Community Chat

[chrystaltree]

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@magicmoodz wrote:

Anyone remember the Louis Dell'Olio "cheerleader"?  It irritated me that his followers hung on her every word and were truly influenced by her.

Sorry, but I found that dishonest and must say the only thing it influenced me to do was reassess my opinion of him.

I do remember that.  There was more than one.  It irritated me at the time because it wax before the advent of "influencers".   The got freebies in exchange for posting sxcellent reviews and supporting his brand.  Now they are all doing it.  

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[Mindy D]

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@bikerbabe wrote:

Pretty sure there have been compensated influencers, but not by QVC. One very pushy poster in particular comes to mind, who used to post in wellness.

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@bikerbabe @I remember. Very pushy. The poster became the food police chief of the Wellness Forum. Only her or his way of eating could be the correct way. All other ways of eating were wrong according to this poster. I don't know if the poster was compensated but the poster was an adherent of a particular eating plan. The poster might just have been so indoctrinated, so narrow minded, as to lose all ability to see any other ideas as right for anyone. Heaven help those with differing opinions...the poster was intolerant of anything other than his or her way.

[Isobel Archer]

As to the Louis Dell'Olio folks, I generally liked his line and ordered many items (and still have them), but OMG any criticism was like criticizing Harry and Meghan today.  Immediately branded as some sort of hater - even accused of lying.

I remember mentioning that I was annoyed that for a time his buttons kept coming off (weren't properly sewn) and I was lectured about how easy it is to sew on a button and that I should just do that and  how dare I blame him for manufacturing flaws etc. etc.

I also remember heads exploding when he, himself, said online - repeatedly - that a lined jacket of his was machine washable.  Now I normally wouldn't do that, but I had had success washing  a lined suede jacket (of another line) so I tried it.  What a mess - it shrank and the lining pulled away - unwearable.  I wanted to warn people not to do it.

Again OMG -I was castigated as stupid - nobody washes a lined jacket.  He NEVER said you could - he WOULD NEVER say that (it was still on tape).  I was a liar, a hater, and I was told to shut up.

Interesting people, those LDO fans.

[Mindy D]

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

As to the Louis Dell'Olio folks, I generally liked his line and ordered many items (and still have them), but OMG any criticism was like criticizing Harry and Meghan today.  Immediately branded as some sort of hater - even accused of lying.

I remember mentioning that I was annoyed that for a time his buttons kept coming off (weren't properly sewn) and I was lectured about how easy it is to sew on a button and that I should just do that and  how dare I blame him for manufacturing flaws etc. etc.

I also remember heads exploding when he, himself, said online - repeatedly - that a lined jacket of his was machine washable.  Now I normally wouldn't do that, but I had had success washing  a lined suede jacket (of another line) so I tried it.  What a mess - it shrank and the lining pulled away - unwearable.  I wanted to warn people not to do it.

Again OMG -I was castigated as stupid - nobody washes a lined jacket.  He NEVER said you could - he WOULD NEVER say that (it was still on tape).  I was a liar, a hater, and I was told to shut up.

Interesting people, those LDO fans.

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@Isobel Archer @Dedicated followers of anything often become zealots; fanatical and uncompromising, and lose all objectivity. They can become militant at the first signs of any criticism, no matter how small the criticism is. 

[paixmcdao]

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@Mindy D wrote:

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@tansy wrote:

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@bikerbabe wrote:
@hckynutjohn

Absolutely NOT you, John. It’s someone that we haven’t seen post in quite some time. Maybe several years?

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The plant-based poster, @bikerbabe?  Sorry, just curious.

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@tansy @I think it was a poster that wasn't just plant based but was a proponent of the McDougall Plan or Program. No added vegetable oils are part of this vegan program.  Just my opinion but I found this plan and the followers to be kind of cultish and prone to being preachy. 

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That poster was no different than the one who pushed Keto, ad nauseum, while touting a guru who had his medical license suspended, at least twice. 

[dooBdoo]

I think it's important to note:  It's commonly thought that an influencer would need to post hyperlinks in order to be compensated... this isn't the case.

These days, retail sites, brands (and social media accounts such as major Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook sellers) compensate many of their promoters by asking them to take screenshots of their promotional posts on various forums.  

Once those screenshots are submitted, then the poster is compensated.  
This practice started after many (probably most) forums began disallowing and removing active retail site links.  

Also, when promoters recommend or direct us to their blogs or YouTube channels they receive compensation for each visit we make to that site, and for each new subscription and share.  

