Ways to improve reviews section?

[Craig]

Hey there - I've had the fencing equipment reviews section up for some time now and I want to get some more feedback on it to figure out how to get more reviews in there.

So, post your comments on the reviews section: how do you want to use it, what information do you want to see there, how do you want to rate stuff, etc.

Also include: what would make you put in more reviews, etc.

Thanks!
Craig

[Artisan]

Perhaps I'm not using it right, but it seems that to submit a review for a product that is not already listed, one has to suggest it first, but it is not automatically added right away, so I tend to forget to check back and submit the review when the product is posted (Which I've just done for the Vniti Epee Guard)

Perhaps figure out how to post new items right away (and risk duplicates in your database) or send a reminder message to the suggester to complete the review.

[enigmagic]

Well, I figure that since the equipment reviews section is a site resource and could be made valuable with a larger breadth/more reviews per item that it should give some sort of positive adjustment to the user's reputation. Reputation is, as I take it presently, a measure of how well thought a user is among his peers on the board; why not allow reputation to reflect a user's contribution to the reviews or articles section, perhaps as a ancillary benefit to the orange name or whatever to signify who helps out or whatnot.
Forseeable problems: time taken to manually adjust reputation points, integration with vBulletin and the reviews/articles sections, abuse of reviews system for rep points(possibly an approval of review by an admin would solve this, though it just adds to the work involved).

I think it would be beneficial to both areas of the site, particularly the reviews if there were board incentives to motivate people beyond the benevolent system now in place.

Just a thought, I suppose.

[CvilleFencer]

My main suggestion is basically the same as Artisan's. I have tried to add reviews of Prieur FIE blades, a couple of types of shoes and a mask or two but since they are not from listed vendors I could not get it to work. I suggested adding them but did not see them posted and after a few days forgot about it.

I would also suggest a minimum amount of verbage. A review that reads "nice blade, flicks well." may be short and sweet but is not overly helpful for in depth annalysis.

[I_luv_saber]

Hmmm... not sure. I really haven't thought about writing one... maybe some sort of "ad" at the home page asking people to write on???

[Zilverzmurfen]

Having just added my first review I would basically agree with Artisan too.
I checked back numerous times waiting for "my" item to turn up, ready to be reviewed.

Also, when I first suggested the item I found that the reviews section was somewhat messy. I wanted to review a glove and found other glove reviews in both the Misc and the Clothing sections.

If not already done, I think that someone should just take a look at reviews and move them into their appropriate section.

...and yeah, a few reputation points would be nice too!

[CvilleFencer]

Also there tends to be a lot of cross posting. Uhlmann BF FIE blades, BF FIE blades, and StM blade reviews on their own and for everyone who resales them. Maybe if those could all be combined or cross linked it would be more useful and easier to find all the reviews on what you were looking for.

[cowpaste]

I definitely agree with Cville's last comment. There are too many different reviews for practically the same item. I suggest no more complete weapon reviews from now on. Each part should be considered seperately. Also, encourage people to submit stamp information on blades. Maybe you could allow people to submit photos of the stamp. This might be a little too much trouble for some, but if there is some dinky reward, I feel many would do it.

[Pepster]

Perhaps if you include links to supplier sites in return for them linking your reviews from the item pages....

just a thought.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Pepster

Perhaps if you include links to supplier sites in return for them linking your reviews from the item pages....

just a thought.

Yes, and if the item sucked big time they reeeeeeally would like to have their site linked to that review...

[flyingfencer]

Another method of getting some data on fencing equipment used by members is to put a required survey in the registration process.

It could have questions like these:
Weapon Fenced - Sabre Foil Epee
Complete Weapon - (Foil, Epee, or Sabre) (A list of types) (A list of Vendors) (A rating of the equipment) (Price)
Individual Weapon Parts -
Blade - (Foil, Epee, or Sabre) (FIE Non-FIE) (A list of manufacturers) (A list of Vendors) (A rating of the equipment) (Price)
Bell Guard - (Foil, Epee, or Sabre) (FIE Non-FIE) (A list of manufacturers) (A list of Vendors) (A rating of the equipment) (Price)
Clothing -

etc...

I'm sure a fairly simple cgi can be setup to incorporate something into your registration process where you can store the data in a database like MySql and either build out static pages with appropriate information for your users using a perl script or create an interface to query this data into a pre-defined template which would give your users some very useful information.

We do this very effectively for our web site, and this is very commonly used as a tool for many ecommerce sites.

[Dave]

more items shown per screen? At the moment it takes 7 screen to show all of the books upping then number of products per screen to 20 (say) might be an idea.

Possibly filter clothing and blades by level? So FIE, 350N (For clothing), everything else?

[prototoast]

Perhaps if there was a "Beginners" section. Here in the armory, there are countless threads by beginners wanting to know what they should buy. If there was a special section of the review section as a beginner's guide, I think it would be quite useful.

[Craig]

Would having 2 review systems help out? One for the basic products (how good are the products) and another to rate the equipment suppliers?

Or, does the existing system seem to have everything hashed out today?

Craig

[noodle]

okey here's how i think it should work if you're going to change things:

you have a system that flows down into each individual piece of equipment that can be reviewed, and a misc. category to catch anything else. for example:

weapons -> epee -> blades
weapons -> epee -> bells
weapons -> epee -> grips
weapons -> epee -> sockets
...
weapons -> epee -> misc.
...etc...
clothing -> protective gear -> jackets
clothing -> protective gear -> masks -> foil/epee
clothing -> protective gear -> masks -> sabre

blah blah, names of categories are kind of irrelavent and such, its the basic idea.

anyone can add in an entry into any of these categories, or add on to the existing reviews. to add one, you don't have to provide a vendor, but you need to provide a brand (if they're one in the same, specify and a link is automatically made). after you create a new item, links to vendors who supply the item can be created, as many venders can sell something and an item's brand isn't necessarily a fencing vendor itself. appoint moderators who have access to change the information and occasionally peruse to keep things in check, make sure multiple entries aren't present, etc.

[CvilleFencer]

I like noodles suggestions and I also like having a seperate site for beginners gear. That would make it a lot easier for them to identify what is appropriate for their level of fencing and the price range most beginners would chose. That is another thing that I think the reviews section could use by the way. A price range. Just type in what you paid for what you are reviewing to the closest even number. I think that would help some people who were shopping on a buget find what they are looking for.

[Pepster]

Okay,

In looking through for reviews, I'd love if each review had the following: THe Vendor's Part Number (so you can easily distinguish between simmilar items) and a link to the vendor page for that item. It makes shopping based on a review much easier.

-Pep

[wflaschka]

A lot of these suggestions seem pretty good. The two things I wish most about the review section:

1] Category results pages with more than a few items. More like 20 or 50 items in the list, before we have to page to the next screen.

2] Some way to let the reviewer add a new product. E.g., the new product listing is added immediately so the reviewer can write the review, and the site admin is notified of a new product having been added (the admin can then take action, edit, move, delete). This approach is more open to abuse by malefactors, but the site doesn't attract many bad folks and the ease of use might balance the risks.

[MikeHarm]

Maybe you could add a little section just for people to post angry stuff about orders being screwed up.

[Dclax07]

I was just about to suggest a beginners section

I just started and i had no idea what body cords, plastrons or lames where.

maybe not just reviews, but explanations?

heres a specific suggestion:

I know a lot of people on this board fence alot, so maybe you can put together a "Fencing.net's Set", and put togethor a beginners, intermediate, advanced set. Include prices and where to buy