|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
Sucks (Reply to this comment)
by magun
Epinions has sucked for a long time..... reading some of the latest farewell notes I wonder why it took so many people so long to realise it.
Michel
|
May 09 '02
2:34 pm PDT
|
|
Wow (Reply to this comment)
by Simply_Crispy
This is incredible stuff indeed. Thanks for this wonderful editorial, I cannot compliment you enough for this amazing piece of journalism, one of the most competent reviews I've read anywhere in a long time.
|
Jan 17 '02
2:42 pm PST
|
|
no more excuses (Reply to this comment)
by seacow
I can understand the part about eliminating base eroyalties, but no longer being able to edit and delete and the elimination of the CP program is pure BS and everyone knows it. I think the lack of base eroyalties is BS, too, but I can at least understand it.
|
Oct 29 '01
8:37 am PST
|
|
I agree with everyone here who commented... (Reply to this comment)
by gaelkm
but I feel mad and sad and a small part of me sort of wondered when it might all "fall apart"...maybe it was just too good to be true the way it was?
Ultimately, I'm gonna miss writing and miss everyone here too!
Thanks for the memories...... :((
~gaelkm
|
Oct 27 '01
9:07 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Not to mention.... (Reply to this comment)
by Horswispr
Very true. I've emailed, left comments, etc., to help newbies in my categories out. I suppose we can still help with suggestions for future reviews, but that's not enough.
|
Oct 27 '01
7:37 pm PDT
|
|
Bravo! Blind-Sided! (Reply to this comment)
by ASourdough4
Somehow, my earlier agonies drove me to delete 105 of my reviews for non-performance - no hits for months, poor quality on my part, simply not the best, etc. After a week entertaining house guests, I discovered that I could not post a price reduction. No "Edit" function. Hmmm! Could this be it?
Yes, Indeed!
It is not too late to rescue some of your works - try Edit - Select All - Copy - open Notepad, Works, Word, whatever -
Click on New File, put the cursor in the blank document and click PASTE!
Save as, etc.
Of course, you will sweep up the extraneous crap that Epinions depends upon.
I finally learned how to spell S*H*I*T. Maybe the spell checker would allow you to publsh the name of that Italian Dish, now that it is all over.
I am headed for a private Web Site; keeping my hand in by rating - watching the final collapse.
Good Luck Everyone!
|
Oct 27 '01
1:13 pm PDT
|
|
Illegal And Unscrupulous... (Reply to this comment)
by 29th_Candidate
Epinions is operating under the delusion that they have the legal right to unilaterally change their already substantially flawed agreement, but they have, in fact materially breached their agreement, and we are, in fact, no longer bound by it. With respect to their "theft" of our intellectual property, they have as much legal standing to do so, as an interloper has to slip into your office and steal your private and important files because he/she feels those files might assist in saving her/his business. In other words: "NONE."
Nice Work Mike--
Jim 29th
|
Oct 26 '01
6:26 pm PDT
|
|
Will the last one out ... get the lights? thanks... (Reply to this comment)
by ChrisJarmick
I wondered several months ago when something like this was going to happen and how poorly it would be handled.
They are very smart. A lot of people were gong to be very very pizzed when they stopped paying their pennies and to prevent a mass deletion of disruption of reviews they simply won't let anyone mess with them at all.
That means the site can remain for a few months while it goes on life support and there's perhaps a little hope among some of the folks that some moolah can be found...or that a similar model can be started and perhaps they'll transfer the content.. our content to jump start that new one.
If people find new homes... I'd appreciate hearing where you wind up. My email is
glasscocoon@hotmail.com.
It was apparant to me several months ago when the Epinions people did not respond very well to several of my concerns or tried to give me an unbelievable amount of double talk that something was going on.
This is a business and the business has been healthy for many many months and there was
no other choice (they felt) then to make the moves they made.
They know very well that a lot of people are going to leave....and that is why they don't want the exodus to result in a huge depletion of content from the site.
They probably hope to find some more money or to get something else going that will generate some income....
