The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute's tests reveal the one Multi Handset Cordless Phone that can irrefutably be called The Best. The Institute forwards its recommendation to Hammacher Schlemmer's buyers so they can procure the product for its catalog, web site, and retail store. The Multi Handset Cordless Phone that is currently The Best can be found here.
Before undertaking testing, The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute surveyed consumers to learn which attributes are most critical when purchasing a Multi Handset Cordless Telephone. They responded that Sound Quality is by far their most important concern, followed by Range, Ease of Use, and Features. These attribute rankings were applied to the data collected for this test.
Respondents were also asked which features matter most in a Multi Handset Cordless Telephone. Based on their answers, The Best model must be cordless, support at least 4 handsets, and be caller ID capable.
The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute then researched the marketplace from a reasonably wide range of competing product and obtained Multi Handset Cordless Telephones that possess these desired attributes and features. Prior to testing, the Institute eliminated from consideration any models that did not have a required attribute or feature or if it had an obvious quality issue. Conversely, if a sample offered a unique benefit that distinguished it from other models, The Institute, at its discretion, may have included it in testing even though it may have been lacking a critical feature or attribute.
Testing involved evaluations by Institute analysts. Each Multi Handset Cordless Telephone was rated for its Sound Quality, Range, Ease of Use, and Features.
An Institute analyst called each of the phone models from a landline and had a five-minute conversation with an analyst on the other end. Together, they rated the clarity of the sound they both heard and noted whether they noticed any static, echoing, or interruptions in the connection. If a model had an answering machine, the analysts also recorded and listened to a message, again noting the clarity and sound quality and assessing whether the message was easy to understand.
Analysts then took the average of the scores and determined a final Sound Quality score.
For each Multi Handset Cordless Telephone, analysts determined how easy it was to:
Analysts assigned a score each step, with lower scores indicating a process was very difficult and higher scores indicating it was very simple. After testing, analysts calculated an average ease-of-use score for each Multi Handset Cordless Telephone.
Range refers to how far a cordless handset may be used from its base. It is tested in a suburban neighborhood full of two-story homes and large trees. An analyst uses the cordless handset to call another landline and then leaves the house, walking down the street until the phone line becomes so staticy that neither the caller nor the receiver can be understood or the call disconnects. The analyst then notes the distance traveled.
Analysts then took the average of the scores and determined a final Range score.
Institute analysts inspected each sample to determine whether it had any of the following features, which made a Multi Handset Cordless Telephone easier or more effective to use:
Analysts awarded points for each feature that a model had, weighted according to how important that feature was to consumers. After testing, they calculated an average features score for each sample.
The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute recommends that you consider these features when shopping for a Multi Handset Cordless Telephone to ensure you will be completely satisfied with its performance:
Multihandset phones let you make calls from your landline anywhere in your home—and even outdoors. They consist of a traditional push-button phone attached to a base and one or more cordless handsets. On either type of receiver, the sound is sharp and clear. You can even take the cordless phone outside and down the street and still have a conversation free of static or distortion. A large screen and lit-up buttons on the base make the phones easy to program and dial. Some models also are compatible with hearing aids and with bluetooth devices such as cellphones—just hook up your cell and make or receive calls through the handset. Many phones have additional features such as a time and date setting and an answering machine, so you’ll know which calls you missed and when. With the low-battery indicator, you won’t have to worry about the handset losing power and dropping a call without warning. Just set it back on its base and switch handsets to continue enjoying your conversation.
As with any product, customers must read and follow the product's user guide, marking and labeling prior to use.
The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute was founded in 1983 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation to provide independent testing and consulting services for Hammacher Schlemmer. The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute was founded in 1983 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation to provide independent testing and consulting services for Hammacher Schlemmer. Although funded by Hammacher Schlemmer, the Institute functions independently of Hammacher Schlemmer. The Institute consults Hammacher Schlemmer and fulfills its mission statement without regard to product prices, brand names, margins, or other commercial considerations. Decisions on specific products to test, the types of test to perform and how to interpret the results lie exclusively with the Institute's research staff. In addition, the Institute's status as a separate entity from Hammacher Schlemmer prevents access to sensitive information, such as inventory levels or product cost, which might influence testing decisions. The Institute's independence assures products are researched, evaluated, and rated objectively without commercial bias.