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Policy change - consumer reviews on Basenotes

post #1 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:02am
Thread Starter 
Policy change - consumer reviews on Basenotes


Since our launch in 2000, we have actively encouraged our visitors to submit their own reviews of fragrances listed in our database. Presently we have over 30,000 fragrance reviews on the site.


After eight years of showing a wide range of opinions, it is with a tinge of sadness that we are announcing a change in policy. Due to falling sales of fragrances (which affects our business), we have come to an arrangement with the top fragrance houses, that we will only publish positive reviews. We feel that this will cause a boost in sales and lead to a healthier industry.

From 1st May only positive reviews will be accepted. Thank you for your understanding.
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post #2 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:31am
Dear Sir,

Since late 2006 I have been a frequent visitor of Basenotes. In my opinion this is one the best websites to find information on, and comment on, fragrances. I have learned a lot about fragrances because of Basenotes.

I am an avid user of the Fragrance Directory precisely because it provides me with a wide range of opinions: positive, negative, and neutral. The Fragrance Directory is a decisive guideline when I decide to purchase a fragrance (or not to purchase it).

Even though I do not want to reduce the Basenotes' value to just the Fragrance Directory, because there is always the Community, I find the decision to only post positive a very sad and discomforting development.

"Only positive reviews will be accepted?" What kind of attitude is that? You are giving in to the fragrance industry. Is it really so that, the day Basenotes only accepts positive reviews, the "falling sales of fragrances" trend will be reversed? Is that your job? To be a spokesperson for the industry? You cannot even begin to understand how disappointed I am. What about freedom of speech and opinion?

You, dear Sir, are a sellout. I believe you are making the wrong decision.

Sincerely,

Atlas
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post #3 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:33am
::snickers::
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post #4 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:36am
Hah! Nice! Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more!!

In that case, let me begin - I think that B*Men and Gucci Pour Homme II are the finest fragrances in existence. I have spoken!
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post #5 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:43am
I haven't written a review yet, but have been looking forward to it. It seems like it might be good to do a trial run to be sure it meets the new editorial standards. So, without further ado, I present my first potential review (comments, suggestions, critiques are welcome):

Quote:
Creed Neroli Sauvage: This scent not only wowed me with its initial punch of neroli and transported me to a football stadium filled to the brim with ripe oranges (hence, the Orange Bowl in America) in which I frolicked unhindered by clothing. It not only did that, it also arranged for my purchase of a villa in Umbria; it made me a passionate, considerate lover; it changed day to night; and it did my dishes.

I don't know if this applies to all of Creed's wonderful range of fragrances (I regularly bathe in Royal Water because I can afford it now), but it doesn't seem likely that you'll be disappointed. Salut, Creed!
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post #6 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:49am
Hah, you got me on that one. That's the best joke yet.
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post #7 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:50am
Wow..Freedom of speech snatched!! Wonder if the IMDB will follow suit?
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post #8 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by holyjes View Post

::snickers::

hehehe, April Fools!?

I hope!
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post #9 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atlas View Post

You, dear Sir, are a sellout. I believe you are making the wrong decision.

Never believe ANYTHING announced on April 1st on the Internet. Ever.
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post #10 of 46
4/1/08 at 12:11pm
Funny ones from the past!


http://community.basenotes.net/showt...ht=april+fools

http://community.basenotes.net/showt...ht=april+fools
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post #11 of 46
4/1/08 at 12:24pm
.......
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post #12 of 46
4/1/08 at 12:25pm
You almost got me!! This is good stuff.
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post #13 of 46
4/1/08 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SirSlarty View Post

Never believe ANYTHING announced on April 1st on the Internet. Ever.

Ok. Wait....then

I for one applaud censorship. It keeps us, the ignorant masses, in line. We don't have to think about anything because the all-knowing corporations tell us what is best.
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post #14 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:13pm
Lol, whilst reading through it, I thought we would have to like make up a secret code for getting negative reviews across :P
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post #15 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:21pm
Well I guess I can appreciate the new policy since it is probably hurting the industry somewhat. So, I comply. Not.
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post #16 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:36pm
I'm embarrassed to admit I fell for it. I'm so gullible.
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post #17 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:47pm
Another gullible BNer here... Took me 'til half way through the thread to realize. Good one, Grant!
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post #18 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:48pm
...and I purchased the rights to Aramis Havana because it has only positive reviews!
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post #19 of 46
4/1/08 at 1:55pm
Excellent, Grant, enough with the negativity! I further move that we only review Bois du Portugal. For me even thinking positive thoughts about a bunch of different frags can be confusing. And maybe also require that members refer to it in their reviews as Bois du Freedom.
Happy April 1!
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post #20 of 46
4/1/08 at 2:58pm



G, that was a good one. You almost had me for a sec!
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post #21 of 46
4/1/08 at 3:12pm
it's an april's fools joke, right?
i hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #22 of 46
4/1/08 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonyprince View Post

I'm embarrassed to admit I fell for it. I'm so gullible.

Ditto....
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post #23 of 46
4/1/08 at 3:25pm
Well done Grant!

