Asking members to submit Reviews : what do you think?

[krisj]

I'd be fine with having someone ask me to write a review. The only times I haven't have been when abosolutely everything I'd say had already been said, or on one occassion when a person who told me about a specific very small resort made me promise in advance not to write a review (I felt odd about this, but I agreed not to).

I greatly prefer the new form for entering reviews. IMHO it makes the process much simpler.

Kris

p.s. I just posted two notes on the Mexico bbs asking for reviews of particular resorts, but maybe e-mailing specific memebrs would work better.

 

[wackymother]

I love the reviews, but the numbers could be more helpful

The numbers just seem so random. Some people review a total dump and give it a 7 or 8 because it has an excellent location. Other people review the same dump and give it a 3 or 4 even though it has an excellent location.

Same problems with magnificent resorts in timeshare-heavy areas--they'll give the resort a 7 because it's not quite as nice as another fabulous resort down the block--and sometimes the difference seems to come down to, say, the fact that the people in the pool were rowdy.

I know all of this is subjective, and I try to read all the reviews and balance them in my head--but if it's SO subjective, maybe numerical ratings are not ideal.

I like what they do at TripAdvisor--I think there's an overall five-dot rating plus "areas" for rating location, facilities, good for famiiles, good for couples. I also like the RCI system where resorts are somewhat recommended, recommended, or highly recommended.

Also...personally, when I write a review, it pains me to say that someone else's resort isn't that nice! It seems so insulting....

 

[krisj]

Also...personally, when I write a review, it pains me to say that someone else's resort isn't that nice! It seems so insulting....

I feel that way a bit when writing reviews, but I actually LIKE it when people post specific complaints about my home resorts because then I can copy them (with the author's permission) to my resort management. HOAs sometimes seem to respond more to exchanger's complaints than to owner's.

Kris

 

[lawren2]

When I read the BBS, I come across quite a few messages where the member mentions having gone to this or that resort, a few days/weeks/months ago.

With a little research, I can tell whether or not that member has submitted a review.

If you were that member, would you be offended if I PMd or emailed you, asking/begging you to write a review?

Or, how would you handle it?

Thanks.

I think you just handled it very well indeed!

A question about the new review page. I just finished one for Aruba Grand ( I owe 3 more ). I clicked submit and was brought back to the log-in page. Does this mean my review didn't go anywhere? ( Isure hope not because I'd hate to have to write it all over again.)

It would be nice to get a little blurb in your e-mail "thanks for submitting your resort review yada,yada,yada" to confirm it went somewhere.

 

[krisj]

I've been getting "thanks for sub,iting your review" e-mails after using the new review input form...

Kris

 

[grest]

I'm totally okay with reminders...Connie

 

[funtime]

Review needed for Casa Boca in Boca Raton

We definately need more reviews. For example Casa Boca suffered a "1" rating which is totally unfair all because one unhappy tugger ten years ago did not like the resort and no one has rated it since. While I have not stayed there, and thus am not eligible to write a review, I did some inquiries about this resort when I was looking at it on ebay and it probably should be rated a "5" or a "6" rated resort but a "1"? That is totally unfair. More reviews would solve problems such as this for the older, lesser reviewed resorts.

 

[Blitz]

Review award

TUG itself rewards those who write quality reviews on resorts that either have not been reviewed yet or have not been reviewed in 6 months or more. Read more about it here. http://www.tug2.net/resortreviewaward.htm

 

[EileenSRN]

I found that if I go in under the "Ratings" link I can get to the new format reviews. Using the "Reviews" link is hit or miss connecting. A review I submitted for Pt. St. Lucie can't be seen under reviews, but can under ratings. The task of switching everthing into the new format and DB must be daunting. I wish I had some time to help.
Eileen

 

[Cathyb]

Marina: A great idea! We all get caught up in other activities. One suggestion on this board: Have a 101 instruction on how to cut and paste from Microsoft Word into TUG for transferring your trip reports. I gave up on TUGs as I got cut off so many times.

 

[Makai Guy]

Marina: One suggestion on this board: Have a 101 instruction on how to cut and paste from Microsoft Word into TUG for transferring your trip reports.

You are talking about basic computer skills here. TUG's purpose is not to show people how to use their computers. But your direct question is answered in your other post on the same jsubject, here.

 

[Josie Glass]

Review - Kingstown Reef at the Crowne Plaza Resort - Orlando

Hi,

We stayed at this resort for one week last March 2005. My husband and I, our son and wife, and their two children aged 4 and 2.

We had a two bedroom with a full kitchen. The living room was small but roomy enough for the 6 of us. The kitchen was the only room that was not 100% up to par. When you opened the dishwasher door, you could not open the frig. One of the burners on the stove did not work, but the other three worked way too fast. It was a smooth top stove. Also, the kitchen was not really as well equipped as others we have stayed in. But overall, the kitchen problems were not too inconvenient.

There were several bbq's near the pool area.

The pool was clean and there were a couple of hottubs outside also.

The master bedroom was not overly big but comfortable.

The other bedroom was huge. There were two queen size beds, tv. bath, coffee maker, etc., lots of walking around room.

We were close to Disney and Sea world, so it was great for kids.

We had a small balcony off the livng room

The main hotel where we checked in was beautiful and service was usual, check in time around 3 pm.

We would definitely stay here again!!

 

[PClapham]

Are you asking only for Mexico?

