Ethics of Review Incentives

[Artashes]

What about this on your renewal email:

"Would you like to create a review of our services? Click Here!"

I don't see anything wrong with this format. You encourage feedback, without incentives. Sounds fair to me.

Best,

 

[Blue]

I don't see that as being much different.
Although you are not offering an incentive in that format you could still easily give the wrong impression.

There is a company who keeps making the claim that they are #1 on a certain hosting directory. Well, they are number one but the ranking doesn't take into account the number of reviews. There are many well established hosts on that directory with far more reviews but who may be a percentage point behind because of one or two less than perfect ratings.
You won't find reviews of this host anywhere else so it's obvious they are playing the system and either shilling or directing clients to that particular site. I don't find that doing that and then making this #1 claim to be very honest or very accurate at all.

I could have our company ranked #1 on that site in two days if we chose to go that way.

 

[SimonJohnson]

So you really think that putting:
"Would you like to create a review of our services? Click Here!"
At the bottom of our renewals is bad practice?

Because a client will not think "What a great company, ill trawl the net for a review site"

However if you show the client a place where they can review the service they have recieved, they most likley will.

Now dont forget, the customer may have just had a 10% price increase over last year and be very pissed at that moment in time or his site might be offline as he recieves his renewal invoice. Damn thats gonna be a nice red review.

But, they couldnt be happier to pay the invoice, the support has been magnificent, the staff friendly, downtime a minimum. Then off they trot to sing your praises as you so rightly deserve.

You'd have a point i advertised "Review our services & get a month of free hosting, Click here" but we don't.

 

[Blue]

Everyone has their own views of what is acceptable or unacceptable practice.
I don't expect my clients to "trawl the net" for a review site.
Not would I ever impose on them to make a review. If they want to share their hosting experience they will do it with people they know.

To me it looks like "hey, we are doing our job, we are doing what you are paying us to do and what we are supposed to be doing, so can we impose on you to tell others."

 

[ldcdc]

Everyone has their own views of what is acceptable or unacceptable practice.

True.

Personally, I have no problem with any review, as long as it's written from the heart, by someone with first hand experience with that provider.

Most "host rating" sites can have their ratings easily skewed both ways, for in fact, if one would want to knock a competitor down, one could do it quite easily, and inexpensively. I take it as a fact of life that the hosts that are ranked close to the top in the "rating systems" out there are quite likely actively working on improving one way or another their rankings there.

Hosts with lots of customers and already popular are likely to get some reviews pretty much anywhere, without somehow asking for them. A smaller host however (say having a couple of hundreds of customers) will probably get 1-2 reviews on a couple of sites. So, even if both hosts are equally good, only one will get grades in the ratings websites. It don't see this as entirely fair either.

Anyway, as a consequence of that, you'll see quite a few small (and not so small) hosts linking even from their homepage to one or two "hosts ratings" websites of their choice.

As long as there's no incentive for a (positive) review, no punishment for a negative one, and no punishment for not writing a review, I see it as a fair practice to advertise/publicize a ratings system, because the host exposes itself to be equally reviewed both by satisfied customers and unsatisfied customers. In fact, as we know, unhappy customers will be more vocal - it's part of the normal human behavior.

 

[InnovativeHost]

What about this on your renewal email:

"Would you like to create a review of our services? Click Here!"

I dont see any reason why this would be a problem. As far as I am concerned, asking clients for reviews (which equals feedback) is showing your clients that you are paying attention to their wants and needs.

Now if you are offering incentives to get reviews...that is a different story...anyone will write something to get something in return.....A simple "If you like us...write a review here" is perfectly legit. No different than having comment cards on the table of your favorite dining joint.

People who like your service will want to support you....where is the fault in that?

 

[peter phillips]

This practice of sending a renewal mail to your existing customers with the statement "Would you like to create a review of our services? Click Here!" sounds fair to me. You're asking for an unbiased review from the customer with the help of which you will come to know about the shortcomings if any in your service and you can improve on them.

