Suggestion Box

[1MrsT]

I rely heavily on a well thought out, detailed review when buying anything online. Since I can't handle the product to check details like color or quality in person, getting a true sense from others who have, is invaluable to me.

Often people will complete reviews after simply watching a presentation. Other times they'll simply mention they like/dislike an item without WHY they feel that way. So I have pretty strong feelings on reviews that don't provide a lot of help in informing why a product did/did not work for them.

So today I go to write a review for a ring I ordered from another company and this message popped up: 

"Sorry, but we can’t process reviews for items shipped fewer than 5 days ago. This gives you time to form a strong opinion about the product – which is why HSN customer reviews are so helpful! Please, try back in a few days."

Initially I was like WHAT??? But then I was pleased that a company is trying to improve the helpfulness of their reviews. Since we can't edit reviews after the fact, they're at least trying to make sure we've really used, tried out, and/or experienced the product before allowing us to write a review. It doesn't mean people still won't post a useless review, but at least it won't be a knee jerk LOVE IT/HATE IT review. Or at least that's my take on this...

[GATORGIRL]

I have seen this message on the HSN site, too.  My reaction mirrored yours, @1MrsT.   It makes good business sense.

[Marp]

It's about time Q also followed that practice.  I would also like to be able to update reviews but not change the original.  Something I am really happy with a month after receiving it might turn into a real dud in the second or third month.

[GATORGIRL]

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@Marp wrote:

It's about time Q also followed that practice.  I would also like to be able to update reviews but not change the original.  Something I am really happy with a month after receiving it might turn into a real dud in the second or third month.

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Good point, @Marp.  Sometimes, too, the quality of product devolves from the original order to a re-order.  What I may have lauded in my original review of the item would certainly be less enthusiastically endorsed in such a case.

[itiswhatitis]

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@1MrsT wrote:

I rely heavily on a well thought out, detailed review when buying anything online. Since I can't handle the product to check details like color or quality in person, getting a true sense from others who have, is invaluable to me.

Often people will complete reviews after simply watching a presentation. Other times they'll simply mention they like/dislike an item without WHY they feel that way. So I have pretty strong feelings on reviews that don't provide a lot of help in informing why a product did/did not work for them.

So today I go to write a review for a ring I ordered from another company and this message popped up: 

"Sorry, but we can’t process reviews for items shipped fewer than 5 days ago. This gives you time to form a strong opinion about the product – which is why HSN customer reviews are so helpful! Please, try back in a few days."

Initially I was like WHAT??? But then I was pleased that a company is trying to improve the helpfulness of their reviews. Since we can't edit reviews after the fact, they're at least trying to make sure we've really used, tried out, and/or experienced the product before allowing us to write a review. It doesn't mean people still won't post a useless review, but at least it won't be a knee jerk LOVE IT/HATE IT review. Or at least that's my take on this...

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HSN' removes your reviews if you return a product.  That makes no sense to me.  At least here on the Q you can ask questions about a product before you hit that send to cart button.

We are never really going to imitate "being there."  Nothing will replace the actual touch, look and inspection of a garment in hand.  Just not going to happen.  We can get close enough, but there is only so much an online television retailer can do.

[millieshops]

Makes a lot of sense to me -  although I doubt it's enough to get me  to buy anything from HSN because I've already had my own bad experiences with that company.

Still -  some reviews confound me.  A few hours ago I was reading reviews for a cordless phone to replace my home phone.  One of the 5-star reviews for one phone system gave all kinds of positive detail and then said, "No I would not recommend this to a friend."   Huh?   Makes no sense and I now I doubt the whole review! 

BTW - my last 6 purchases from QVC I made without reading any reviews -  and I kept all 6 and I like them all.  Go figure.

[2blonde]

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@1MrsT wrote:

I rely heavily on a well thought out, detailed review when buying anything online. Since I can't handle the product to check details like color or quality in person, getting a true sense from others who have, is invaluable to me.

Often people will complete reviews after simply watching a presentation. Other times they'll simply mention they like/dislike an item without WHY they feel that way. So I have pretty strong feelings on reviews that don't provide a lot of help in informing why a product did/did not work for them.