I would welcome any request to submit a review. I had understood that reviews were not to be submitted if there were already many filed. Anita

 

[Keitht]

I had understood that reviews were not to be submitted if there were already many filed. Anita

If that has been the message sent out in the past, I for one totally disagree with it. The more reviews that are received, the more accurate picture that can be gained from them. As somebody mentioned earlier in the thread, a single review if it is negative, can have a detrimental effect on others considering going there.
If you have been to any resort, please do submit a review via the review forms.

 

[Keitht]

personally, when I write a review, it pains me to say that someone else's resort isn't that nice! It seems so insulting....

Please do write your honest opinion of a resort. Be positive where it is deserved and less so where that is also deserved. As long as you explain your reasoning the review can only be a positive thing for other members. All reviews are subjective by their very nature but that is the nature of the beast.
In transferring the European reviews to the new database, I have seen many comments from American members that the units in Europe are smaller than those in the US. That itself is a generalisation, but it is better for our members to travel expecting a 'smaller unit' and being pleasantly surprised, than for them to expect something the size of a football pitch and being disappointed.

 

[cpnuser]

Sending reviews directly to TUG volunteer

I have sent my reviews through the TUG old format before and sometimes they did not get posted. Yesterday, I sent my review directly to the TUG volunteer in charge of posting that state's reviews. I received an email back from his internet provider stating that only approved senders are accepted. When I clicked on the highlighted address to sign up, I got an error. I'm sorry, but I think a volunteer should not have an approved sender list, because many who try to contact this person about reviews will be turned off by having to be approved for his list. I sent a review to another state's volunteer, and received a nice short reply that it had been received. I spend a lot of time writing my reviews and I like to make sure the reviews are received by the RIGHT person. Just my humble opinion!

 

[short]

Please check to see if I've ever done a review

Marina,

I have gone to some great places in the last year. Each time I come home intending to write a review and somehow days, weeks, months slip by and I haven't done it. Could you check to see if I have any reviews on file? I went to Hilton Club NYC in March and FSA in April. How far back would you like us to go?

Sorry for the brain fog problem but I might have a few min to do this in the next month.

Short

 

[Present]

Manatory Reviews vs. Monetary Incentive?

The reviews / ratings are the reason I joined Tug, as I'm sure it was for most other people too. I feel that it should be a requirement that everyone has to write at least one review every two years in order to remain a member. Or perhaps, people would be motivated to write a review if there was a monetary incentive (i.e. $2 off your renewal fee for every review you write).

All reviews, even if they consist of only 3 sentences, are helpful!

 

[Makai Guy]

Personally, I don't think we should need incentives. Anyone that uses the reviews and appreciates their being there should be sufficiently motivated to give back to the community. But then, I'm a dedicated blood donor too for much the same reasons. Unfortunately, not everybody feels that way in either case.

Current incentives to encourage submission for resorts with no recent reviews: www.tug2.net/resortreviewaward.htm

 

[Keitht]

I feel that it should be a requirement that everyone has to write at least one review every two years in order to remain a member. Or perhaps, people would be motivated to write a review if there was a monetary incentive (i.e. $2 off your renewal fee for every review you write).

All reviews, even if they consist of only 3 sentences, are helpful!

For the poor amongst us (like me) who only own a single measly week it isn't necessarily possible to write even one review every 2 years. With RCI membership and careful planning it is possible to bank and use 3 weeks in one go. That means only one review in 3 years although I suppose that trip may be to 2 or 3 different resorts.
Although there are no direct financial incentives to write reviews, awards can be given for reviews of new resorts and those for which no recent review exists. More info available from the Home Page I think.

 

[Present]

Personally, I don't think we should need incentives. Anyone that uses the reviews and appreciates their being there should be sufficiently motivated to give back to the community. But then, I'm a dedicated blood donor too for much the same reasons. Unfortunately, not everybody feels that way in either case.

Current incentives to encourage submission for resorts with no recent reviews: www.tug2.net/resortreviewaward.htm

Hey your preaching to the choir . Only been to 2 resorts and have written 2 reviews. But, given the same amount of people who actually do things without incentives - intrinsic or otherwise- just trying to come up with some method to increase participation. If people will sit through 90 minute timeshare presentations for $50, maybe for 5 minutes of their time they would write a review for a discounted membership.

 

[JEFF H]

IF TUG Membership extensions were offered for approved format reviews it would most likely result in more reviews.
Timesharing Today offers these type of incentives and they are a Print based publication.
TUG should offer the same to help build a better review database.

 

[Keitht]

As one of the benefits of membership is access to the database I would have thought it in the members own interests to keep reviews up to date. Why does everybody seem to need some kind of financial incentive to do anything these days?

 

[Present]

As one of the benefits of membership is access to the database I would have thought it in the members own interests to keep reviews up to date. Why does everybody seem to need some kind of financial incentive to do anything these days?

In an ideal world all members would contribute on a regular basis but all you have to do is read the reviews and when you find most places have only a couple of reviews and those are a couple of years old...something needs to change.

I don't know how many members TUG has but I would be interested to know statistically what percent contribute reviews / ratings?

Just going from what I read on the BBS, there seems to be alot of people going places, some of them maybe 10 times a year...and yet no new reviews.

 

[bigfrank]

OK I did my part, Just put one in for La Cabana in Aruba. Now if I could only figure out what the areas are in Mexico when I want to read them. Someone please fix this.