With YouTube, often they list retail shopping links in the description section below the video, and they earn a commission for clicks & purchases.  

(Just the other day I saw a YouTube video purporting to be a "how to" design presentation but was actually a "shop the show" with at least 50 retail links to buy what was presented on the video.)

With certain blogs or "informational" sites, a look at their "disclosure" or "disclaimer" section reveals that they participate in the Amazon Affiliate/Associate program, or similar programs with other retailers.

These programs allow the blog/site owner to earn a commission not only from clicks and visits to their site but also for each time we click their links to go to the retail site and purchase whatever they're promoting.

Obviously, social media posters doing this cannot disclose the fact that​ they're promoters because just about all forums will ban them, since the practice violates most forum standards, and they will lose that income stream.  

All ​of ​this is to say...  I have no problem with those who are open and transparent about their affiliation and compensation motives.  

Most of us like to offer our opinions and reviews and recommendations now and then, which is natural and helpful. 

My problem is with the "hidden" compensation motivating some reviews and recommendations on some social media.  

​We all know the internet is a vast commercial shopping mall, and it's important as informed consumers we need to remember "caveat emptor" and to be aware of the many ways compensated solicitors are using the tricks of the trade on social media forums.
I'm sorry this ended up being so long... ​ I thought it might be helpful to share some of these thoughts.😊

[dooBdoo]

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@Mindy D wrote:

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

As to the Louis Dell'Olio folks, I generally liked his line and ordered many items (and still have them), but OMG any criticism was like criticizing Harry and Meghan today.  Immediately branded as some sort of hater - even accused of lying.

I remember mentioning that I was annoyed that for a time his buttons kept coming off (weren't properly sewn) and I was lectured about how easy it is to sew on a button and that I should just do that and  how dare I blame him for manufacturing flaws etc. etc.

I also remember heads exploding when he, himself, said online - repeatedly - that a lined jacket of his was machine washable.  Now I normally wouldn't do that, but I had had success washing  a lined suede jacket (of another line) so I tried it.  What a mess - it shrank and the lining pulled away - unwearable.  I wanted to warn people not to do it.

Again OMG -I was castigated as stupid - nobody washes a lined jacket.  He NEVER said you could - he WOULD NEVER say that (it was still on tape).  I was a liar, a hater, and I was told to shut up.

Interesting people, those LDO fans.

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@Isobel Archer @Dedicated followers of anything often become zealots; fanatical and uncompromising, and lose all objectivity. They can become militant at the first signs of any criticism, no matter how small the criticism is. 

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Good point, @Mindy D. 

Also, the same can be said of some dedicated opponents.  I recently read an opinion piece about the way some people have become so enmeshed in a topic, or a public person, that they lose perspective.  Seems like we human beings waste a lot of our precious time fighting to support or denigrate celebrities or other well-known people who don't even know us or care if we defend or detract.

[CatsyCline]

there was at least one influencer who disappeared when the blue skies went black.  they could be rude and insulting to some posters. and their alter egos no longer post...

[magicmoodz]

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@Mindy D wrote:

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@magicmoodz wrote:

Anyone remember the Louis Dell'Olio "cheerleader"?  It irritated me that his followers hung on her every word and were truly influenced by her.

Sorry, but I found that dishonest and must say the only thing it influenced me to do was reassess my opinion of him.

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@magicmoodz Seka?

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@Mindy D 

No, not Seka, but then again, who knows? One poster could have been using multiple names.

[Mindy D]

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@magicmoodz wrote:

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@Mindy D wrote:

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@magicmoodz wrote:

Anyone remember the Louis Dell'Olio "cheerleader"?  It irritated me that his followers hung on her every word and were truly influenced by her.

Sorry, but I found that dishonest and must say the only thing it influenced me to do was reassess my opinion of him.

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@magicmoodz Seka?

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@Mindy D 

No, nor Seka, but then again, who knows? One poster could have been using multiple names.

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@magicmoodz @I didn't find the use of Seka to be dishonest.  I liked her posts. She did post the photos or linked them, can't remember which way, of upcoming clothes and jewelry here on the forum. She also told us about upcoming TSVs. I have no idea if she was compensated or whether she took the photos from Louis's website or blog or if Louis gave them to her to post. It would be unfair to jump to any conclusion about the nature of her posts or whether she received anything for making them.
Here's one of her last posts. https://community.qvc.com/t5/Linea-by-Louis-Dell-Olio/The-VERY-LAST-NEW-Items-Are-Posted/m-p/6725732...

I