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Viewpoints

Viewpoints Review


www.viewpoints.com



Overall 4.33 of 5 view all 58 reviews



Bye Bye Epinions--Hello Viewpoints!
5 star rating

a believer in truth
Pros

    can add most anything, can build network of trusted critics, a great community, easy to navigate, can review pretty much anything, can give really detailed review, ability to add user photos

Cons
    Hit-count stats?, minor glitches - typical high tech

MAR
26
2008
 

So last Friday night you ate at this superb restaurant. The food was really great and the service was excellent, but the car you recently purchased from "Honest Abe's Used Cars" broke down on the way home.

But that ain't the worst of it. Honest Abe refused to honor the money-back guarantee, so you sued him, but the law firm handling your case totally messed up your case. The law firm being "Dewy, Cheetum and Howe."

You so much want to relieve your pent up enthusiasm or hostility for various products and services. Well I can totally relate. I relieved myself by writing reviews at epinions.com, but became very dissatisfied with epinions.

I decided to try Viewpoints.com, and I am so glad I did! What a fantastic site this is!

The first thing I noticed was the photo upload feature. I didn't have to post my photos at another site and then try to link to them like they make you do at epinions.

I was also impressed when I read the fine print. Viewpoints actually tells you how to succeed as a writer here if that is your goal. By contrast, epinions uses some mysterious algorithm to decide who gets promoted. As a result, a writer who has not written as well or as much as you, could be promoted while you get to eat his dust. Here at Viewpoints, I was rewarded for my efforts with a simple-thanks $20 gift certificate. At last, someone appreciates my genius. LOL!

But wait! There's more! At epinions, if I wanted to write about a product that was not in their database, I had to contact the "Category Lead." I had to get on my knees and pucker up. I had to fill out forms. Yeah...right! Like I really wanna fill out forms. Viewpoints, on the other hand, is brilliant! They let me add stuff I want to write about to their database myself, and make it easy.

And, once you submit your review, you won't be judged by a pack of designated trolls with tiny blue wieners. You are free to write in your own style, and as long as your review is rated PG, you can be assured that it will be visible and won't be blocked from the public's view.

There are no negative ratings here at Viewpoints. What a concept! You can give a reviewer a "good point" or not, but you can't give him/her a "Not Helpful" rating and cause unnecessary resentment.

You can add a reviewer to your friends list or not, but you can't block the reviewer or otherwise deprive the general public their right to decide for themselves whether they want to read or pass on the reviewer's content. When I first joined, Jolie added me as a friend like Tom did at Myspace. What a nice gesture.

And that brings me to the Viewpoints staff. They have the best PR skills on the internet--hands down! When I left epinions, I felt like I escaped from a concentration camp. When I joined Viewpoints, I felt like I climbed out of the sewer and into the light of day.

The site has very attractive graphics and makes other sites look tacky. I find it easy to navigate as well. My only disappointment is there doesn't seem to be any review hit-count statistics, but that's no biggy. How I'm treated is the most important element.

So, if you're on a power-trip or you're a doormat, you probably won't be happy here. But if you want to be around classy, courteous and talented people, and enjoy reading and/or writing reviews, you will love Viewpoints.com.

Thank you, Viewpoints, for bringing the best out of me and others. It does not surprise me that your site is rocketing to the ionosphere of search rankings (see alexa.com search ranking statistics). :-)

Update: Viewpoints now has a stats tab on your profile page where you can check your stats.  Yeeeehaaaaw!  Also, if you're the type who likes to vote no on a sucky review, you can do that now too. 

 

Last edited on Jun 02, 2008


I_thumb_up Viewpoints is recommended by williampinn

NOTE: the reviewer indicated that they are affiliated with Viewpoints


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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about williampinn’s Review



williampinn wrote on Jun 2, 2008 at 10:21PM


In response to elvisdo's comment from Jun 2, 2008 at 9:15PM:

I see you are a savy writer as well as a savy shopper. Welcome to the party!


elvisdo wrote on Jun 2, 2008 at 9:15PM


I remember getting an invitation to VP when it was just beginning and didn't know what to make of it at the time. I can see that was a big mistake on my part. I'm really loving what I see over here. It is very user friendly in so many ways.


williampinn wrote on Apr 11, 2008 at 2:58PM


In response to MellaView's comment from Apr 10, 2008 at 8:34AM:

Ditto to everything you just said! Enjoy yourself here and welcome to Viewpoints! You will be treated so well, you will have to pinch yourself.


williampinn wrote on Apr 11, 2008 at 2:54PM


In response to krus54's comment from Apr 11, 2008 at 9:31AM:

I heard the "community liaison" received his pink slip. That's a good start. The tone of epinions needs to change or epinions will continue to sink. When I first dipped my toes into their message board, he was the most obnoxious, arrogant person there, and he encouraged others, by his example, to be equally insufferable.