Inventive whimsical nonsense in the best of English tradition!
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post #24 of 46
4/1/08 at 3:52pm
Yikes! Ok, got me. Was building up a head of rage until I read the other comments. Newbie here.

Lally
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post #25 of 46
4/1/08 at 4:59pm
  • kbe
  • offline
  • Gender:
..my blood ran cold...I wet my pants...I wondered the streets for hours, looking for an honest reviewer..
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post #26 of 46
4/1/08 at 5:17pm
But hey, good news, you can add reviews again!
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post #27 of 46
4/1/08 at 6:07pm
Ok, fooled me. What can I say, I'm gullible... :-)
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post #28 of 46
4/1/08 at 6:15pm
Riiigghht...LOL!! Good one- Happy April Fools,Y'all!
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post #29 of 46
4/1/08 at 10:11pm
Darn It! at 2 min before Apr. 2 Grant was the only one to get me
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post #30 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:06pm
I'm all for positive reviews!

-Poisson d'Avril.
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post #31 of 46
4/1/08 at 11:57pm
M7 cures everything.
It also increases penis size and brings rain to the desert.
M7 is Elvis
It is The Sound of One Hand Clapping
M7 is better than WD-40

Amen
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post #32 of 46
4/2/08 at 12:46am
Hook, line and sinker. My poor cats got a ranting dissertation on the "Decline of Ethical Fortitude in the Corporate World". Then I read on, now I feel silly. Hope it's all for not!
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post #33 of 46
4/2/08 at 1:26am
Thread Starter 
Yes, April Fool! btw you can actually review [and edit] reviews again
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post #34 of 46
4/2/08 at 1:18pm
Hi - I visited the JAR store in Paris last month and want to write an overall review of myexperience. Is that possible? I see JAR listed as a Brand but don't see the individual perfumes listed, or whether it is possible to write a review about JAR in general.

Please advise.

Thanks!
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post #35 of 46
4/2/08 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mario Justiniani View Post

M7 cures everything.
It also increases penis size and brings rain to the desert.
M7 is Elvis
It is The Sound of One Hand Clapping
M7 is better than WD-40

Amen

Tee-hee-heee...(better at what??!!)
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post #36 of 46
4/2/08 at 2:10pm
haha I fell for it, considering what they did to decanters on Ebay.
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post #37 of 46
4/2/08 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Basenotes Admin View Post

Yes, April Fool! btw you can actually review [and edit] reviews again

I totally fell for it for the first 30 seconds, oh, that would have been horrible! Only positive reviews would be so useless!

Grant, even if I spend the entire year trying to figure out how to trick everyone on April Fool's Day I could never come up with anything for my blog... And after that one I won't even try
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post #38 of 46
4/2/08 at 7:06pm
OMG. You totally had me!
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post #39 of 46
4/3/08 at 4:56am
I was so glad becauseit was the first of April and for the first time I wasn't caught... well till I read your annoucement...Pfffff , well
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post #40 of 46
4/3/08 at 12:49pm
On a serious note, how long does it take a review to show up after you submit it? I wrote a review of Pino Silvestre yesterday and it still isn't showing.
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post #41 of 46
4/3/08 at 1:13pm
Considering reviews haven't been around in a while, I'm guessing LOTS of members have been writing reviews of everything they have back-logged. I've written a few myself a few days ago, they're not up yet either. You might have to wait a while!
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post #42 of 46
4/3/08 at 1:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMF View Post

On a serious note, how long does it take a review to show up after you submit it? I wrote a review of Pino Silvestre yesterday and it still isn't showing.

We've still got reviews pending from December!

Once the review system is complete, we'll get up to date!

Cheers
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post #43 of 46
4/5/08 at 10:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Basenotes Admin View Post

Policy change - consumer reviews on Basenotes


Since our launch in 2000, we have actively encouraged our visitors to submit their own reviews of fragrances listed in our database. Presently we have over 30,000 fragrance reviews on the site.


After eight years of showing a wide range of opinions, it is with a tinge of sadness that we are announcing a change in policy. Due to falling sales of fragrances (which affects our business), we have come to an arrangement with the top fragrance houses, that we will only publish positive reviews. We feel that this will cause a boost in sales and lead to a healthier industry.

From 1st May only positive reviews will be accepted. Thank you for your understanding.

Hmm, you got me....Nice April fools joke
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post #44 of 46
4/6/08 at 7:23pm
Knee jerk reflex working just fine thanks!
Alswys pays to read a post carefully before replying dunnit?
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post #45 of 46
4/8/08 at 8:37am
I'll admit that a certain chill went down my spine as I thought about Grant caving in to the corporatist will.

almost 50 posts

good thread
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post #46 of 46
4/12/08 at 6:23pm
My first day at basenotes, my first communique and my first prayer: Me hopes this is nothing more than an April Fools stunt. If it is, you've scored a TEN; what could be more unimaginable than a basenotes review without some narccisse moi; if it's not, you've scored the first recorded civet- cloud- burst in April....April showers bring May...? I'm prayin', I'm prayin'!
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Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Article Comments, Forum Announcements, FAQs › Forum News and Announcements › Policy change - consumer reviews on Basenotes