Whereas in case of paid reviews the people will write only that for which they are being paid for.

 

[Daisy]

Does it look suspicious to you?

 

[Senad]

Daisy those clients have posted their reviews on their own behalf, just as they have on our forums. We do not offer inscentives if that is what you are trying to state here.

Those clients, like the several other places where they have posted (including our own forums), decided to post their feedback about their own experience. Unlike the site that is at fault either, I do not make any claims about our stance in ratings on those sites because I do not believe they actually provide the best feedback.

It is one thing if there is proof but you seem to be attempting to make false accusations without any proof.

I'm sorry if I sound defensive but pointing fingers without proof, what Daisy has done, in an attempt to slander a company name is what is wrong with this industry (especially since it is a company that I work hard to keep a clean record and name for...as I'm sure many feel the same way when they are accused falsely).

Also it is one thing for those clients to post on three different locations in regards to their review unlike the company we are discussing here only having one area of review with many good praises with evidence that they are offering incentives for reviews.

 

[Daisy]

Daisy those clients have posted their reviews on their own behalf, just as they have on our forums. We do not offer inscentives if that is what you are trying to state here.

Those clients, like the several other places where they have posted (including our own forums), decided to post their feedback about their own experience. Unlike the site that is at fault either, I do not make any claims about our stance in ratings on those sites because I do not believe they actually provide the best feedback.

It is one thing if there is proof but you seem to be attempting to make false accusations without any proof.

I'm sorry if I sound defensive but pointing fingers without proof, what Daisy has done, in an attempt to slander a company name is what is wrong with this industry (especially since it is a company that I work hard to keep a clean record and name for...as I'm sure many feel the same way when they are accused falsely).

Also it is one thing for those clients to post on three different locations in regards to their review unlike the company we are discussing here only having one area of review with many good praises with evidence that they are offering incentives for reviews.

WHoa....EASY! DID i accuse you? Read it again. I asked

Does it look suspicious to you?

1. I did not accuse you of anything.
2. "what Daisy has done, in an attempt to slander a company name is what is wrong with this industry" ... my @ss.
2. I wasn't sure (i found them kind of fake) so i asked to see what other people think.
3. If it was not, my mistake. But only God knows!

 

[Blue]

The intent of your post seemed pretty obvious to me Daisy. I don't blame Senad for taking issue with it.

 

[InnovativeHost]

WHoa....EASY! DID i accuse you? Read it again. I asked

Does it look suspicious to you?

1. I did not accuse you of anything.
2. "what Daisy has done, in an attempt to slander a company name is what is wrong with this industry" ... my @ss.
2. I wasn't sure (i found them kind of fake) so i asked to see what other people think.
3. If it was not, my mistake. But only God knows!

What was your point of the post? How was it supposed to be taken....after all it didn't hold a lot of detail. You ask a pointed question and called out a specific host...and you are wondering why they went on the defensive? Come on now....Sarcasm doesn't work well (or at all for that matter) in text....just seemed to be a pretty cheap blow to me, IMHO.
:box:

I know it went out of style in the 70's but I think an explanation or apology is in order.

 

[Senad]

Back to topic...Did you decide to release the name of this company yet?

 

[HMarker]

I agree, it is not ethical and not acceptable. But it is hard to avoid.
I believe it's customers' responsibility to distinguish between real and fake reviews. Even though it is hard for beginners, if a customer requests comments on a few forum sites, he can get "real" comments from many members.

 

[Senad]

I'd like to update this thread...

Well this discussion is now under debate at WHT as well. People are starting to confirm their suspicions and since it was mentioned at WHT the company is now out in the open to discuss.

Name: PolurNet

CrazyTech please contact the mods at WHT and here and send them this proof. This sleaze has to be exposed yet again for their wrong doing (first strike was advertising on a competitors forums, second time was paying children under minimum wages for support and sales and this is the third strike now).

