The quality issue – to review or not to review?

DTHUREGRIF · Site Admin Joined: Jun 05, 2001 Posts: 462

As most of you probably know, there’s a huge uproar going on in the community right now over Penguinisto’s having started a “Name ‘em and Shame ‘em” thread on several sites, where he linked to his site <a href=http://www.sparkchaser.net/blather/penglatest.html>http://www.sparkchaser.net/blather/penglatest.html</a> to point out some products he thought were of questionable quality based on their descriptions and ad renders. I’m not really interested in discussing whether he was right or wrong in doing that. That’s already been discussed to death. However, the discussion has evolved into one addressing quality in the marketplace and how best to ensure that. Or whether anything needs to be done. That’s what I’d like to discuss here.

Penguinisto’s idea is to do some honest, independent reviews. And that means truly honest. Not glossing over bad points, calling everything wonderful, etc.

As a vendor, I’d happily give him any of my products to review. Give them. Not make him buy them. Give them to him. No matter what kind of review he gives my products, it’s publicity and that can’t hurt. And if I can make my products better as a result of a review, terrific.

As a store owner, I’d happily have him review my store and I’d encourage my vendors to let him review their products as well. I think our vendors are pros and that our testing holds them to certain standards that will stand up to review. If we’re not testing things well enough, I’d like to know.

I’d really love to hear other people’s opinions on this.

How do you feel as a customer about the general quality of Poser products and the idea of reviews? Can you think of anything else that might help you make better buying decisions?

How do the vendors feel about reviews? Do you think reviews would help you make better products? Would you like the publicity?

Speak out. Let us know what you think.

GhostofMacbeth · Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2001 Posts: 615

I like the old Critical Depth reviews but a lot of the other ones I have seen I think are too glowing or too "She's ugly" which gets into subjective issues. I didn't take the time to see his criteria but I saw some of the intial posts. What I think is that if ther is different voices it might be good. I am all for quality control and I try to do the best product I can and spend a pile of time to do them but Iknow there is stuff that definately isn't up to snuff. I am just not sure if his approach might be the best. I read the initial comments and he mentioned he didn't like different eye colors without changing them, he also didn't like one model and thought she looked like a trash hooker but some people really liked the product so it becomes a subjective thing again. Personall I have no use for 27 shades of the same eye but some people might and I don't really see a problem with it if the price is right etc. I normally do three on mine to enable some viariety but not too much

Corearts

He can review my stuff anytime, but he should be carefull in his reviews in general, he may be open to lawsuits to some of the top selling merchants who may lose a lot of money if he gives them a negative review, or a class action if enough merchants band to gether. im not talking about merchants like myself who really don't make that much, im talking about merchants that make in the thousands ayear.

if anything he should review it then send any complaints to the merchant, and wait to see if the merchant can fix the problem before a actual review comes foward.

also 3d is an art form, and art is in the eye of the beholder. who is to say what is bad and what isn't.

maybe renderotica/animotions should have away for an actual purchaser to rate the item he or she has purchased. a score card maybe.

anyway thats my 2 cents

DTHUREGRIF · Site Admin Joined: Jun 05, 2001 Posts: 462

I'm not a lawyer, but I think as long as a review is factual, there should be no case for a lawsuit. although, he would be wise to check that out.

We've considered instituting customer reviews into our new store, but my gut feeling is that they would be about as useful and truthful as image ratings. Almost everyone would just give the top rating if they rate at all. That's pretty much how I see it working at the places that have it now.

