What are reviews for?

moulesy replied on 08/07/2019 21:42

moulesy

Posted on 08/07/2019 21:42

I like reading reviews of both club sites and CLs. I like to know what folk think of the sites, the surroundings, local places of interest, activities (even occasionally shopping opportunities!) and places to eat. For CLs it's also useful to know about any access difficulties or what facilities are available and their standard.

But just lately reviews, particularly of club sites seem to have become little more than an opportunity to air grievances. If it's not having a go at the wardens (usually prefaced by comments like "we were only 50 minutes early", "my dog was only off the lead twice" , "I only just drove over the grass when reversing my van") it's complaints about barking dogs, loud TVs etc.

Today we have a review which now stretches to 20 posts and, apart from a reference to it being "a lovely site " in the opening sentence of the OP, there's not a single word about the site itself.

Is this what reviews should be? Are there not more appropriate means of taking up issues which have happened on one's visit? When I read reviews, even of club sites on, for example, UKcampsite these grievances aren't aired.

So my question is as in the title "what are reviews for"? What do others think?

124 replies

eurortraveller replied on 09/07/2019 09:25

Member

eurortraveller

from Cornwall

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:25

As Moulesy said in his opening post, the reviews on UKCampsite are quite different. So either they have different rules on what they print, or they are written by a different sort of visitor with different attitudes. I think it may be both those two.

JVB66 replied on 09/07/2019 09:25

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:25

As posted ,there is allways the report button if a review is really offensive?, as the same as "trip advisor"reviews they are not always picked up by the company

Then on other sites it seems there is a lot more "editing"before publication

Cornersteady replied on 09/07/2019 09:27

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner from Tyne & Wear

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:03 by Oneputt

What about reviewers who have stepped out of line on site, then deliberately told untruth's about the situation. In the last year I had a conversation with a warden and he outlined 2 occasions where incidents had taken place then the reviewer slammed the wardens and the site in the reviews.

I take more notice of some reviewers than others particularly if it seems someone has 'an axe to grind'

I wonder if we are now experiencing the trip advisor effect, you know the one several hundred good/average reviews then a horrendous one. I always think that person is on the look out for a freebie

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:27

yes good point in your first paragraph,, happens in schools a lot. I think it is called getting your retaliation in first.

Th thing is if I had a grievance or complaint about a club site (which of course in mathematically impossible) I'd take it up with the warden first then head office rather than posting a review about it.

2 people like this

brue replied on 09/07/2019 09:30

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:30

I'd love to hear what CAMC thinks about this thread, would someone report my post so that we might hear a response.

Tinwheeler replied on 09/07/2019 09:32

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:32

There is/was an advice paragraph somewhere, Brue, but I’m blowed if I can find it now.

I distinctly remember it saying a reviewer should have used the site within the last so many months.

I don’t see any problem with members being able to add comments. For instance, suppose a reviewer has eluded to something which could be important to an individual - it’s good to be in a position to ask for clarification. Don’t forget the members who are also CL owners as they frequently add comments to thank a reviewer or reply to points raised.

4 people like this

JVB66 replied on 09/07/2019 09:35

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:30 by brue

I'd love to hear what CAMC thinks about this thread, would someone report my post so that we might hear a response.

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:35

Done

1 person likes this

brue replied on 09/07/2019 09:37

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:03 by Oneputt

What about reviewers who have stepped out of line on site, then deliberately told untruth's about the situation. In the last year I had a conversation with a warden and he outlined 2 occasions where incidents had taken place then the reviewer slammed the wardens and the site in the reviews.

I take more notice of some reviewers than others particularly if it seems someone has 'an axe to grind'

I wonder if we are now experiencing the trip advisor effect, you know the one several hundred good/average reviews then a horrendous one. I always think that person is on the look out for a freebie

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:37

A warden blurted out the effects of a very unpleasant review on a site we used earlier in the year, just in conversation one day. The untruthful and unkind review had badly affected the wardens and having read it I understood why. We didn't tell him we had also read the review it just came out so must have still been niggling him although they said they had joked about it since, We don't usually get into these type of conversations but it's an eye opener to hear about the real effects on real people.

2 people like this

replied on 09/07/2019 09:47

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:03 by Oneputt

What about reviewers who have stepped out of line on site, then deliberately told untruth's about the situation. In the last year I had a conversation with a warden and he outlined 2 occasions where incidents had taken place then the reviewer slammed the wardens and the site in the reviews.

I take more notice of some reviewers than others particularly if it seems someone has 'an axe to grind'

I wonder if we are now experiencing the trip advisor effect, you know the one several hundred good/average reviews then a horrendous one. I always think that person is on the look out for a freebie

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:47

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

brue replied on 09/07/2019 09:48

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:32 by Tinwheeler

There is/was an advice paragraph somewhere, Brue, but I’m blowed if I can find it now.

I distinctly remember it saying a reviewer should have used the site within the last so many months.

I don’t see any problem with members being able to add comments. For instance, suppose a reviewer has eluded to something which could be important to an individual - it’s good to be in a position to ask for clarification. Don’t forget the members who are also CL owners as they frequently add comments to thank a reviewer or reply to points raised.

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:48

Here's a small bit of advice but perhaps further guidance needs to be seen on the actual site review pages. LINK

But if the club aren't actively involved it probably won't make much difference.

brue replied on 09/07/2019 09:54

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:47 by

My Tripadvisor effect as you put it was to ignore a significant number of negative reports in favour of the posotives. I too can see through 1 negative alongside masses of positives and I would have thought most other folks can.

Posted on 09/07/2019 09:54

I think that is what many of us are saying AD, cumulative reviews pointing to the same problems need input or action from the club. One single derogatory review might need taking with a huge pinch of salt but the wardens should not receive insults on reviews. The CAMC have a duty of care to staff.

3 people like this

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