 

[Blue]

This guy is a little hard to believe.
It is even to the point where is has a shill on NamePros nominate him for member of the month and he is using a link in his signature to direct people to vote for him.

 

[PolurNET]

I'd like to update this thread...

Well this discussion is now under debate at WHT as well. People are starting to confirm their suspicions and since it was mentioned at WHT the company is now out in the open to discuss.

Name: PolurNet

CrazyTech please contact the mods at WHT and here and send them this proof.

Obviously your selfish interests in bashing other hosts based on some sort of proof you believe jmweb has is highly reflective of your character. CrazyTech and Jmweb have the same so-called proof, which is already being researched by the WHT mods; they have not deemed it valid yet, thus there is no clear evidence. They've already informed us that the reason for closure is not the incentives, since it has been proven that we did not offer any, at any time. Clearly you're misinformed, and thus blindly accusing others on the basis of this so-called evidence that has since proved to be wrong. Do some of your own research before using others to shield your self-interests

This sleaze has to be exposed yet again for their wrong doing (first strike was advertising on a competitors forums, second time was paying children under minimum wages for support and sales and this is the third strike now).

Your use of descriptive language is astounding, however, keep in mind this violates the rules here and several other forums. The minimum wages argument has again proved to be completely incorrect (and thus closed by WHT mods), our own staff gets paid by the hour and has legal agreements; obviously something you and your one-staffed "company" doesn't realize.

This guy is a little hard to believe.
It is even to the point where is has a shill on NamePros nominate him for member of the month and he is using a link in his signature to direct people to vote for him.

Shill? I'll discuss that with the NP Staff, and let your accusations be handled by them.

Our reputation has been very positive at NP, check the trader ratings yourself; stay away from such remarks

 

[Senad]

1) Trader Ratings can just as easily be placed based upon incentives....give a few NP here...give a few NP there... Also rules or not asking to be MOTM the way you have on the forums, to me, is just childish. I was nominated as well yet I don't bother going over and campaigning on NP. I have better things to do, such as taking care of customers.

2) We saw your post on NP in regards to the minimum wage just like we saw your posts advertising on another company...but lets not get into this we are discussing about your incentive offers.

3) I do not need to create a bad reputation for yourself PolurNet, you have done that quite nicely especially when you choose to go on your competitors forums and advertise.

4) How does this violate rules on here and several forums? I'm pointing to FACTS and Proofs about your previous actions and now I am once again trying to post facts and proofs about YOUR dealings here. Your little hard talk attempt here isn't making me any less afraid to post something Anad.

5) I don't consider your decite as a selfish interest. I frankly don't need to go to that level. What I do want to see is a hosting company playing fairly, which it seems you are not doing so.

6) You claim this proof has been deemed wrong. Please then show me this proof and point out the faults at which it is wrong. I beg you. If it is and there is no proof then I will apologize.

Oh WAIT

Your own client admited that you pointed him to post at WHT...that seems like proof to me....

Also to clear up any minconseption you might have, I am not the only one who is staffed, I have a very good genious of a colleauge who works with me, you can actually find information about him on our About Us page. The difference between me and you is that I obviously do my research in times like this while you obviously do not do yours before making claims.

Let me ask you...if all of this is not true...then why is WebHostingJury the ONLY place you get "Crave Reviews"?

As for being clearly misinformed, care to explain the PM you sent me asking me to change my post and your quotes so your image at NP isn't hurt a little in regards to that one post?

I'm looking at your previous history and current statements I have heard. Based on facts it seems very fishy here and until you can CLEAR your name you will of course hold in bad standings.

You talk about deception yet, you have just stated your are innocent without any clear evidence...interesting theories you have though...

CrazyTech and jmweb hold good standings on many forums and at this moment if they claim they have evidence then I would believe them over you as your past history has made no justification to defend you.

