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The Beauty/Wellness Category
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moonsista Original Post: May 03 '08,  6:39 pm (Updated: May 03 '08,  6:41 pm)           
Reviews written: 944
Member since: Jun 20 '02
moderator in Wellness & Beauty
Post: 183663
The Beauty/Wellness Category

We're dying over there. Literally. There are no outside hits and our old reviews are dead. Is this the only category with Top Reviewers and Advisors that feel like red-headed stepchildren (thanks to Patty for that term that pretty much sums it up!)?

I don't know what has been discussed at length on the boards, but are there any other categories that are dying? Is the Beauty/Wellness category being ignored? Or are we on our way out? Don't worry, we can take the news. We'd just like *some* news.

If anyone in Eps management sees this, can we get some insight?

   
sleeper54 Posted: May 03 '08,  6:59 pm (Updated: May 03 '08,  7:00 pm)           
Reviews written: 493
Member since: Feb 24 '01
Post: 183667
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: moonsista
--snip--

If anyone in Eps management sees this, can we get some insight?

...sigh...

Not about your post or my reaction to it . . .just a general sigh for the ongoing frustration of the community.

Perhaps your best bet would be to e-mail Andy and ask these same questions. Not sure he will share anymore privately than he could or would publicly . . .but at least you would have it from the horse's mouth.


But just to add to the litany of user examples shared here on the boards over the last few months:

A recent movie review of mine:

No /review in the product URL..
written March, 2008

March 08: ... 54 / 283
April 08: ... 27 / 695


An old well-read books review:

again no /review in product URL:

Jan 08..: ... 1 / 40
Feb 08..: ... 2 / 58
March 08: ... 4 / 142
April 08: ... 0 / 113


So obviously, I am still drawing hits on those products, even rebounding somewhat.


While two books in March 2008, with /review in the URL show:

46 / 46 ...and 46 / 47


Just another brick in the wall...



...tom...
.
   
cmuir Posted: May 03 '08,  7:11 pm           
Reviews written: 512
Member since: Jan 31 '00
Post: 183671
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: moonsista
We're dying over there. Literally. There are no outside hits and our old reviews are dead. Is this the only category with Top Reviewers and Advisors that feel like red-headed stepchildren (thanks to Patty for that term that pretty much sums it up!)?

I don't know what has been discussed at length on the boards, but are there any other categories that are dying? Is the Beauty/Wellness category being ignored? Or are we on our way out? Don't worry, we can take the news. We'd just like *some* news.

If anyone in Eps management sees this, can we get some insight?


Don't feel bad the Restaurant and Gourmet category has been that way since October. So you are not alone.

Cindi
   
ifif1938 Posted: May 03 '08,  8:00 pm           
Reviews written: 799
Member since: Jan 17 '00
Post: 183674
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: cmuir
Don't feel bad the Restaurant and Gourmet category has been that way since October. So you are not alone.

Cindi



and the entire old category, Destinations can't be found...at least by me...
   
gamblin_man Posted: May 03 '08,  8:52 pm           
Reviews written: 389
Member since: Apr 08 '01
moderator in Home & Garden
Post: 183677
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

All of the categories that were changed over on Black Tuesday in Home and Garden are messed up with either many fewer hits showing, no IS even with hits similar to before Black Tuesday, or hits not being fully counted on many of the reviews with the /review in the url. Starting in February it seems other categories, at least where I write, were being newly infected with the Black Tuesday virus. Starting in March it seems every new review has been infected, for me at least.

I have never seen a public acknowledgement by Epinions that, for many catgegories, hits are not being accurately counted and IS fairly distributed, but it sure seems that most members think that is the case.

Larry

   
susieq112 Posted: May 03 '08,  9:59 pm           
Reviews written: 527
Member since: Dec 30 '01
Post: 183679
...

Many K&F reviews (at least mine) are not getting any outside hits either... Your not alone...

Susan

   
rancid1993 Posted: May 03 '08,  10:49 pm           
Reviews written: 315
Member since: Sep 30 '03
Post: 183686
To Pile On...