MellaView wrote on Apr 11, 2008 at 10:33AM


In response to krus54's comment from Apr 11, 2008 at 9:31AM:

Oh yes... I got eaten by the wolves before on the boards. I never felt smaller. lol. After that, I now tread lightly, & Seldomly.


krus54 wrote on Apr 11, 2008 at 9:31AM


In response to williampinn's comment from Mar 28, 2008 at 2:53AM:

William...that comment about the message boards couldn't be more on target and that's why that out thousands and thousands of Epinions members you only see a small regular group of maybe 20-30. Others get eaten alive when they take a legitimate question or gripe to the boards and a few of those regulars don't agree. Somehow the fact that no matter how polite you are when you present a complaint, some of those regulars feel that they can disregard the rules about respect and jump all over you. Heaven forbid ANYONE dares to post a link on the board! Within minutes 5 or 6 people gang up on the poor member and in no uncertain terms tell them to immediately remove it. Oh, yeah..also wanted to add this. It's amazing how rules seem to be for some people on the boards and get threads locked while others can get away with the same types of things and the moderators have no problems (including participating in the threads). ~ Shivers ~


MellaView wrote on Apr 10, 2008 at 8:34AM


William I am totally shocked to see that the prowloing troll who likes to spread false accusations at AC is not here to cause trouble (he/she paid me a visit many moons ago, and it was totally uncalled for. It not only made the site look bad, but it made me question its members). It amazes me most that some will actually stalk you out on other sites... and then call YOU the stalker/troll. As our discussion went yesterday though.... there looks like there will be some changes. Anyhow, I agree with you. I just began dabbling into this site yesterday again... and I am ready to take this site by storm. I'll be submitting up the kazooie. I adore the look and design of the site as well. I was actually enjoying it so much in here yesterday, that I didnt even realize there was a lack of a counter. : )


williampinn wrote on Mar 31, 2008 at 11:27AM


In response to davidp24's comment from Mar 31, 2008 at 10:32AM:

Well, it just wouldn't be the same without you and the Fab one.


davidp24 wrote on Mar 31, 2008 at 10:32AM


William, I'm glad that you found Viewpoints and that it is a great site to write for. Your writing is awesome and always interesting for me to read. Fabricio says that your writing is "fierce." But what does he know. Today he's at the nude beach trying to brag, but the people there told him that there's very little to brag about. He's not happy. Back to the original subject, I hope that you keep writing great articles for Viewpoint. I truly look forward to them.


williampinn wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 10:05PM


In response to awlafon's comment from Mar 30, 2008 at 4:04PM:

Excellent! Thanks for reading.


awlafon wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 4:04PM


Welcome WilliamPinn. Love Viewpoints & this review.


AmyA wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 1:37PM


In response to williampinn's comment from Mar 30, 2008 at 12:37PM:

No to worry williampinn...Judy's book was also a review site and well after three years and having friends and family involved in it the owner thought just posting deals would be a better idea so no more review section. The part that really burns was the fact the owner deleted EVERYONE's review in one shot so we would start posting deals...It didn't work and many along with many and myself were Very Upset...So no need to worry about tripping over them. They did have some good points, but they are now my past. (still love the T-shirt though...super soft lol)


williampinn wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 12:40PM


In response to eiffelvu's comment from Mar 30, 2008 at 11:09AM:

Hi, Barbara, welcome to Viewpoints! You will be treated so well, you will have to pinch yourself.


williampinn wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 12:37PM


In response to AmyA's comment from Mar 29, 2008 at 9:08PM:

Thanks, baabsy. What is this "Judy's book"? Sounds like something I need to put on my not-to-do list.


eiffelvu wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 11:09AM


hi william..barbara here, ifif at epinions...I just found you and wondered what you thought, now I know since reading this review...I just may try my hand at a review or two..thanks


AmyA wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 9:08PM


Super review. I never heard of Epinions before and glad I missed...I still have my battle scars from when Judy's book did reviews. (shivers)


williampinn wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 3:25PM


In response to vivasuzi's comment from Mar 29, 2008 at 2:57PM:

Epi owed me $1.98 when I quit. They can keep it. lol.


vivasuzi wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 2:57PM


In response to williampinn's comment from Mar 29, 2008 at 2:37PM:

Haha, that sounds good to me :) Actually I saw the comment after I had already posted mine. But glad you are here! I will be deleting my Epi account eventually, but I'm close to $10 so I'm just waiting to cash out one last time!


williampinn wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 2:37PM


In response to vivasuzi's comment from Mar 29, 2008 at 11:16AM:

Hi, Suzi! I did mention you in one of the comments below. Sorry you missed it. I'll use bigger print this time: VIVASUZI, ONE OF THE GREATEST REVIEWERS OF ALL TIME, TURNED ME ON TO THIS SITE. JO, ANOTHER QUEEN OF CRITICS, SENT ME A LINK TO THIS SITE AS WELL. THESE TWO FINE LADIES OF THE COURT DESERVE FULL CREDIT AND ACCOLADES FOR MY humble PRESENCE HERE. (Three shots from a cannon are fired. Rose pedals are thrown in your paths, along with a red carpet.) There, I hope that will suffice.


vivasuzi wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 11:27AM


In response to MikeMaroon's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 3:54PM:

VP is so easy to navigate, that when you search for "War of the Worlds" you actually pull up reviews that has the words War and Worlds in them! Search for the same term at Epinions and you get... "Zelary" first???


vivasuzi wrote on Mar 29, 2008 at 11:16AM


Don't forget about the person who told you about the site ;) I'm so glad you like it! I couldn't agree more with all your comments. And btw - stats are coming :-D


Fardreamer wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 3:33PM


I still write reviews there (Epinions); I've written far too many reviews there and earned a bit of money, but yeah, I know what you're talking about.


Jolie wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 3:25PM


In response to LisaCarey's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 3:40PM:

link pimp. You crack me up!


williampinn wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 2:53AM


In response to Jo's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 7:04PM:

It seems like the goal of epinions message boards is to embarrass and humiliate anyone who has a legitimate question or concern. Thick skin or not, my time there was a waste. I understand it got so bad, they moved their chat to facebook. I remember you starting your chat at yahoo as well--a place where the gangsta-wannabe and his beeyatches wouldn't interfere with adults trying to have a conversation about the issues.


williampinn wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 2:40AM


In response to MikeMaroon's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 3:54PM:

Ditto, Mike. And thanks for the welcome! Epinions often made me feel like I was an intruder crashing their little party. I was pleasently surprised when I joined this site. I have been treated so well, I have to pinch myself.


williampinn wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 2:32AM


In response to LisaCarey's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 3:40PM:

Thanks for the read, Lisa. I like AC too. It is where I moved the bulk of my reviews before I deleted my account at epinions. VivaSuzi and Jo, who also write for AC, turned me on to this site. Epinions better do a major overhaul or people will get a 404 error page when they visit. If Ebay (the owner of epinions) was smart, it would clean house and put in a whole new staff--a staff with some PR skills, not a a group of wanna-be gangstas.


williampinn wrote on Mar 28, 2008 at 2:19AM


In response to Fardreamer's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 9:34PM:

LOL! I've been surfing the web for about eight years. I belong to dozens of websites and write for several. IMO epinions is among the two worst sites I have ever wasted my precious time at. I can pick a site at random and it will beat epinions. This site is exceptional! I fully expect it to be up there in the rankings with MySpace, Facebook and Google. They know the secret to success: listen, then make improvements. Oh, and thanks for reading. :-)


Fardreamer wrote on Mar 27, 2008 at 9:39PM


In response to Jo's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 9:59AM:

The problem with those "anointed blue weiners" isn't so much that they have higher rating power than us "grunt" reviewers, but that some - not all, but some - of them tend to think they own Epinions and/or their categories. Some Category Leads are pretty fair-minded and I still trust them, but in other categories...I'll be diplomatic and say that it's just not pleasant working there.


Fardreamer wrote on Mar 27, 2008 at 9:34PM


Ah...so this is where you migrated to. Hopefully you'll be happier here than at Epinions.


Jo wrote on Mar 27, 2008 at 7:04PM


In response to williampinn's comment from Mar 27, 2008 at 3:20PM:

Just to know - I haven't been on THAT forum in months and months. I've developed a thick skin (or thicker) from the knocks I've taken but it isn't thick enough for that forum. Night and day - truly. Jo


kid-kansas wrote on Mar 27, 2008 at 4:09PM