Epinions, you're not making my life easier!

#1 07-20-2001, 01:20 PM

Until recently, I used Epinions in a way that I doubt most people use it. I never had to remember the URL for my cell phone service provider because Epinions had it in its database. So whenever I needed to go to the site, I'd just browse to the Epinions category and go to the site from there.

(yeah, yeah... most people use bookmarks. shuddup!)

However, recently, Epinions did something funky to its details formats and some of the information that USED to be available isn't any longer. Guess what one of those items is? You got it! The URL for the web site.

So how is it that Epinions is supposed to get any recognition for having turned someone onto a great service provider when there is NO way to get from Epinions to the service provider?

erik_kosberg · #2 07-20-2001, 01:24 PM

We are sorry for the inconvenience, we hope to restore this feature as soon as possible.

slusy · #3 07-20-2001, 01:50 PM

C'mon, Grace, you know the answer to that question. They have a "secret formula" for that, just like income share and advisor selection...

-Steve

**amykhar** · #4 07-20-2001, 02:18 PM

You aren't the only one who uses Epinions instead of bookmarks

Amy

#5 07-20-2001, 06:45 PM

I noticed that a while back. It actually happened with the new e2 (or shortly thereafter). With a lot of the sites it doesn't matter much because they are what they are--qool.com's url is www.qool.com ) but with others they just aren't that way. I ran into some problems with the one that I reviewed when I tried to go there. It does seem a bit dumb to not have a link on the site (with referal sorts of things) to these places... At least they would be able to track it! I am pretty dang sure that Epinions has actually directed people to lots of the sites that it has featured and they should be getting some credit for it! I know that I wouldn't have gone to qool or half a dozen sample places if they hadn't been on Epinions (in fact web services is quite possibly the category that has been directly effected by Epinions for me)...

Ander

quasar · #6 07-20-2001, 06:49 PM

It's not just for bookmarking. I often used that url to make sure I was reviewing the right software named x (yes, sometimes there are more than one app with the same name), or to make sure there isn't a new version if I hadn't checked in a while (mostly a sanity check). I noticed this feature disappearing about 2-3 weeks ago. It definitely survived well into Ep 2

Janice

#7 07-20-2001, 06:54 PM

Hmm... Well, it disappeared from the Web Services category fairly soon after e2 (if not when it switched over). Instead of taking you to the site, it would take you to a bigger version of the icon of the site (it used to take you the the site if you clicked on the icon)...

Ander

quasar · #8 07-20-2001, 08:30 PM

Oh, it did that. But there was a link below for manufacturer's webpage. That link disappeared a few weeks ago.

Janice

#9 07-21-2001, 12:23 PM

That's the one I always used, Janice. I think that the manufacturer's link was extremely important. In many cases, it was the source of the best specs. And in cases like service providers, it was the place to purchase the service.

Maybe Epinions is going to charge manufacturers to have their links listed. Actually, that might not be a terrible idea. Wonder if manufacturers would go for it.