 

[PolurNET]

1) Trader Ratings can just as easily be placed based upon incentives....give a few NP here...give a few NP there...it's quite simple. Also if you read the rules...it clearly states that you cannot

Ah perfect accusation, in which there's clear proof there were no incentives given... $NP transactions are clearly monitored by NP Staff and NONE have been given to any of our customers. They have the full transaction history and I've verified this myself many times. They already know who's right, that's why jmweb has warning points and we have 0. His defammatory posts have been deleted from there also for a reason. They also called themselves #1, and that was also removed.

2) We saw your post on NP in regards to the minimum wage...but lets not get into this we are discussing about your incentive offers.

Exactly... the NP Staff did their investigation and found the truth... his post was deleted.

3) I do not need to create a bad reputation for yourself PolurNet, you have done that quite nicely especially when you choose to go on your competitors forums.

Bad Reputation? You must be talking about places where you and others have been propagating lies? Sorry, don't monitor them

4) How does this violate rules on here and several forums? I'm pointing to FACTS and Proofs about your previous actions and now I am once again trying to post facts and proofs about YOUR dealings here. Your little hard talk attempt here isn't making me any less afraid to post something Anad.

Using descriptive words as "sleazy" and insulting others with evidence collected from a third-party that has yet to be verified is quite inappropriate. My dealings here? Where did I deal here? Why not pick dealings on NamePros where I've have been for nearly 2 years? They're all clean Senad, mark my words

5) I don't consider your decite as a selfish interest. I frankly don't need to go to that level. What I do want to see is a hosting company playing fairly, which it seems you are not doing so.

We're not competing with you, and I never talked about you anywhere. Why pick on us suddenly, based on some evidence another company provided you? Ah, you're on NP too and realize the rep we got there perhaps? Why not post this thread there so we can discuss it more easily with facts?

6) You claim this proof has been deemed wrong. Please then show me this proof and point out the faults at which it is wrong. I beg you. If it is and there is no proof then I will apologize.

Show you the proof? It's something already being investigated at WHT, on the basis of possible company spying and violation of our privacy policy (by the person who submitted the so-called proof, just to be clear). We've already provided our side of the story, and that's why they're investigating to find the real answer. There's a lot more evidence in favor of us, as many of our customers are ready to speak out, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it here, where there's no neutrality.

Your own client admited that you pointed him to post at WHT...that seems like proof to me....

He said he wanted to write a review. As he signed up from WHT and referred from our ad there, we asked him if he could go back there and post his experience. Any Incentives in here? He's already said no, and the other client also laughed at you guys investigating as if we gave them something to post

Let me ask you...if all of this is not true...then why is WebHostingJury the ONLY place you get "Crave Reviews"?

To be honest, this is the best statement I have proof for. Could I post the long list of discussions, even some in other languages apart from English here? Not sure if this violates any rules here, but if not, I'd really like to. Let me know. We don't even have an affiliate program yet, so customers have no incentive of recommending us at all

Most of the comments also come from non-customers as well (I've given this list to WHT mods already).

As for being clearly misinformed, care to explain the PM you sent me asking me to change my post and your quotes so your image at NP isn't hurt a little in regards to that one post?

Huh? What does that have to do with anything about our clients posting on WHT? Want to bring up PM's here? Why is it called "Private" then? I was being kind and asked you something, you could've said no, and I wouldn't have been insulted. Yet, you come here and post rubbish about this, pretending as if I asked you to change something so vital to our company that I was hiding? For the love of this forum, it was simply a request for you to edit a misquote I made. How can that reflect anything about us as a company?

I'm looking at your previous history and current statements I have heard. Based on facts it seems very fishy here and until you can CLEAR your name you will of course hold in bad standings.

Hmm, doesn't seem you went to far in research, where did you start? WHT?

CrazyTech and jmweb hold good standings on many forums and at this moment if they claim they have evidence then I would believe them over you as your past history has made no justification to defend you.