So today I go to write a review for a ring I ordered from another company and this message popped up: 

"Sorry, but we can’t process reviews for items shipped fewer than 5 days ago. This gives you time to form a strong opinion about the product – which is why HSN customer reviews are so helpful! Please, try back in a few days."

Initially I was like WHAT??? But then I was pleased that a company is trying to improve the helpfulness of their reviews. Since we can't edit reviews after the fact, they're at least trying to make sure we've really used, tried out, and/or experienced the product before allowing us to write a review. It doesn't mean people still won't post a useless review, but at least it won't be a knee jerk LOVE IT/HATE IT review. Or at least that's my take on this...

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HSN' removes your reviews if you return a product.  That makes no sense to me.  At least here on the Q you can ask questions about a product before you hit that send to cart button.

We are never really going to imitate "being there."  Nothing will replace the actual touch, look and inspection of a garment in hand.  Just not going to happen.  We can get close enough, but there is only so much an online television retailer can do.

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@itiswhatitis  I didn't realize they removed the reviews if you return the item.  That seems shady to me.  Isn't that just another way to manipulate (remove the bad) reviews?

[itiswhatitis]

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@2blonde wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@1MrsT wrote:

I rely heavily on a well thought out, detailed review when buying anything online. Since I can't handle the product to check details like color or quality in person, getting a true sense from others who have, is invaluable to me.

Often people will complete reviews after simply watching a presentation. Other times they'll simply mention they like/dislike an item without WHY they feel that way. So I have pretty strong feelings on reviews that don't provide a lot of help in informing why a product did/did not work for them.

So today I go to write a review for a ring I ordered from another company and this message popped up: 

"Sorry, but we can’t process reviews for items shipped fewer than 5 days ago. This gives you time to form a strong opinion about the product – which is why HSN customer reviews are so helpful! Please, try back in a few days."

Initially I was like WHAT??? But then I was pleased that a company is trying to improve the helpfulness of their reviews. Since we can't edit reviews after the fact, they're at least trying to make sure we've really used, tried out, and/or experienced the product before allowing us to write a review. It doesn't mean people still won't post a useless review, but at least it won't be a knee jerk LOVE IT/HATE IT review. Or at least that's my take on this...

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HSN' removes your reviews if you return a product.  That makes no sense to me.  At least here on the Q you can ask questions about a product before you hit that send to cart button.

We are never really going to imitate "being there."  Nothing will replace the actual touch, look and inspection of a garment in hand.  Just not going to happen.  We can get close enough, but there is only so much an online television retailer can do.

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@itiswhatitis  I didn't realize they removed the reviews if you return the item.  That seems shady to me.  Isn't that just another way to manipulate (remove the bad) reviews?

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Yes.  They also mute portions of  live presentations because they lie so much (HSN).

[ChynnaBlue]

There are pros and cons to that system. You've listed some great pros, so here are some of my cons:

1 - Because you have to purchase to review, the system needs to recognize your purchase. I've had it glitch and not let me write reviews for items in my history, even items with a Write a Review link on them. It wasn't a matter of timing, it simply never let me write a review, even when I came back days, weeks, months afterward.

2 - Because you have to buy that EXACT item number, you cannot write a review for the same product or set of products in a new configuration. QVC has the same item in many different configurations and the AD listing has a different item number than a single delivery. When I see items I've purchased in different configurations show up, I review the new configuration so people see reviews on items. I didn't technically buy THAT set, but I have 2 of every item in that set from other kits. QVC allows the review, HSN does not.

3 - You have to buy the item from HSN. If I buy the item from a brick and mortar store or any other website, I cannot review it on HSN. That's prevented me from leaving reviews for products I'm very familiar with but bought from another retailer. So now I can't tell anyone how great the item is OR warn them away from it because of where I bought it.

[vermint]

The review system here is just nuts! I read so many reviews that say "I would've ordered this if it had such-and-such" or "I didn't order this because I thought it was too expensive, too ugly, etc.", and similar nonsense (bolding & italics are mine). Or "I just ordered this and can't wait to get it"!

My personal favorite? Someone wanted to know if a vendor had cancer or something because their voice sounded raspy and hoarse!!! Yes, really! I think it got through because the 1st words were "I love (product)", but the rest of it was asking about the vendor's health.

Those are NOT reviews of products!

We've complained and complained...and I've even reported "reviews that aren't really reviews", but QVC obviously does not care!