GTP's own Consumer Product Showcase...

[Pupik]

Since this treads close to outright advertising and possibly spamming, I thought I'd see what Jordan, Admins, Moderators, and our esteemed members might think of this.

My idea is that we have a thread (or a forum) where users can post their reviews of products and services, especially those which might not warrant their own thread. Generally, we tend to value the opinions of those we know, or at least, have been members of GTPlanet who are in good standing.

An example:

I really like Rubberstuff Mulch. Why? Because it doesn't float away in a storm (it's survived 4 hurricanes without blowing away), it reduces weeds, and best of all...it's made from old tires! I've used it since 2003 with great results.

[Pros]

[Cons]

[Rating, if necessary]

[website link, where you bought it, etc.]

I think its a good idea, but it could lead to obvious problems...but I still feel the benefit outweighs the maintenance required to keep the thread free from obvious (and possible) spamming and flooding. Then again, flooders/bots/spammers generally just create junk in any old forum anyhow, so from my experience it may not be a difficult thread/forum to maintain.

Your thoughts, everyone?

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's a great idea, but just one thread? It would make finding a review impossible.

How about a forum, and when you create a thread a poll has to be made (or is automatically made) where people can give their vote out of say 5 stars.

So someone makes a thread on Pirelli P6000 and gives their opinion on how they felt, and how long they lasted.

And then at any time, someone else can come along, post their own opinion in the thread and vote in the poll how well they rate it.

 

[Pupik]

Automobile, game, and electronic-specific products could go in their respective forums. I thought a general product/service thread would work in The Rumble Strip.

If you use the Search Forums boxes properly, you wouldn't have to wade too far; however, I think that would be one thread that would be worth reading through.

 

[Jondot]

It's a great idea, but just one thread? It would make finding a review impossible.

How about a forum, and when you create a thread a poll has to be made (or is automatically made) where people can give their vote out of say 5 stars.

So someone makes a thread on Pirelli P6000 and gives their opinion on how they felt, and how long they lasted.

And then at any time, someone else can come along, post their own opinion in the thread and vote in the poll how well they rate it.

Agreed. It could work well on a large scale forum.

 

[MistaX]

I agree with having a forum, but not one large thread. That would be confusing. And to post your own opinion on an old review, would put your post in between current reviews, and on a long, multipage thread, that's nonsensical.

Having specific subforums would work in certain catagories, but not every review is going to fall into subcatagories.

If you want to use the Mulch example, and we only have a game review subforum and a car review subforum, then where the hell does the Mulch go?

Filling up the Rumble Strip with reviews of products is just simply stupid.

So Yes on a general review forum, no for subforums and a big thread.

Also a very large no for copy/pasting car reviews from a site. I would like to read reviews from someone who actually owns the product, not from a site that gets paid to test stuff out.

Also reviews based on day to day living with something, not "Hey I drove this car for an hour here's how I'm going to rate it"

 

[ExigeEvan]

Also a very large no for copy/pasting car reviews from a site. I would like to read reviews from someone who actually owns the product, not from a site that gets paid to test stuff out.

Also reviews based on day to day living with something, not "Hey I drove this car for an hour here's how I'm going to rate it"

Fully agreed.

 

[Pupik]

If you want to use the Mulch example, and we only have a game review subforum and a car review subforum, then where the hell does the Mulch go?

Filling up the Rumble Strip with reviews of products is just simply stupid.

A bit of a paradox, isn't it? Mulch has to go somehwere!

Also a very large no for copy/pasting car reviews from a site. I would like to read reviews from someone who actually owns the product, not from a site that gets paid to test stuff out.

Also reviews based on day to day living with something, not "Hey I drove this car for an hour here's how I'm going to rate it"

Which is exactly what I want out of this idea. If you just bought it, how do you know how well it stands up to the test if time?

I also don't want it turning into a flame-fest, hence my reasoning to avoid things like music, DVD, game, test-drive, book, and software reviews, unless doing so in the appropriate forums (horses for courses, as they say).

There has to be some ground for one's opinion, not just because you don't like Brand X and like Brand Y, but because you bought Brand Z, and it's not worth the box it was shipped in, or that Brand W is the cat's pajamas, bar none, game over, end of story...and nobody knows it yet!

Again, this isn't exactly my forum to demand how things should be done.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I also don't want it turning into a flame-fest, hence my reasoning to avoid things like music, DVD, game, test-drive, book, and software reviews, unless doing so in the appropriate forums (horses for courses, as they say).

There has to be some ground for one's opinion, not just because you don't like Brand X and like Brand Y, but because you bought Brand Z, and it's not worth the box it was shipped in, or that Brand W is the cat's pajamas, bar none, game over, end of story...and nobody knows it yet!

Again, this isn't exactly my forum to demand how things should be done.

That's another great point. We all know how many fan boys there are on this site.

It certainly would require a fair bit of moderation.

 

[Sage]

I quite like the idea. 👍 I think it would go nicely right alongside The Trading Post (we need more traffic there anyway).

