General Discussion Board

Somebody is paying attention!

Jolie — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:46:37 GMT

Wow-- they called you?! I would reference that in your review. :)

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:09:24 GMT

Roxann831 said…
I had a company call me at home this past week that didn't like my review. They had my information on file. Their friend also commented on my review. The comment on the review I could understand if it came from the actual company, but calling me at home was inappropriate, and having someone try to discredit my review that wasn't even there when I bought the car was also crazy.
I'm going to edit the review because they did make ONE valid point about something I incorrectly assumed about, but everything else was completely founded. I think instead of going about it the way they did, why not have a customer that liked their service do a review? I don't mind an opposing view, but I'm entitled to my opinion too.

Wow! That sounds like pure harassment to me. A little SCARY!

Somebody is paying attention!

Roxann831 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:54:33 GMT

I had a company call me at home this past week that didn't like my review. They had my information on file. Their friend also commented on my review. The comment on the review I could understand if it came from the actual company, but calling me at home was inappropriate, and having someone try to discredit my review that wasn't even there when I bought the car was also crazy.

I'm going to edit the review because they did make ONE valid point about something I incorrectly assumed about, but everything else was completely founded. I think instead of going about it the way they did, why not have a customer that liked their service do a review? I don't mind an opposing view, but I'm entitled to my opinion too.

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:22:01 GMT

Bryan-Carey said…
Oh yes- companies most certainly pay attention to reviews. I have received direct comments from companies about my reviews. Sometimes, I have even received complimentary products. I have also received negative comments from companies and business owners who did not like my negative reviews. You have to take the bad with the good, but the positive feedback has been far more common than the negative.

But first they have to know where you are and how to reach you. That's the part I don't understand. Did they contact you via ViewPoints?

Somebody is paying attention!

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:37:15 GMT

Oh yes- companies most certainly pay attention to reviews. I have received direct comments from companies about my reviews. Sometimes, I have even received complimentary products. I have also received negative comments from companies and business owners who did not like my negative reviews. You have to take the bad with the good, but the positive feedback has been far more common than the negative.

Somebody is paying attention!

CyndiA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:20:33 GMT

bkovacs said…
Jolie said…
I wrote a review of a hotel and got a call a call from their manager thanking me for my review. Pretty cool that they dont just monitor the bad... but the good too!! I was impressed.
For all the years I've been writing reviews on the Web and the hundreds of reviews under my belt, I've never been contacted by a manufacturer, business or author. I'm a little jealous!
--Bob

Wow! I'm surprised at that. I've had love and hate emails both. They range from "glad you like our Texas Toast" to "God pox you for the book review." Oh yeah, I also got a "you old cow" email. I said "moo" (not really - just ignored it). That might have been an ex-boyfriend huh? Or maybe a Chic Filet promotion.

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:28:32 GMT

bkovacs said…
Jolie said…
I wrote a review of a hotel and got a call a call from their manager thanking me for my review. Pretty cool that they dont just monitor the bad... but the good too!! I was impressed.
For all the years I've been writing reviews on the Web and the hundreds of reviews under my belt, I've never been contacted by a manufacturer, business or author. I'm a little jealous!
--Bob

Hi, Bob!

I don't think anyone will ever contact me either for the simple reason that nobody knows who I really am or how to reach me! It's sort of fun to be mysterious; on the other hand, you and I (and some others here) are sort of like whoever it was who wrote "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". Everybody who celebrates Christmas loves that hymn but nobody to this day has a clue who wrote it!

Somebody is paying attention!

bkovacs — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:07 GMT

Jolie said…
I wrote a review of a hotel and got a call a call from their manager thanking me for my review. Pretty cool that they dont just monitor the bad... but the good too!! I was impressed.

For all the years I've been writing reviews on the Web and the hundreds of reviews under my belt, I've never been contacted by a manufacturer, business or author. I'm a little jealous!

--Bob

Somebody is paying attention!

Reviewer11 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:37:58 GMT

Speaking of Starbucks, the one near my house had said they discontinued the decaf. I will miss those decaf Mocha Frappuchinos. :( Does anyone know if it is at all Starbucks locations or is it only at certain locations?

Somebody is paying attention!

Jolie — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:33:18 GMT

I wrote a review of a hotel and got a call a call from their manager thanking me for my review. Pretty cool that they dont just monitor the bad... but the good too!! I was impressed.

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:09:14 GMT

Come to think of it, I HAVE noticed differences in the Starbuck stores, Jo. Now they are even showing calorie information and also listing all nutritional information on their website.

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:07:04 GMT

It may also be that companies are waking up to the fact that what we are voicing here is truly vox populi (sic?) which (I hope) is to say "the voice of the people." If something bothers us, they should figure that it bothers a lot of other people too because I don't think we are being unreasonable in our reviews. I imagine even the really big outfits are checking out what goes on in ViewPoints more often now and taking it more seriously. I'm proud to be a part of all this!

Somebody is paying attention!

njchicaa — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:12:35 GMT

I've seen a few changes in products that I suggested in reviews. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was responsible for those alterations, but hey at least I had the same thoughts as the rest of the customers who provided feedback to the company.

Somebody is paying attention!

Jo — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:33:59 GMT

They really do pay attention. I changed the way Starbuck's posts their drinks in the stores (really) Jo

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:38:46 GMT

You know, Patty, I even forwarded a couple reviews of mine to customer service e-mails at some companies but I don't think United was one of them. I mean I would be glad if they just did this because it made good economic sense but I would love to think that what we write is being noticed! Well, have a nice evening! My eyelids are getting HEAVY and I think I'm about to pass out!

Somebody is paying attention!

lilsquibb — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:19:08 GMT

Now if we could just inspire them to reduce their prices in general that would be even better :)

Somebody is paying attention!

PattyTherre — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:42:05 GMT

They DO pay attention! Then they steal your ideas and don't give you credit. lol. Seriously, I know of companies that actively monitor reviews and get alerts whenever something is written about them. Maybe you inspired UA to start the new program. That is so cool!

Somebody is paying attention!

AnnaBanana — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:08:54 GMT

I don't know if you guys remember a review I did about United Airlines' Red Carpet Club. I said how much I liked it but that it was awfully expensive to buy a year's membership in it, especially for someone who didn't travel much. I suggested that United start selling one-time Red Carpet Club privileges for $25 a trip. Someone else who was good enough to read my review suggested the figure of $50 per trip. Well, you'll never guess what! That's exactly what United has done. People who don't travel much can now pay $50 extra for a one-time pass to the Red Carpet Club (and another $50 for a one-time pass coming BACK too!) It's still an extravagance but not as bad the year's membership is and believe me, the Red Carpet Club is worth it. Sometimes you wonder if anyone is paying attention to what we are saying here -- of course, this might have been coincidental but then again maybe we are making more of a difference than we know.