The both work for the same company, Senad. CrazyTech used to be our customer as well... he also clarified it with me personally on his own webmaster forum when he ran one. Is there self-interest since he still works at CH? Clearly, it's not a neutral point of view when staff members of the same company use the same information and make other people buy into it.

 

[Senad]

Ah perfect accusation, in which there's clear proof there were no incentives given... $NP transactions are clearly monitored by NP Staff and NONE have been given to any of our customers. They have the full transaction history and I've verified this myself many times. They already know who's right, that's why jmweb has warning points and we have 0. His defammatory posts have been deleted from there also for a reason. They also called themselves #1, and that was also removed.

Amazing I did not even mention your name and I get accused for accusation. This was a GENERAL statement. Not in any way shape or form as I accusing you on NP based payoffs and if you got that impression I apologize.

Exactly... the NP Staff did their investigation and found the truth... his post was deleted.

No I'm talking about the post YOU made recruiting that MANY hosts at WHT saw.

Bad Reputation? You must be talking about places where you and others have been propagating lies? Sorry, don't monitor them

Ok Anad if it's a lie that you went to a competitors forums and recruiting them... by all means keep thinking that. All of us saw your post and one was even brave enough to make a new post condeming you. You still do not even bother to apologize to your mistakes from the past it's astounding.

Using descriptive words as "sleazy" and insulting others with evidence collected from a third-party that has yet to be verified is quite inappropriate. My dealings here? Where did I deal here? Why not pick dealings on NamePros where I've have been for nearly 2 years? They're all clean Senad, mark my words

After seeing how you distort your companies image without admiting to the situation at hand, words of your are now something that I cannot trust.

We're not competing with you, and I never talked about you anywhere. Why pick on us suddenly, based on some evidence another company provided you? Ah, you're on NP too and realize the rep we got there perhaps? Why not post this thread there so we can discuss it more easily with facts?

Make a hard not to yourself that I have been very inactive at NamePros nor do I consider you anywhere close to my competition. You can keep every single NP customer and potential customer there as far as I care. We do just fine without them .

Show you the proof? It's something already being investigated at WHT, on the basis of possible company spying and violation of our privacy policy. There's more, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it here, where there's no neutraility.

So now you claim HD has no neutrality? You said your peice, I have said mine mods didn't delete or close threads for further discussion. I'm sorry but this is more neutral than WHT.

He said he wanted to write a review. As he signed up from WHT and referred from our ad there, we asked him if he could go back there and post his experience. Any Incentives in here? He's already said no, and the other client also laughed at you guys investigating as if we gave them something to post

Key words there, you asked your customer to go post his experience. You even walked him into that direction. What part of that does not sound fishy to you Anad?

To be honest, this is the best statement I have proof for. Could I post the long list of discussions, some in other languages apart from English here? Not sure if this violates any rules here, but if not, I'd really like to. Let me know.


Most of the comments also come from non-customers as well (I've given this list to WHT mods already).

Huh? What does that have to do with anything about our clients posting on WHT? Want to bring up PM's here? Why is it called "Private" then? I was being kind and asked you something, you could've said no, and I wouldn't have been insulted. Yet, you come here and post rubbish about this, pretending as if I asked you to change something that I was hiding?

It has a lot do with it. You do not have to PM somebody asking them to change posts so your image can look nice and neat when you make a mistake.

Hmm, doesn't seem you went to far in research, where did you start? WHT?

I've done a lot more and I am digging as deep as I can trust me.

The both work for the same company, Senad. CrazyTech used to be our customer as well... self-interest? Clearly not a neutral point of view

What is a reseller for if he cannot be hosted by a company? You make a point here that self-interest is a main source of concern. Him being a web host or buying a space to host a site IS self-interest. In fact it is the self-interest of each customer to use the space how they want. JM could have easily used this as an off-site emergency notice area in case of network downtime.