 

[Famine]

It's a very nice idea.

So someone makes a thread on Pirelli P6000 and gives their opinion on how they felt, and how long they lasted.

Dreadful and too long.

 

[dylansan]

It seems like a good idea. Giving reviews could be fun...

I quite like the idea. 👍 I think it would go nicely right alongside The Trading Post (we need more traffic there anyway).

Want more traffic there? Sell more PS3s.

It's a very nice idea.

I just noticed I'm eating black rasberry icecream. It's delicious, as well as the same color as your posts.

 

[Matt R]

I only see it working by way of it's own individual forum. I really like the idea, but as already stated, one thread would be an over abundance of reviews.

The trading post was the same area I was thinking of. Maybe the forum could be as helpful as the game guides we have here.

 

[Jordan]

This is a good idea, pupik, and one I would like to have here. I am sure it could be very useful for all of us, but actually getting people to contribute reviews may be another story. I will continue to watch the discussion in this thread to see how others feel...

 

[Evolution.]

👍

All for it here. I'm a review-a-holic, so I'll be contributory.

 

[MistaX]

I would absolutely review something if either A: It really stood out as a product or B: It was really trash.

In the middle reviews are boring to write, and boring to read.

 

[Turbo Lag]

Ive always wanted to know how good certain products are before buying them from normal people; not people who brag about goods only because they simply dont like "brand x". So im in for this great idea:tup:

 

[Pebb]

Since this treads close to outright advertising and possibly spamming, I thought I'd see what Jordan, Admins, Moderators, and our esteemed members might think of this.

My idea is that we have a thread (or a forum) where users can post their reviews of products and services, especially those which might not warrant their own thread. Generally, we tend to value the opinions of those we know, or at least, have been members of GTPlanet who are in good standing.

An example:

I really like Rubberstuff Mulch. Why? Because it doesn't float away in a storm (it's survived 4 hurricanes without blowing away), it reduces weeds, and best of all...it's made from old tires! I've used it since 2003 with great results.

[Pros]

[Cons]

[Rating, if necessary]

[website link, where you bought it, etc.]

I think its a good idea, but it could lead to obvious problems...but I still feel the benefit outweighs the maintenance required to keep the thread free from obvious (and possible) spamming and flooding. Then again, flooders/bots/spammers generally just create junk in any old forum anyhow, so from my experience it may not be a difficult thread/forum to maintain.

Your thoughts, everyone?

Nice idea, but maybe a forum like this could involve audio podcasts linked or not.

 

[FormulaGT]

Fantastic idea! I'm sure people would benefit from having more consumer feedback on certain products. 👍 .

FormulaGT

 

[Eric.]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I'd suggest to have a separate forum with subforums for different categories. The main forum would serve as the miscellaneous forum, where you would review your Rubberstuff Mulch (or in a lawn & garden subforum...).

Jordan, I think we could at least give it a shot for a couple months, and if it isn't popular or worth the hassle of moderating it you could scrap it.</irunthissitemode>

 

[G.T]

Good idea. I would probably contribute to this, as long as I find something worthy of reviewing...

 

[Pupik]

So shall GTPlanet...

Make it a part of the Trading Post?
A separate and unique forum?
Individual (non-)sticky threads in each forum?
Wait for more response or ideas?

How shall GTPlanet moderate it, or allow posts/threads to occur? Shall new thread creation be Premium Members only (like the all new threads in rest of Trading Post).

 

[DuckRacer]

So shall GTPlanet...

Make it a part of the Trading Post?

No. We don't want to go through a graveyard to read a review.

A separate and unique forum?

Yes, either a Rumble Strip subforum or an entire new forum under "Off-topic".

Individual (non-)sticky threads in each forum?

Where would the mulch go? Plus it'd be too complicated to find individual reviews.

Wait for more response or ideas?

Yes.

How shall GTPlanet moderate it, or allow posts/threads to occur?

Just let new posts/threads be posted as normal.

Shall new thread creation be Premium Members only (like the all new threads in rest of Trading Post).

No way. That's why the Trading Post is a graveyard. Making it premium-only would severely cripple, if not outright kill a community that wants to post reviews.

 

[Jordan]

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=185

It's here! We'll try it for a few weeks and see how the response is.

 

[Slick Rick]

Apart from the 'Product & Service Reviews' bit, what else has changed at the bottom of forum main page. It looks different but I cant put my finger on it...

 

[Evolution.]

First thread. Comments please .

 

[Sage]

Jordan: A sticky with some general guidelines might be nice.

 

[TopHat]

I gots the first reply in the first thread! I'm so happy.

 

[Jordan]

Jordan: A sticky with some general guidelines might be nice.

I would, but I'm not sure exactly what information I could provide.

 

[skip0110]

I believe the Index thread in this forum needs to be deleted, since it's owner is banned. https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=91190

Without updates, it is well-nigh useless.

I suppose it could just be transferred to new ownership, but I think the search feature pretty much made it useless from the start.

 

[OZZYGT]

+1 👍