Or... they simply hope for the next few months to grab as much money as they can before
moving on to something else.
It leaves all of us twisting in the wind....
What a great idea Epinions truly was. Too bad the folks running couldn't make it profitable and made too many mistakes while trying...
The technology that runs Epinions of course is another thing that people behind the scenes were selling. Perhaps the usefulness of using Epinions to sell others on the technology is no longer needed... we are no longer needed, and so they want to cut the strings without causing a huge disruption.
Well it's been a very very interesting last year and a half and I've read some interesting writing, made a couple of friends and had a place to improve my writing and tell some people about
the great book I wrote that was published in late February of this year.....
It's called The Glass Cocoon... a steamy mystery suspense thriller........
Oh you know.....
Checkit out here if you don't:
http://www.radiofreegallery.com/jarmicknholder.htm
|
Oct 26 '01
7:40 am PDT
|
|
Not to mention.... (Reply to this comment)
by CJsMommy
The fact that the Editors that Epinions named cannot edit, nor help others edit, which is supposed to be our primary job! No longer can we say, "Hey newbie, I see that you have an SH review, here's what you can add to make it better." Talk about driving away the writers!
(Too bad you can't edit and add that, right? *grin*) Excellent thoughts and points.
Jen
|
Oct 26 '01
5:02 am PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Re: With ya all the way.... (Reply to this comment)
by charlenep
I am upset with the earnings, as a single parent, every penny counted. Now my budget is effected, being that for the last 6 months I could count on that extra, until I couldn't redeem for two months. I had called them 4 times in one month about redeeming. I feel it was a way to stall a person and holding more monies.
I hate that I cannot edit/delete. It makes me feel very angry when they announced it almost immediately right away that we couldn't do this anymore.
When TS went down, everyone was pulling their articles off the site. Even with BI. Seems that someone knowing this, and working in EP said something. For them to post no deleting or editing as fast as they can.
It makes me feel completely violated. My articles are mine. NO matter how off or wrong or correct or great they are. They are mine. I want the right to make my own decision if I want them to keep them or not.
Hope we can all figure a way out of this mess.
I will hang around for a while to see what may happen. I will miss those that go, and hope to assist those that stay.
charlenep
|
Oct 26 '01
3:50 am PDT
|
|
Re: Re: With ya all the way.... (Reply to this comment)
by Horswispr
Yup, I said the same thing in a response to 4-1-1's piece. It's the PEOPLE I'm going to miss the most.
|
Oct 26 '01
1:29 am PDT
|
|
Now, yer talkin', buddy! (Reply to this comment)
by Horswispr
Your comment to 4-1-1's piece (to which I think I posted a brief comment) had me wondering if yer cajones were in proper working order, but I feel better now. How fast DOES sh!t go through a goose, by the way?
|
Oct 26 '01
1:22 am PDT
|
|
I've been wondering... (Reply to this comment)
by lisaw1215
...about the legality of this. Basically, is it even LAWFUL for this company to suddenly yank all control of our own property away from us?
All I know is that I wrote my reviews and their MINE damnit! Who do these thugs think they are to sneak up from behind and MUG us like this?
Any lawyer types out there want to offer up some facts about these shenanigans? Is there any way that they can be "convinced" to return us control of our writings? There has just got to be a law against this.
|
Oct 25 '01
9:38 pm PDT
|
|
Yes, you've explained the situation very well... (Reply to this comment)
by opinionsharer
As obvious as it is to most of us why the delete function is unavailable (duh, LOL), it's also pretty clear to me, if I'm not mistaken, that if the edit function was available, a writer could also just go in there and delete the body of the review. They say they will bring back the edit function, but I wonder. If you were in the chat tonight I'm sure you could "smell" the BS! Sad when people feel they have to insult the intelligence of us members. Like we can't read between the lines and see what's up. Well, it's been a very fun ride....I'm not sure how much I'll be coming to this site in the future...for awhile I may hang out a little just to see what happens next...take care; you're one of the best,
opinionsharer : )
|
Oct 25 '01
7:54 pm PDT
|
|
Yup, (Reply to this comment)
by JediKermit
Mike, I completely agree. The eRoyalties don't bother me NEARLY as much as the loss of the ability to edit/delete...I was just last week considering re-writing a few book reviews that I did when I was still an Epinions pup, and now I won't be able to do that until this very poor decision is recanted.
