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  1. #1
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    Nov 2001
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    Customer reviews of their host in the Web Hosting forum

    I find this irritating but also amusing at the same time.

    Customer X posts a valid review (including URL) of his host and how he finds them. A select number of WHT members, usually hosts themselves will then jump in and say 'thanks for posting that review, be sure to in 6 months... etc'. The very same WHT members have been negative about the very same host (downtime, overselling, whatever) in other threads. They also tend to have a nice large signature promoting their own services.
    An example of this, which prompted me to post this thread, is Dreamhost. Plenty of people jumped in the massively overselling thread yet also quite happily put in a 'helpful' post in any number of Dreamhost review threads.

    Is this ethical? Is there any need for it? By doing so, you actually bump a thread about a competitor you feel negatively about. Is your post count figure actually really that significant?
    Matthew Russell | Namecheap
    Twitter: @mattdrussell

    www.easywp.com - True Managed WordPress, made easy

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
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    Victoria, Australia
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    Signature clickthough is probably more important to some If you see posts that appear to be "over the top", report them. Hosts tend to zoom in on the hosting forums and post away like crazy. Mods however have many areas to be at, at the times they are available. We can't read all threads, even superman would have a problem with that, so "dob em in"!

  3. #3
    There's nothing wrong with hating a host, and saying someone's review of that host is good..... just because you don't like the host doesn't mean you have to hate the review.

  4. #4
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    This isn't a criticism of the moderating, I know how difficult it is especially given WHT's current size

    It's more a criticism of the hosts that condone and participate in this. Obviously, the sales and marketing process of the host that is being reviewed has worked because the customer has signed up. IMO, the hosts posting for signuture exposure should spend their time working on their own sales and marketing than going for a 'cheap shot' like this. It's pretty hard to establish a rule to prevent this as well as it is highly subjective.
    Matthew Russell | Namecheap
    Twitter: @mattdrussell

    www.easywp.com - True Managed WordPress, made easy

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by joshcrick
    There's nothing wrong with hating a host, and saying someone's review of that host is good..... just because you don't like the host doesn't mean you have to hate the review.
    I am an advocate of quality rather than quantity. I fail to see how Host XXX saying "thanks for the review" with their flashy signature included adds to the quality of WHT.
    Matthew Russell | Namecheap
    Twitter: @mattdrussell

    www.easywp.com - True Managed WordPress, made easy

  6. #6
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    I agree, it's not a great thing to have going on, people posting one liners just for the chance to promote themselves, but to be honest, there are far more shady practices going on in this industry to worry about, such as:

    - People continuing to take customers money even though they know they are being shut down.
    - People continuing to take services even though they know they can't pay their bills and have no intention of ever doing so.
    Karl Austin :: KDAWS.com
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  7. #7
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    Granted, but unfortunately business can encompass that and it isn't in the scope of this thread.
    Last edited by mdrussell; 10-08-2006 at 07:14 AM.
    Matthew Russell | Namecheap
    Twitter: @mattdrussell

    www.easywp.com - True Managed WordPress, made easy

  8. #8
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    Aug 2000
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    I thought it fitted quite nicely seen as you were talking about ethics, which is a bit like the pot calling the kettle grimey arse.
    Karl Austin :: KDAWS.com
    The Agency Hosting Specialist :: 0800 5429 764
    Partner with us and free-up more time for income generating tasks

  9. #9
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    Anything can be made to fit with the selective exclusion of certain facts.
    Matthew Russell | Namecheap
    Twitter: @mattdrussell

    www.easywp.com - True Managed WordPress, made easy

  10. #10
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    Jul 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by anon-e-mouse
    Hosts tend to zoom in on the hosting forums and post away like crazy.
    It's better to just read-away at all of the exciting action! I'm sure you know how many crazy threads are posted there, they're much more fun to read!

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