Rant about reviews

[Aquattro]

I just noticed a "What camera" thread with a link to dpreview.com. Then I thought hey, great idea, someone should start up a reefreview.ca, an online wbsite reviewing vendors in Canada.
Anyone?

[dsaundry]

If I am wrong perhaps one of the staff can correct me, It boils down to economics as well. Any business relies on advertising and sponsors. The products they sell depends on the word of mouth reports they get from the consumer. Now CR relies on it's sponsors as well, hence the "free to join membership". If members were allowed to slam any sponsor regarding product or service, the sponsors would pull out and advertise somewhere else. I also know that other reef forums will not allow or tolerate their advertising sponsors to be slammed by the members. As I stated before, if one or two members crack down on one sponsor/vendor it can put off other members from doing business and it may have not even been the sponsors fault. I will also point out that in my opinion the staff here are very relaxed about what they allow and don't allow. Check out some of the other reef sites and you will see what I mean. I enjoy the fact that you can have a spirited debate sometimes without having it yanked. Again, try that in some of the other sites. I am very happy with this site and as a business owner I do understand the staff's position. I would like to see a way of rating some vendors but this isn't Ebay. So as I was once told by a former boss when I questioned a companies policy, he said to me. "Don't fight the system, you wont win this one". He was right. The system is set up to what works for them.

[mildcustom2]

The staff here just can't seem to get away from the out cry from people to allow vendor ratings. I feel sorry for them being caught in the middle of an ethics debate. Its never going to happen no matter how hard you try. It just ends up with people getting frustrated (staff and members) . There is no solution to this as it is the rules and it must be followed.

Hey I agree I wish it would happen so that the bad vendors were not allowed to conduct there criminal dealings on this forum, but I know it will never happen as I have spoken out on this forum several times as to the obligation of the board to not support this type of vendor but thier hands are tied. Oh well. I'm over it now. Just wish this subject was never brought up again.

Speaking of an ethical issue.

Anyone want to buy my soon to be EX-Wife

Sell her to you really cheap.

[VFX]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Here's the best we can do.

If you're about to order something online and you're suffering from anxiety, post asking for PMs of others experiences. If you get 50 PM replies from other members saying don't order from the place you're thinking of, then you have an answer. Eventually the stores that screw people will either change, or go away.

Exactly the right thing to do imo...

People will pm you if they feel strongly, both positively & negatively, about the store you're inquiring about.

If people start posting comments instead of keeping it in pm's then Mod's will delete the offending posts & maybe lock the thread.

And even if the thread is locked down, people can still pm you.

Simple.

VFX.

.

[skylord]

Very good comprimise... I know I send a lot more PMs than I post. If I were a vendor I would be more concerned about the PMs than the open forum.

Scott

[dogboy]

I know it would be nice to have reviews but I think it is best done in private through PM as suggested and not in the open... this topic has been discussed many a time as well.....

I love coming to this site way above any other reefing site on the web for the simple fact that it is sooooo laid back here... I do more reading then posting but the reason I stay here is that there is almost a cozy feel to this place.....some of the other bulletin boards where they have forums set up specifically for rating people you have bought/sold to/from get out of control and the bashing starts followed shortly there after by threats of law suites etc etc... It is a whole lot of drama that I would rather do without on my home site....makes for an intimidating environment... and from reading any of those vendor reviews it is all a bunch of he said she said were nothing is really accomplished.... "You suck as a seller!"
"OHHHH REALLY!!? Well you suck as a buyer!"
"OHHHH REALLLY!!!!? WELL your momma!!!"
"MY MOMMA!? Now you just gone done it!!! I'm calling the police!"
"WELL I AM SUEING!!!"

Etc etc....

That is my two cents.....FWIW

[bassman]

Is it possible to create a thread that does not allow replies?

Maybe there could be an area that allows members to post that they have a negative review to share but in order to learn about it the poster must be contacted outside of the forum via e-mail, phone, etc? No names would allowed. The poster could state the general geographical region, if it is hardware related or livestock, etc. Just to narrow down the posts a bit.

This would "take it outside" the forum, give members the option to learn about the negatives as well as the positives and would put the task of dealing with the back lash created by the review on the original poster.

[dogboy]

Originally Posted by bassman

Is it possible to create a thread that does not allow replies?

Maybe there could be an area that allows members to post that they have a negative review to share but in order to learn about it the poster must be contacted outside of the forum via e-mail, phone, etc? No names would allowed. The poster could state the general geographical region, if it is hardware related or livestock, etc. Just to narrow down the posts a bit.

This would "take it outside" the forum, give members the option to learn about the negatives as well as the positives and would put the task of dealing with the back lash created by the review on the original poster.

Do you think that might creat a bit of a problem due to the fact that someone can post things about another reefer and that person has no way to defend themselves other then start a new thread to critisize the original poster? (if that makes any sense lol)

[bassman]

Originally Posted by dogboy

Do you think that might creat a bit of a problem due to the fact that someone can post things about another reefer and that person has no way to defend themselves other then start a new thread to critisize the original poster? (if that makes any sense lol)

I am not sure how the reefer being discussed would know he/she is being discussed as no names would be allowed. However If he/she had anything to say or ask he/she would contact the original poster via email. It's no different then me and a fellow reefer discussing another reefer face to face or over the email, the reefer in question wouldn't be there to defend himself either.

[24storm]

If someone was to post up a thread asking for peoples experiences with a company via PM would you respond to that person only if you had a negative experience or a positive one or both? Would you even respond?

Would it be okay to start thread that said PM me for my experience with XXXX vendor. Or is this a bad idea.

Keith