Expanding the Database Write Off Jan 19 '06 (Updated May 03 '06)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Answering Machines GE 29875GE1 Digital Answering Machine From $10 The Bottom Line 101 entries - This Write Off In Now CLOSED Thanks to all who entered! Expanding the Database Write Off With a purported three million plus items on the Epinions database, you might think that there’s nothing you could possibly want to review that isn’t here already. If you did think that, you were of course wrong – but then you’ve probably found that out already. I’ve recently been asking for several things to be added to the Epinions database, and this gave me an idea for a write off. It’s extremely simple – the write off is open to any review in any product review category, as long as it’s a product you requested to be added to the Epinions Database. (So, obviously it has to be an actual product review, not something in Writers’ Corner.) It’s as simple as that. I would like a link back to this article but it’s not obligatory. Nor is reading / rating my entries or anyone else’s. The purpose of this write off is simply, as it says, to expand the (already enormous!) Epinions database. How to request an Epinions database addition If you go to the Member Centre, you’ll see that you can look up the Category Leads for each category. Many of them have a “SAP” (Suggest A Product”) form linked to on their profile page. If there isn’t one, you simply email the Category Lead in question, and normally they’ll let you know when the product has been listed (or, in some cases, if it can’t be – the only instance I’ve had of this is with online services, as they can only list sites that actually sell things directly – or if it actually already on the Epinions database, just somewhere hidden that you didn’t manage to find!) Which brings me to another point – check thoroughly if the product is there before you ask for it to be added – i.e. if you’re looking for a book, search using the title, author, and ISBN – if none of them work you can be pretty sure that it’s not there… etc. (I don’t want to Category Leads to accuse me of provoking a huge number of inappropriate emails their way!) Don't Forget There's no law about it but it is courteous to thank the CL who added the product somewhere in your review. (i.e. "Thanks to ????? for adding this to the database for me.") Or, you could email the CL with your thanks. (Personally, I tend to do both - but as I said there are no rules about this.) How To Enter Just follow these 3 easy steps: 1 - Get a product added to the Epinions database 2 – Write and post a review of it 3 – Leave a comment here with the URL of the review (if you have something to say apart from simply the URL) or email me the link and I'll add it. Or... put the URL as a comment, but once it's been added to the list please delete the comment. Deadline Since you never know how long it might take to find a product to review that’s not on the database or how long it will take to get it added, there is no real deadline here. It’s open-ended. UPDATE - if you posted something in January that fits the criteria previous to this WO being announced, let me know - I've added a retrospective entry list for these reviews. UPDATE2 - since this had better have an end date really, I'm setting it for 31st March 2006. UPDATE3 - I've now amalgamated all entries, retrospective or not, because... it's easier! (Especially after a recent splurge of entries.) I've also taken the dates off, as really they're pretty irrelevant, and also am thinking of extending the deadline since I've got a few products myself that I haven't requested yet / haven't been added yet. So if you think you're going to miss the deadline date, don't worry! :-D You Can Help Please spread news of this Write Off far and wide! :-D Email your friends… if you don’t have any friends, email your enemies… if you don’t have them either, email random innocent folk… List of Entries 1 - Reebok Body Trec Elliptical Trainer by CaptainD 2 - Topeak Joe Blow Bicycle Pump by Saxguy - 3 - New Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship by Jo.com 4 - Morrow Truth Snowboard by Rancid1993 5 - Axis & Allies Miniatures Base Set Starter Pack by Openroad 6 - Vantec LapCool2 Laptop Cooler LPC-301 by Phungus 7 - Sesame Street Elmo Flashlight by Kld718 8 - Safety 1st Apex 65 Booster Car Seat by Mmcphee 9 - Kenmore Elite HE4t Front Load Washer by Millinocket 10 - Slim Fast Optima Snack Bars by Chelledun 11 - Infant to toddler rocker by Mmcphee 12 - The Sonoma Diet by Mmcphee 13 - Reading Sucks : The Collected Works of Beavis and Butt-Head by Vivasuzi 14 - REI Zip-O-Gauge Thermometer by Yakkowarner 15 - Eyewitness to the 80s: A Moment in Time by CaptainD 16 - Bowman Shaun Alexander 2000 Rookie Card #177 by