Wonderful essay.
Quinn
|
Oct 25 '01
6:09 pm PDT
|
|
I'm so P*I*S*S*E*D! (Reply to this comment)
by djazz773
I've been an epinions member for almost 2 years. I have watched slowly while epinions screwed me and everyone else bit by bit. After the 'BIG' change at the beginning of the year I hung up my ink pen.
After much nagging by my little sister to come back and write another epinion, I thought I'd give it another try. I've written 2 epinions this entire year because I can't get the hang of the new and improved look. Neither could most of the early members that were on my WOT.
So, essentially almost all my trusters quit so it made it so hard for me too make any money. I decided after I got to my next $10.00 I would cash out and proceed to delete all my reviews and give up on epinions altogether. Well, I'm at $7.55 and these A S S HOLES beat me to my very own epinions.
Alright all you computer brains out there, figure something out! They should NOT get our epinions! Maybe my next review will be a 100 word jobby just saying ... I've been robbed and epinions is the guilty party! Everybody make sure to give me high ratings now..! :)
Dawn
|
Oct 25 '01
4:32 pm PDT
|
|
It isn't about the money (Reply to this comment)
by BlackCat2
But I am angry over not being able to edit my work or delete it anymore.
I won't jump ship though. Just going to hang out and see what happens. Maybe they will do a reversal like IPTL did.
~,,,^..^,,,~ BlackCat2
|
Oct 25 '01
4:27 pm PDT
|
|
Ok I get it.. (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
right if we could edit even if we couldn't delete, we could do what I did at BI and that was to delete everything but the title. Yeah, they won't let us do that because they will still make money. Unfortunately I don't think there is any law suit as someone asked. We went through this at two other sites and we signed on the line..unless it said we would always have the right to edit and delete our reviews we are screwed. Like others have said, the best part is the people, but I'm not spending 150hours/mo for no money..jo again :) PS I was so close to 700 trusters!
|
Oct 25 '01
3:57 pm PDT
|
|
Well, Mike (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
as I now have on my 15 word bio..I'm out of here. A couple more weeks because I have already written reviews and I won't trash them. You are right on all counts but a couple particularly. Epinions is in serious financial trouble and like any company this is how they are dealing with it..cutting our rates first, now cutting them big time so they won't have to pay out as much money. The issue with editing/deleting isn't clear to us. Why would they care if we edited a review. I went back just yesterday - well for two days and edited many that were out of date or had new information. Well, hopefully, lots of us will stay in touch, because, like BrightIdeas and TS, this will be the demise of this site. jo
|
Oct 25 '01
3:48 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Bravo! (Reply to this comment)
by janesbit1
Epinions is on its last legs... It has NEVER made a profit, and they are now attempting to save their last few pennies before extinction.
With these changes they realize that over 95% of its contributors will leave on their own, so they won't have as big an uproar when they finally are forced to close shop forever.
Their new policies are a direct slap against all reputable writers everywhere. They have made their TOS meaningless, as they have proved that you were foolish if you believe in their credibility.
They can have my pennies for all I care.. but they will NOT own my words.
John
|
Oct 25 '01
2:51 pm PDT
|
|
Re: With ya all the way.... (Reply to this comment)
by ifif1938
me too, 100%...It's a shame they felt they had to screw us to this extent.....There must be something we can do about getting our work back to where it belongs, in our own hands....
I'll miss all the great people I have met here and the interesting and fascinating things I have read and learned here, but after the end of the month that just might be it for me..The checks were nice too, especially the during my first year!
Take care and stay safe in this crazy world of ours
Barbara
|
Oct 25 '01
2:37 pm PDT
|
|
With ya all the way.... (Reply to this comment)
by bops_mom
they can take my pennies away, but if I can't edit or delete my own reviews..... well, that's it for me.
