://www.test.de/unternehmen/ (German)

[Tenoke]

Can't you literally request for any negative review to be removed in Germany as it 'hurts your business' by law? I live here and that's the explanation I've been given when negative reviews disappear .

[argiope]

As far as I know, businesses have no right in Germany to remove lawful reviews, even if they are negative [1] and I can confirm to see occasional bad reviews on their articles. In any case I'm rather interested in finding trustful positive reviews to guide my purchases and I value having a neutral agency that offers that.

[1] https://www.anwalt.de/rechtstipps/negative-bewertungen-im-in... (German)

[insickness]

Who pays for the articles and who writes them? Is this like Consumer Reports?

[argiope]

This is the description found on their "About Us" in English [1]:

Stiftung Warentest is a foundation. It was established in 1964 by the German federal parliament with the aim of helping consumers by providing impartial and objective information based on the results of comparative investigations of goods and services.

    We buy products – anonymously from retailers, and make covert use of services.
    We carry out tests – in independent labs that use scientific methods and follow our specifications.
    We give verdicts – ranging from „very good“ to „unsatisfactory“, based solely on objective results.
    We publish our findings – totally free of adverts in our magazines „test“ and „Finanztest“, and online at www.test.de.

According to their report [2] they are mostly financed through the sale of their articles.

[1] https://www.test.de/unternehmen/about-us-5017053-0/

[2] https://www.test.de/unternehmen/zahlen-5017275-0/