I was wondering the same thing.
I sell pretty much everything on CR's report.
In fact, I have personally used most of them in my home at some point.
Many of the products on the top portion of their list do work well.
I and others have always felt that pressure assist toilets perform well.
The Flushmate equipped tanks are similar in performance with the 3" flush valve of the Toto Ultramax and other G-Max Toto's.
What are the qualifications for the two CR writers?
Are they plumbers?
No.
What have they been trained in?
Have they gone to school to learn about household products?
Can they recognize bad product design the way plumbers can?
How many hours have they spent working with plumbing in homes?
Do they have a way of obtaining feedback from the field on this, or are they just guessing how things will be.
One thing that gets noted by everyone that lives in a home or an apartment, is the sound levels or startle factor of plumbing in a home.
What seems like a good idea in a warehouse, but not be so nice at 2:00AM in the Master bedroom.
I have some customers that like the industrial sound of a flush.
Not everybody feels that way though.
Not everyone likes the sound curve on some annoying toilets.
Some do, and some don't.
I call it the Tim Allen, "Home Improvement" syndrome.
"More Power! Arhgg! Arhgg!"
When you consider that maybe half of the population sits down while flushing, it becomes a real issue.
Maybe in a large warehouse and with two guys flipping levers, it's not a big deal.
But many use their toilet in the quiet confines of their own home and like the privacy and predictability of the G-Max noise curve. You will note that on their page, they list the Toto Carlyle toilet as very good at waste removal while they list the Ultramax as only "fair"
Both of these models are almost identical in form and function.
What happened to their testing methods?
How can such "similar products" that get the G-Max rating test out so differently on their tests?
It's hard to accept that
the
highest rated model by plumbers and consumers is only "fair" while the companion model rates a "very good"?
On one of CR's reports, they listed the
CR rated Kohler Wellworth ahead.
I remove those all the time and replace them with
homeowner rated Toto's.
Homeowners and plumbers feel that the G-Max Toto toilets with the 3" flush valve are the best. The report I've provided is based on
homeowner and plumber feedback.
I get emails and phone calls from around the country, 24/7
We sell thousands of toilets a year and install and remove various brands.
Let's make that clear,
We
sell American Standard, Caroma, Duravit, Eljer, Gerber, Kohler, St. Thomas Creations, Toto, Western and others.
We make referrals around the country for products that we can't personally sell and receive feedback on those as well.
Most of our business is repeat,
That means, homeowners are essentially writing the report.
Not two men, employed by CR, that have "never" tested a toilet with toilet paper or human waste.
Not the two men that have never taken consumer input on performance, cleaning, or longevity.
Some of their "
CR favorites" now have "
consumer class action suits", or have been "
pulled" from the market.
Where is their apology for that?
It's hard to argue with what people truly like.
Or maybe, this is just some unfinished business between them and I?
Read the link below for more on that.
Terry Love's review on toilets
By the way, you can search this forum and find that we are already getting complaints on the new and improved American Standard Flappers.
Consumers Reports doesn't report on quality control either.
A nice picture of an American Standard bowl.
Would you want this in your home?
Plumbers and homeowners shouldn't have to inspect and open every box before they bring them home.
That should be done by a factory inspector.