cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Just dont trust wiggle, they did not use my poor review but would not say why and did not even say why they would not , got a refund instead.
How much do you trust online reviews?
- Thread starter swee'pea99
- Start date
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I read the reviews for Yanis Varoufakis' 'The Global Minotaur' on Amazon - pretty much all excellent except for a couple of 1 stars. Naturally I read them. Both admitted, at the end of the long ranty reviews that they hadn't actually read the book. They just didn't like Varoufakis. (The book is bloody good by the way, if anyone is interested...)
The holiday accommodation reviews are priceless - the things that people will whine about. I once read one who gave the bottom rating based on the fact that the white wine was insufficiently chilled...
The holiday accommodation reviews are priceless - the things that people will whine about. I once read one who gave the bottom rating based on the fact that the white wine was insufficiently chilled...
A company I do some work with has a pierce-faced young woman working in their office spending 4 hours per day composing online reviews under myriad names on different forums making this company sound fantastic.
Mind you, I have received upgrades and superb treatment from a particular hotel we stay at in Cyprus for penning genuinely positive comments (on facebook & trip Advisor) about how good this place is.
Mind you, I have received upgrades and superb treatment from a particular hotel we stay at in Cyprus for penning genuinely positive comments (on facebook & trip Advisor) about how good this place is.
LocalLad
Senior Member
That's why I only read reviews when there are more than a critical mass - at least a couple hundred. I figure at least the first half dozen will be from the owner/ their family and friends.
It's not fool proof (as in your example), but it seems to be the more reviews the more I'll take notice of them.
For the statistics fans, it's the central limit theorem in modern day usage
Indeed. But as many positives as there are written by those with a vested interest, there'll may well be the same number written with an equally vested interest from the opposite perspective.
Kajjal
Guru
- Location
- Wheely World
Just ordered it, thanks!
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
My sister is thinking of running a small B&B somewhere nice when she retires in a couple of years time.
She likes watching that ghastly 'Four in a Bed' programme on Channel 4, presumably to warn her of the pitfalls before launching herself into the stress of it anyway ... (I thought retirement was about relaxation and fun, not about catering to the whims of ultra-fussy guests, but she says she would get bored not having work to do. I don't get it!)
A recent show included a B&B at Dent station. For those of you who don't know it, Dent Station is on the gorgeous little Settle-Carlisle railway line in the Yorkshire Dales. Apparently the station building is now in private hands and is being run as a B&B. One pair of guests complained about a train going past and waking them up!
I would have thought that anybody staying at a converted station building on a working railway line would expect that, but there you go ...
Oh - a shameless plug ... My forum ride on 2nd July goes through that part of the Dales and right past Dent station, so come along and check it out!
jefmcg
Guru
Did you see the fuss on mumsnet recently. Someone wrote a bad review of a builder. Builder made no effort to fix problem, just tried to get review taken down as libel. When that didn't work, they copied the review onto a random website, date stamped it prior to the review on mumsnet then got google to delist the thread as copyright violation under DMCA!
http://gu.com/p/4jctn
Company's name is BuildTeam based in London. Google search for that now takes you to http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/2533596-Buildteam-Clapham-based-company-Side-return-specialists so it's a good example of the Streisand Effect.
http://gu.com/p/4jctn
Company's name is BuildTeam based in London. Google search for that now takes you to http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/2533596-Buildteam-Clapham-based-company-Side-return-specialists so it's a good example of the Streisand Effect.
Mrs M
Guru
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
We were annoyed when our truthful, appalling online review about our new windows and doors disappeared.
However we spotted the red sales car across the road, guy was measuring up.
Went boldly over once he'd gone and advised neighbour of our awful experience with this company and offered to show them the pictures on our laptop.
They were very grateful and got a good job elsewhere, no doubt a lot cheaper too
However we spotted the red sales car across the road, guy was measuring up.
Went boldly over once he'd gone and advised neighbour of our awful experience with this company and offered to show them the pictures on our laptop.
They were very grateful and got a good job elsewhere, no doubt a lot cheaper too
More seriously....
As with anything on the interweb, triangulation is key
Look at the Amazon and sales sites for customer reviews, but also look at specialist sites (for equipment) and have a quick look at sites like Trusted Reviews
Then once you have read a a range from different sites decide on the overall picture
As with anything on the interweb, triangulation is key
Look at the Amazon and sales sites for customer reviews, but also look at specialist sites (for equipment) and have a quick look at sites like Trusted Reviews
Then once you have read a a range from different sites decide on the overall picture
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My sister is thinking of running a small B&B somewhere nice when she retires in a couple of years time.
She likes watching that ghastly 'Four in a Bed' programme on Channel 4, presumably to warn her of the pitfalls before launching herself into the stress of it anyway ... (I thought retirement was about relaxation and fun, not about catering to the whims of ultra-fussy guests, but she says she would get bored not having work to do. I don't get it!)
A recent show included a B&B at Dent station. For those of you who don't know it, Dent Station is on the gorgeous little Settle-Carlisle railway line in the Yorkshire Dales. Apparently the station building is now in private hands and is being run as a B&B. One pair of guests complained about a train going past and waking them up!
I would have thought that anybody staying at a converted station building on a working railway line would expect that, but there you go ...
Oh - a shameless plug ... My forum ride on 2nd July goes through that part of the Dales and right past Dent station, so come along and check it out!
Hotels are another issue
There is a certain amount of dishonesty and even blackmail
There are those who will demand significant discounts with the threat of a bad "Trip Advisor" report unless the owner complies
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
Altitude sports off an $8 discount on next purchases if you review this one but only if it is a good one (not mentioned)
As well as being an increasing infringement on life* FarceBook is inherently dishonest with these "offers" where if you "Like" a Company or product you get a discount
One survey showed that 40% of Likes are to get a discount or promotion and 36% were given to get freebies
* I get fed up with the increasing number of sites that require a FarceBook sign in to access the site
One survey showed that 40% of Likes are to get a discount or promotion and 36% were given to get freebies
* I get fed up with the increasing number of sites that require a FarceBook sign in to access the site
jefmcg
Guru
I get very Tolstoyian with online reviews. "All positive reviews are alike; each negative reviews is negative in its own way." A positive review is basically "this thing does what it claims to do, well". So I notice the quantity of positive reviews, the average stars, maybe skim one or two. Then I hit negative reviews and see what they say. Usually you can dismiss them as fussbudgets, revenge seekers, unlucky or whatever. Sometimes you will see a series of reviews all with the same problem that you personally would find annoying and realise that it's not worth risking that unpleasantness.
