Let me talk to the admins and mods about this.
I totally agree with Marj on this one. I have also seen all she has described and it's not nice, it's mean. One review can ruin someone's reputation and that isn't fair..JMOJust my two cents, but that can be a slippery slope with potential for abuse. We have a products review section on another forum I belong to and vendors and companies get trashed all the time, often without reason.
We regularly get people complaining that they never received orders from companies when often they neglected to read the company policies. When they do, they find out that the items are custom made and may take 6-8 weeks or are not in stock and must be ordered from the manufacturer etc.
I've seen buyers and sellers publicly argue about the sale, posting private emails and Paypal receipts.
Too often, satisfied customers don't take the time to review a product. It's only an unhappy customer that does. As a result, a shampoo that many of us use and love might get a bad review by one person who didn't get the expected results. When someone does a search, either here or on Google, how often do you read all the subsequent comments that may be favorable?
I just don't think it's a good idea, I have seen it just spiral and people get into arguments. You make very valid points, I just don't know.I think there is a simple solution to the concern about vendors being trashed.
1. You must have first hand knowledge of the product
2. You may only discuss whether you were satisfied with the product or not, you may not discuss customer service aspects of the company.
3. The review must be for a product only and not a review of a company (i.e. you can say "I just love the new boutique bow I got from INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE. It fits princess just right and I love how stiff the bow feels. Also, the colors match her new dress just perfectly" You may not say "INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE took 3 weeks to get me that new bow I ordered and now I will never order from them again")
I read the request to be one for a forum about products specifically, not vendors.
I just don't think it's a good idea, I have seen it just spiral and people get into arguments. You make very valid points, I just don't know.
I am not in charge so it really doesn't matter.I just have my doubts.
I feel the same way you do, Andrea. In theory it sounds like a great idea, but I've seen so many problems arise when it's put in place. It's like opening up Pandora's box.I just don't think it's a good idea, I have seen it just spiral and people get into arguments. You make very valid points, I just don't know.
I am not in charge so it really doesn't matter.I just have my doubts.
I agree. People do lots of informal product reviews (about shampoos they love, brushes, combs, grooming sprays, etc.) and it hasn't been an issue. I think it would just be more convenient to have them all in one place.I think there is a simple solution to the concern about vendors being trashed.
1. You must have first hand knowledge of the product
2. You may only discuss whether you were satisfied with the product or not, you may not discuss customer service aspects of the company.
3. The review must be for a product only and not a review of a company (i.e. you can say "I just love the new boutique bow I got from INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE. It fits princess just right and I love how stiff the bow feels. Also, the colors match her new dress just perfectly" You may not say "INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE took 3 weeks to get me that new bow I ordered and now I will never order from them again")
I read the request to be one for a forum about products specifically, not vendors.
Erin, the problem with that is is impossible to separate the product from the vendor if the vendor makes the product themselves. For example, those of us who make custom items like clothes, jewelry, or, in my case, bows.I think there is a simple solution to the concern about vendors being trashed.
1. You must have first hand knowledge of the product
2. You may only discuss whether you were satisfied with the product or not, you may not discuss customer service aspects of the company.
3. The review must be for a product only and not a review of a company (i.e. you can say "I just love the new boutique bow I got from INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE. It fits princess just right and I love how stiff the bow feels. Also, the colors match her new dress just perfectly" You may not say "INSERT VENDOR NAME HERE took 3 weeks to get me that new bow I ordered and now I will never order from them again")
I read the request to be one for a forum about products specifically, not vendors.
Judging from the vast number of product reviews scattered throughout the SM forum (scattered being the operative word), there does certainly appear to be sufficient interest to make it "go" now. And I like the way each of those scattered, random reviews are both positive and helpful. Again, only the exception would need policing,but then that is true of 100% of our other forum sub-headings here. Sure hope they will bring it back for us all.I found my original thread .... http://spoiledmaltese.com/forum/58-suggestions-feedback/74957-product-reviews.html
Joe DID implement this, however when I click on the link the the thread, it just goes back to the main forum page ..... so looks like it didn't make it across from the old SM format.