The Sports/Outdoors category is suffering the same fate.

   
moonsista Posted: May 04 '08,  5:20 am           
Reviews written: 944
Member since: Jun 20 '02
moderator in Wellness & Beauty
Post: 183691
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category


Thanks for all of the responses. I came back this morning wondering if I was going to see a bunch of members yelling at me for asking that question - but I should have known better! :) I appreciate all of the responses and I am glad to see that we are not alone over there. I do read the message boards a couple of times a week but I don't recall anything being discussed about this recently. I'm frustrated but am trying to hang in there. Thanks again!

   
nc10 Posted: May 04 '08,  5:39 am (Updated: May 04 '08,  5:40 am)           
Reviews written: 255
Member since: Dec 01 '00
Post: 183695
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: gamblin_man
I have never seen a public acknowledgement by Epinions that, for many catgegories, hits are not being accurately counted and IS fairly distributed, but it sure seems that most members think that is the case.

Larry
Inaccurate hit counting is sort of acknowledged here, though it seems that the problems are much more extensive than what's implied here.
http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/cat_id_~121/id_~19577/forum_id_~441#177369
   
KMINER Posted: May 04 '08,  5:44 am           
Reviews written: 999
Member since: Jan 17 '00
moderator in Kids & Family
Post: 183696
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: moonsista
I'm frustrated but am trying to hang in there.


what she said ...
   
shopaholic_man Posted: May 04 '08,  6:09 am           
Reviews written: 1046
Member since: Feb 15 '04
moderator in Movies
Post: 183698
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

I've written in Movies, Music, Pets, Restaurants and Musical Equipment this year, and with perhaps 2 or 3 exceptions, every single review has been limited to members hits only.

You are not the only one frustrated by a lack of outside hits.

   
Kittyokc Posted: May 04 '08,  6:47 am           
Reviews written: 386
Member since: Mar 31 '00
moderator in Computers and Technology, Video Games
Post: 183699
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

It's not just you, most of the reviews in Pets are not getting outside hits either. On a side note, seems like all the newer Pet reviews have either /reviews/ or /review/ in the url.

   
trailhound Posted: May 04 '08,  6:59 am           
Reviews written: 651
Member since: May 21 '04
Post: 183700
RE: Dead Categories

Categories that seem dead to me: Pets, Office Supplies, Food, non-Chain Restaurants, some Sports reviews :(

   
mobiprof Posted: May 04 '08,  8:08 am           
Reviews written: 181
Member since: Jun 27 '00
Post: 183701
RE: The Beauty/Wellness Category

Quote: gamblin_man

I have never seen a public acknowledgement by Epinions that, for many catgegories, hits are not being accurately counted and IS fairly distributed, but it sure seems that most members think that is the case.
Larry


Quote: nc10
Inaccurate hit counting is sort of acknowledged here, though it seems that the problems are much more extensive than what's implied here.
http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/cat_id_~121/id_~19577/forum_id_~441#177369


I have more than once remarked upon structural mistakes in the current hit counting (when it kind of works) on epinions.com 2.0, as well as how hits are slanted by the TR Boost.
These issues exist, despite the fact that lap0530 and I spent a whole series of opinions on the errors in the epinions.com 1.0 hit counting system..., and had to reveal that what answer we got from "Community Care" happened to be plain wrong.

It seems fair to say that Epinions.com has had trouble counting hits since the early days :-(

- CountProf


   
ifif1938 Posted: May 04 '08,  10:01 am           
Reviews written: 799
Member since: Jan 17 '00
Post: 183711
RE: Dead Categories

Quote: trailhound
Categories that seem dead to me: Pets, Office Supplies, Food, non-Chain Restaurants, some Sports reviews :(



I've discovered that some movies on DVD are dead too...
   
PattyTherre Posted: May 04 '08,  10:32 am           
Reviews written: 1413
Member since: Oct 09 '00
moderator in Online Stores & Services, Outdoor Gear, Sporting Goods
Post: 183714
RE: Dead Categories

Apparently, we have LOTS of red headed step children at Epinions!

However, I see no issues in the Online category except FINDING the sites to read reviews. But I have seen outside hits and garnered IS from that category. (Shameless plug. Heh.)