Also, even a bad review is not likely to kill anyone's sales. When we released Dina, the more people bashed her, the higher her sales went. It was publicity.

cyanure · Forum Newbie Joined: Jan 04, 2005 Posts: 4

That's "hard" questions to answer.
First I am only a Poser user and not a that good(I do not dare to call myself an artist),I have barelly brushed the texture creations and start to think of the props creations...I think I have some what an idea of what the creators in Poser have to do to create a product at nearly all it's stage.
The main problem in this is,in my points of views, that it is not possible to made a review for a product for everyone...each peoples search somethings in a product (been about quality, how easy it is to use or pose,usefulness,appearance...)and each peoples is different,what ever review will be done there will ALWAY be peoples to disagree with it. For me when I purchase a product,first I try to purchase those which I think I will need(or that's I like by the pic... : ) ), I try to read what ever creators made data I have access on various site about it,then the various comments,and if I could see some pictures made by some artists with it,it is really a must,sure I go for the low price on some site,but I know that what I purchase could not be of top quality and will not start to complain on small problems on it.
A review could be an interresting add only if the person doing it clearly state his/her criteria,What he/her was expecting form the product,for what he wanted to use it,what kind of tools,props... he/her had planned to use with it...

Jean-Luc_Ajrarn · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 7:33 am Post subject:

The idea sounds good to me. IMO it can benefit both buyers (being informed of flaws in products) and merchants (giving them a chance to learn from it and fix the problems, and improve their skills).

(that is, IF some flaws get unnoticed for one store testing - Unlikely to happen with Rotica/Animotions thorough testing)
_________________
Pay no attention to the moan behind the curtain.
To boldly go where no moan has gone before.

itisitex · Forum Member Joined: Sep 01, 2002 Posts: 177 Location: Tx

I had aways thought that product review and testing was done before was ever released. As far as being un happy with a products quality. I realize that some of the items i buy might be a couple of years old so holding them to the new standard would not do them justice.
before everyone starts unloading their store on him you need to ask is he going to give a fair review or is he just getting free product. Another this to look at is he part of your target group you can check his gallery on the diffrent websites.
Finally remember there are millions of artist that could give a review of your product don't just pick the same person to do it.

Jean-Luc_Ajrarn · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 7:48 am Post subject:

DTHUREGRIF · Site Admin Joined: Jun 05, 2001 Posts: 462

Testing is done before a product is released, however different stores use radically different testing criteria.

cyanure · Forum Newbie Joined: Jan 04, 2005 Posts: 4

I agree with you Itisitex!
I think one of the best test could be to have the product tested by peoples which do not like you or what you do...

Jean-Luc_Ajrarn · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject:

Teyon · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 2:47 pm Post subject:

"But not every store has the same criteria and some feel that a ‘hobbyist’ vendor should not be held to the same standards a ‘professional’ one, even though their prices are similar."

To be quite honest with you, no one outside of the poser universe would expect to pay $29 or less for a fully rigged model. That's just nuts by "proffessional" standards. Having said that, if the comment from the newsletter was speaking of experienced poser content creators prices versus those of new creators, okay, I can understand.

Glad to get that off my chest. I personally don't have a problem with having my stuff reviewed. When I started to sell models finally, I would actually IM every person who purchased a model the same day they did so. All in an attempt to find out where I went wrong. Hearing good news is great but it's not what I want all the time. I want an honest look at what works and what doesn't about the stuff I make. So, I guess I'm all for the idea of this review site. It's something that should be usefull as long as the reviews are honest and not insulting. Now that I'm nearing the release of my next set of models, I will be moving the old stuff into other stores and look foward to seeing a review or two at Penguinisto's site.

Hasdrubal

I occasionally browse the various 3D store sites and am amazed how much junk is posted that isn't worth buying. I don't think a positive or negative review would help to sell the products.

I don't look for any certain artist's name when I buy something, but it appears that when I do find something worthy of cash, it's almost always by Davo, Lourdes, or Stone Mason.

cyanure · Forum Newbie Joined: Jan 04, 2005 Posts: 4

So far I go for Awfull Soul,Dark Wing Zero,Bat or BVH(for more static pic),but I check and use other one..I simply take time to check the read me and check whatever pics I could or other peoples comments(beeing on chat or on the product)

Corearts

i like the corearts stuff