Melissa
|
Oct 25 '01
1:42 pm PDT
|
|
Well, (Reply to this comment)
by meleahk
I to agree about the delete/edit thing. I have copies of all my reviews and I own them. I think that there could be a law suit here, epinions does not own my reviews and they have to right to earn money for my hard work when I will not be able to. The income share thing stinks and they know it. Most of us don't make a lot of money from the income share, a penny here or a nickle there, that's about it for me. I made more money with income share back in 99 than I do now.
I am going to stick around for a bit and see what happens. However, I do hope that if they are going under that they let us all know and pay us all what they owe us.
I have made since July of this year 80.00 and cashed that out.
I am going to rate and write as much as I can before 10-31-01 midnight EST because pennies do add up and we all have a last shot at being paid something.
I enjoy writing about products though, but I don't think I will like to for free.
Your thougts were almost identical to my own when I read this news. They are in trouble and instead of admitting it, they are are running from the truth and we will all lose in the end.
It's been fun though.
If you don't have copies of your work, make them and do it soon. We each own our own reviews and legally so.
good luck to all
Leah
|
Oct 25 '01
12:30 pm PDT
|
|
I agree! (Reply to this comment)
by telynor
As anyone who knows the art of business can tell you, Epinions has just slashed its own throat and is now hemorrhaging. Yes, it will certainly stop the junk reviews, but it will also drive away a great many of the capable reviewers, since I really can't see anyone putting in the time to write for what would be nothing. No one is that altrustic. -- Telynor
|
Oct 25 '01
11:44 am PDT
|
|
Oh me gosh.... (Reply to this comment)
by Lisa_J
Thanks for the editorial!!!! I hadn't even seen the changes.
Makes me mad as a hornet in pursuit that they plan to take away our ability to edit/delete reviews!!!!
Hugs~
Lisa_J
|
Oct 25 '01
10:28 am PDT
|
|
Bravo! (Reply to this comment)
by scott29
You captured my thoughts perfectly! As a writer who gets PAID for his work, I take these changes as a real slap in the face.
How craven of Nirav and his crew to STEAL our reviews like this.
Not including the great people I've met here, Epinions can go take a flying leap. I'm sick of being taken advantage of!
Be well,
Scott
|
Oct 25 '01
10:05 am PDT
|
|
Hmmm.... (Reply to this comment)
by thedragonweyr
Well Mike, I had just about finished with Epinions anyway, this makes walking away a whole lot easier.
These creeps have always claimed we owned our articles but remember that rule about not being allowed to post our articles anywhere else? They were not only keeping first publication rights but denying us the right to peddle the thing elsewhere if we so desired.
Nirav and his band of merry toads has been gouging a lot of content, essentially for free, from all of its members and they have been able to sell it to their sponsors as exclusive.
Anyone who continues to post fresh material on this site under the new rules needs to call me immediately. I have some very special real estate investment opportunities and only a few openings left for the right people.
Incidentally, as I can no longer delete my material, I no longer feel any compunctions about selling it to someone else. Under the old rules I would delete anything I wanted to publish elsewhere.
Hugs,
Pamela
|
Oct 25 '01
9:39 am PDT
|
|
Right on the mark... (Reply to this comment)
by marie_
I don't mind about the money (as I was never going to reach $100 anyway) but I am angry about the edit/delete change - it's my work,I should be able to change and remove it if I want to - and what's the point of Editors if the their advice can't be used?
Great review though!
Marie
|
Oct 25 '01
8:55 am PDT
|
|
You made some excellent points! (Reply to this comment)
by shoehorny
Epionions is screwing us! They have gone nucking futs on us - especially when it comes to not being able to edit our material. I predict they will go under sometime next year, if they don't improve. Great review!
Mike
|
Oct 25 '01
8:39 am PDT
|
|
Well, your review makes perfect sense (Reply to this comment)
by jlhin
and really gave me the smack in my face that I needed to realize what was actually going on. Now what to do?
|
Oct 25 '01
8:36 am PDT
|
|
|
