Yesterday I rated two reviews with referral codes "not helpful."

Another advisor in the category counteracted with a "helpful" on one and wrote me that Epinions TOS no longer prohibits referral codes.

I changed my rating on both reviews, but still feel, deep in my heart, that referral codes given out to strangers are a little bit tacky, tacky, tacky.

On the other hand, I probably shouldn't give out a "not helpful" just because of my personal feelings.

I am not really that active on Epinions anymore. What are you all doing about referral codes?

The TOS no longer prohibits them, but many of us still rate NH based on the fact that the non-objective review is not helpful.

Amy

stupid question: what are referral codes?

a referral code allows the poster to make a commission on any sales made by somebody who clicks the link.

Oh.

Wow, eps allows that?

I think they got sick of having to enforce it; so yes. They no longer prohibit it.

Amy

That's new to me too.

It's been that way for a long, long, time now.

frazzledspice Wrote:Yesterday I rated two reviews with referral codes "not helpful."

Another advisor in the category counteracted with a "helpful" on one and wrote me that Epinions TOS no longer prohibits referral codes.

That was me. :target:

frazzledspice Wrote:I changed my rating on both reviews, but still feel, deep in my heart, that referral codes given out to strangers are a little bit tacky, tacky, tacky.

On the other hand, I probably shouldn't give out a "not helpful" just because of my personal feelings.

I am not really that active on Epinions anymore. What are you all doing about referral codes?

I can't say I like them, but usually don't downrate because of them.

In fact, I recently (well, in May) rerated a NH review SH because the reason I originally rated it NH was referral codes.

Click here to see my Epinions


Join the Blue Ribbon Online Free Speech Campaign!
Butterflies are free. T-shirts are $19.95!

I just wrote my first review in six months. I wrote about Princeton Review's Online course, and I wrote it in a manner that is completely unbiased. I took the course, and I gave my thoughts on the course. In addition, at the end I included a way that by referring me, someone gets 50 dollars off and I get some money back. I think it is possible to write a review that is unbiased and includes referral information. I'm doubtful that when somebody says they were referred by me that Princeton Review would credit my account anyways, so in that sense I'm being pretty unselfish about it. I didn't know that people here are so against referrals, but where do you draw the line? This referral gives people money back, rather than just helping me, the writer.