I was going to move some of my beauty reviews to new listings but they, too, have /review(s)/ in the URL so I just left them where they were. I am hoping this isn't a forever thing. I just wrote an extensive beauty review that will more than likely never be seen and it's on a hot product that I know people care about. Bummer.

I guess the only thing to do is to hang in there and hope they are working furiously behind the scenes to fix the bugs.

PT

   
ifif1938 Posted: May 04 '08,  1:08 pm           
Reviews written: 799
Member since: Jan 17 '00
Post: 183725
RE: Dead Categories

Quote: PattyTherre
Apparently, we have LOTS of red headed step children at Epinions!

However, I see no issues in the Online category except FINDING the sites to read reviews. But I have seen outside hits and garnered IS from that category. (Shameless plug. Heh.)

I was going to move some of my beauty reviews to new listings but they, too, have /review(s)/ in the URL so I just left them where they were. I am hoping this isn't a forever thing. I just wrote an extensive beauty review that will more than likely never be seen and it's on a hot product that I know people care about. Bummer.

I guess the only thing to do is to hang in there and hope they are working furiously behind the scenes to fix the bugs.

PT


I hope so...Now I just hate it when I post a new review and see that /review/ in the url like the pet food review I just wrote...

Question, would it stop you from writing in those categories knowing this now?
   
nc10 Posted: May 04 '08,  1:57 pm (Updated: May 04 '08,  2:05 pm)           
Reviews written: 255
Member since: Dec 01 '00
Post: 183730
RE: Dead Categories

Quote: ifif1938

Question, would it stop you from writing in those categories knowing this now?
Product links with a /review/ in the URL tend to kill my interest in writing a review.

Quote: mobiprof

These issues exist, despite the fact that lap0530 and I spent a whole series of opinions on the errors in the epinions.com 1.0 hit counting system...
I'd go look at them, but writer's corner and member advice pieces come up blank for me.....
   
gamblin_man Posted: May 04 '08,  2:09 pm           
Reviews written: 389
Member since: Apr 08 '01
moderator in Home & Garden
Post: 183732
RE: Dead Categories

Quote: PattyTherre
I just wrote an extensive beauty review that will more than likely never be seen and it's on a hot product that I know people care about. Bummer.

I guess the only thing to do is to hang in there and hope they are working furiously behind the scenes to fix the bugs.

PT


If what is the important Eps egoboo for you (it is for me) is that others are reading what you wrote and making decisions from it, the hit counts on these reviews are apparently not accurately reflecting the actual reads by non-members (and maybe members) after the first few days.

I give as an example a review I wrote recently in Tools and Accessories. It has garnered only five outside hits (those in the first three days after publishing) according to the stats. I am absolutely certain that ten other non-members read the review in a two day period and pretty certain, based on comments from a fan board where the review is linked, that at least a couple dozen more have read the review.

Considering the extensive complaining by members about lower hit totals since Black Tuesday, I would expect this to be reflected in significantly lower overall page views of Epinions. According to Alexis the page views have not taken a nose dive since October so that is more evidence to me that they are just not being credited to us.

Since I have always felt good about reviews with outside hits and that are showing some IS (since this counts for me as helping Epinions bottom line) I just don't have much incentive to add new reviews when they don't appear to be doing either.

Quote: ifif1938
Question, would it stop you from writing in those categories knowing this now?


The 10-4-20 only irritates me since if I want to write for pay I can earn significantly more on a per word, one time pay basis elsewhere than the two cents per word that Epinions is offering, so there really is little incentive for me to write right now, especially since I see little real evidence that any of this will be fixed or even the problems fully acknowledged.

Larry.
   
rudixeno Posted: May 04 '08,  2:41 pm           
Reviews written: 191
Member since: Nov 14 '05
moderator in Home & Garden
Post: 183734
A much more serious problem

Like the rest of you, my outside hits have collapsed. However, I don't think the hit counts are wrong. Oh no, I think it's considerably more serious than that. The hit counts are accurate. Our reviews have become invisible to visitors.

As non-members find less and less relevant content here, they'll likely come back less often. Would you do otherwise?

I wrote my first review here because this is where I found reviews that convinced me to buy it. Had I never found the item on Epinions there would not have been a first review written.

Rudi

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