Rating a reseller after telling them I'm a member

dunbar · 10-13-2003, 08:02 AM

I recently placed an order with a reseller that had several bad reviews.

To help them understand that I was interested in their goods, before submitting my order, I added a comment that I was a member of Reseller Ratings. Nothing more, nothing less. There were no quid-pro-quo discussions offered by either party.

Was I bad?
Can I rate them?

dunbar · 10-13-2003, 01:11 PM

Ok, a dozen views, but no comments.

PM, if you wish.

juang310 · 10-13-2003, 01:58 PM

My first thought was you should post your review. Simply add the conditions you stated in your post. This way you state up front what happened. Most of the posters here are used to analyzing the postings in any review anyway. Maybe this will encourage the reseller to improve.

Omardeth · 10-13-2003, 02:17 PM

why wouldn't you rate them ? telling them first wasn't a good idea , but thats my opinion . if they cared about rating then they will make sure yours is right . so does that then make the rating you give them acurate ?

if you know u are being inspected , you will make sure all is as right . If you get inspected out of the blue , then you know how they really work .

Target · 10-13-2003, 02:21 PM

Its possible that the person you spoke with was aware of their bad reviews, and wanted to change them. Knowing that you were a member, and likely to relate your experience with them on Reseller Ratings, they may have given you preferential treatment or service. The keywords there being "may have".

Had you not mentioned that you were a member of Resellers Ratings, you would have avoided any potential introduction of bias into the transaction.

That being said, I recommend you follow the advice of juang310. In your rating/review, be sure to mention the disclosure you made in speaking with the seller before placing the order.....then just simply write whatever honest opinion you had of the seller and transaction as the deal was completed.

dunbar · 10-13-2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Target
Its possible that the person you spoke with was aware of their bad reviews, and wanted to change them.

Never spoke to anyone - placed the order via web pages, comments box was where I told them I was a RR member.

Quote:

Knowing that you were a member, and likely to relate your experience with them on Reseller Ratings, they may have given you preferential treatment or service. The keywords there being "may have".

Yes, I was hoping that they would avoid problems with the order, but never asked them to perform on the basis of my membership.

Quote:

Had you not mentioned that you were a member of Resellers Ratings, you would have avoided any potential introduction of bias into the transaction.

Exactly why I was asking this question.

Quote:

That being said, I recommend you follow the advice of juang310. In your rating/review, be sure to mention the disclosure you made in speaking with the seller before placing the order.....then just simply write whatever honest opinion you had of the seller and transaction as the deal was completed.

Will keep that in mind, thanks!

permalink · 10-13-2003, 02:43 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong w/ telling a company you're going to write a review of them at ResellerRatings.com, Hell, I'd do it just so I got good service.

Most companies know about the BBB, that doesn't stop them from poor practices. I be if EVERYBODY told those same companies they were going to complain if they didn't do them right, they would change their ways.

osprey4 · 10-13-2003, 02:59 PM

I agree with EvilRick. Telling them up front sends a message that you're a consumer who cares enough to share whether they're doing their job. When retailers get good reviews, they're more than happy to let you know up front, why not vice versa?

permalink · 10-13-2003, 03:05 PM

After thinking about it longer, maybe you should have just passed up the sale and sent them an e-mail stating why you DIDN'T make a purchase from them. Maybe tell them that you saw they had poor reviews at ResellerRatings.com and that you would have purchased had they been better.

If they do you good, then make sure you put in your rating that you told them ahead of time that you used RR and that they were made aware you were going to critique them. This should also mean you be more critical of what they do.

Maybe other users of RR will follow suit and it might change how some online dealers treat their customers.

Still, I don't think you did wrong by telling them you knew of RR and that you were going to post a review.

tgxiii · 10-13-2003, 06:37 PM

Tell us how it went after you receive your order.