Pmills1210 17 - Eddie Bauer Sling Bag by Kld718 18 - Samuel Adams Brown Ale by Bryan_Carey 19 - Casco Bay Pale Ale by Bryan_Carey 20 - Casco Bay Old Port Winter Ale by Bryan_Carey 21 - Spawn - Rise Robots Rise by Brendan2 22 - Ozark Trail Centerfold Camp Table by Bryan Carey 23 - Full Metal Edges by Rancid1993 24 - Hidden Kitchens: Stories, Recipes, and More from NPR's The Kitchen Sisters by Artemis8 25 - PIAA 520 Ion Crystal 5293 Driving Lights by Openroad 26 - Philosophy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream 3 in 1 Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Bath by Chelledun 27 - I Won't Tell a Soul Except the World - Ran Away to Sea by Brendan2 28 - Pocket Sudoku, Volume 1 by Kld718 29 - Fairly Odd Parents by Vivasuzi 30 - Taqueria Tlaquepaque #1 by Tiffy0380 31 - Curel Natural Healing Moisturizing Lotion with Lavender, Chamomile & Oatmeal Extracts by AliventiAsylum 32 - Playmobil Dump Truck 3265 by AliventiAsylum 33 - ProForm XP 550e Treadmill by AliventiAsylum 34 - King Pine by AliventiAsylum 35 - Reebok Body Peak by CaptainD 36 - Duboeuf Fleurie 2003 Wine by Bkalafut 37 - Phil of the Future TV Show by Vivasuzi 38 - Olga's Kitchen by Vivasuzi 39 - Iowa 24/7 by Sleeper54 40 - Auschwitz by Sleeper54 41 - C. O. Bigelow Chapped Hands Soap Free Cleanser by Sleeper54 42 - Bedwetting Store by Dianapinions 43 - Vanicream Skin Cream by Dianapinions 44 - Free & Clear Shampoo by Dianapinions 45 - Levenger Fast Track Cutter Letter Opener by Dianapinions 46 - Easy Spirit Online Store by Dianapinions 47 - Just Ask For Diamond DVD by CaptainD 48 - Antietam Assassins by Carstairs38 49 - As Dog is My Witness by Carstairs38 50 - Trouble In Paradise - Elemeno P by Dbcint 51 - DiSalvo's Italian Restaurant by LadyConsumer 52 - AmericanRx.com by LadyConsumer 53 - Cool Gear Freezer Bottle by LadyConsumer 54 - WD-40 by LadyConsumer 55 - AirWick FreshMatic Sprayer by LadyConsumer 56 - Cozy-Up Beverage and Candle Warmer by LadyConsumer 57 - BioSilk Silk Therapy by LadyConsumer 58 - The Tavern (Restaurant) by Saxguy 59 - Blues for Earma Jean CD by Juli Wood and Earma Thompson by SaxGuy 60 - Nashbar Cold Westher Bicycle Glove by SaxGuy 61 - A New Approach to Jazz Improvisation by Jamey Aebersold by SaxGuy 62 - Dee's Restaurant by SaxGuy 63 - Homz Sandwich Plus by LadyConsumer 64 - Nokia 5140i mobile phone by CaptainD 65 - Calphalon 16" Pizza Pan BW6016 by Heatherhh 66 - Fisher-Price Toddlin' Tunes Puppy by Heatherhh 67 - Vector Sport Spot One Million Power Series Vec124BXL by Heatherhh 68 - Life Fitness 9500 HR elliptical trainer by CaptainD 69 - Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse (book) by Carstairs38 Change of listing method implemented to save my sanity!!! 70 Founders Imperial Stout http://www.epinions.com/content_224376753796 71 Nashbar Neck Gaitor http://www.epinions.com/content_223980457604 72 Ron of Japan - Northbrook http://www.epinions.com/content_223827299972 73 Fender 1270P Powered Monitor Speaker http://www.epinions.com/content_223442865796 All by Saxguy 74 http://www.epinions.com/content_224644796036 by Pmills 75 High School Musical - http://www.epinions.com/content_224644206212 76 That's so Raven - http://www.epinions.com/content_224440061572 77 SpongeBob game - http://www.epinions.com/content_223483694724 All by VivaSuzi 78 The Rusty Pelican http://www.epinions.com/content_224539152004 79 La Spada's http://www.epinions.com/content_224523030148 80 Lazy Days http://www.epinions.com/content_224765185668 All by LadyConsumer 81 http://www.epinions.com/content_224786091652 By GwumpySmurf 82 and 82 http://www.epinions.com/content_221264842372 http://www.epinions.com/content_225045745284 By Pmills1210 84 http://www.epinions.com/content_225178717828 By Serc 85 http://www.epinions.com/content_225463602820 86 http://www.epinions.com/content_226126433924 87 http://www.epinions.com/content_226235747972 All by Carstairs38 88 - 94 http://www.epinions.com/content_222100229764 http://www.epinions.com/content_221874720388 http://www.epinions.com/content_221689974404 http://www.epinions.com/content_221401943684 http://www.epinions.com/content_220884602500 http://www.epinions.com/content_222262103684 http://www.epinions.com/content_217689591428 All by Dlstewart 95 http://www.epinions.com/content_226525548164 Alien Autopsy By CaptainD 96- Anchos Southwest Grill 97- Cup.pour.ri, One Cup Coffee Steeper Both by Yakkowarner And the next set all by the unstoppable Saxguy: 98 Performance Pro Balaclava http://www.epinions.com/content_225907609220 99 Baltika #9 beer http://www.epinions.com/content_225575800452 100 Founders Pale Ale http://www.epinions.com/content_225038208644 101 Jandd Hurricane Mini Mountain Wedge Bicycle Bag http://www.epinions.com/content_224708103812

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