vendor feedback policy

[DRJDVM's '69]

We do not try to censor any feedback, good or bad about a vendor whether they are a site supporter or not

But by having a strict "no vendor bashing policy" where the customer cant come on here and give their account and opinion of a vendor, you are essentially censoring them... the goal to keep the online drama to a minimum is great, but opens the doorway for others to fall into the same abyss that other customers have experienced.

By locking the thread and taking everything "behind the scenes" is in some way censoring the customer from letting everyone know their experience with the vendor.

The hard thing is that there are always 3 sides to the story and keeping the online drama to a minimum is unquestionably better for the greater good

Its a sticky issue and I dont envy you guys having to deal with it. You guys do a fantastic job with this website, and I dont want any more drama than you guys. Its a tough thing to deal with because there is no real easy answer, or a solution that fits every scenario and makes everyone happy

Best I can think of is the "star" or feedback number type system.....even that is filled with pros and cons.

[Vegas69]

Is it really Lateral G's responsibility to be the middle man? When companies advertise on TV, is the TV station required to disclose their consumer approval rating? Do they mediate bad service? There are plenty of other examples.

With that being said, I do like the rating system idea bases on a handful of questions. No commentary or definitely no outside commentary. Just not sure it's easy to implement.

As Stuart said, buyer beware, ALWAYS.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

But by having a strict "no vendor bashing policy" where the customer cant come on here and give their account and opinion of a vendor, you are essentially censoring them... the goal to keep the online drama to a minimum is great, but opens the doorway for others to fall into the same abyss that other customers have experienced.

By locking the thread and taking everything "behind the scenes" is in some way censoring the customer from letting everyone know their experience with the vendor.

The hard thing is that there are always 3 sides to the story and keeping the online drama to a minimum is unquestionably better for the greater good

Its a sticky issue and I dont envy you guys having to deal with it. You guys do a fantastic job with this website, and I dont want any more drama than you guys. Its a tough thing to deal with because there is no real easy answer, or a solution that fits every scenario and makes everyone happy

Best I can think of is the "star" or feedback number type system.....even that is filled with pros and cons.

we have "no vendor bashing" period. We do NOT have "no vendor feedback". Is that a better explanation? There is a difference between "bashing" and a posting about a negative experience.

Locking a thread is usually reserved for a few reasons. Original poster asks that it be locked, like the one today. Or the problem has been solved; leaving it open almost always ends in someone bringing it back from the dead months later to complain about so and so. If it's locked they can start a new thread, much easier for everyone to see what's going on instead of multiple stories in one thread.

The last reason would be the thread has gone so far off track that it's better and easier to lock it. I will say, there's been several of these that I should have locked but instead spent a long time editing the "comments that couldn't stay", plus edit the quoted "comments that couldn't stay" where another member responds to that, and on and on.

No matter what we do you have to realize that you are not going to make everyone happy. I see your point and others who've responded. We're not ignoring them, just looking at all the options.

For now, the way it's going to be is no vendor bashing. You can of course post experiences or feedback though, whether good or bad, as long as it's your experience and you keep it civil and honest. I really don't see that as any type of censorship, all we've said is that if it gets out of control we're going to step in and edit/lock it up.

There are many sites on the Net that "anything goes". This isn't one of them. I'm willing to give it a shot and add a feedback forum, see if everyone can keep things civil.