anything wrong with PSers defending their favorite vendor...

[Dancing Fire]

if their favorite vendor(s) come under attack by other posters?

 

[Shoopy]

It depends on how they’re defending the vendor.

If I post about a bad experience, regardless of how others may feel about the vendor, its still a bad experience for me. If a PSer chimes in on the post saying that they’re surprised and shares some of their positive experiences with the vendor then I think that’s appropriate. But if the PSer says that its impossible for something like this to happen, that it must be my fault, that I’m being a baby, etc. that to me is in appropriate.

When I read a post about a bad experience I like to hear the other side of it as well.

 

[musey]

ditto fiery exactly - that''s where I draw the appropriateness line, too.

 

[icekid]

I don''t exactly think it is appropriate to "defend" vendors. How can a consumer outside the situation really know enough to place blame, on the consumer or vendor? I do, however, think it is appropriate to bring up the vendor''s point of view and of course how there are two sides to every story. And obviously the vendor is always welcome to come and defend themselves and give their side of the problem.

Sharing positive experiences in someone else''s thread does not seem helpful to me, though. While it''s great that one person had a great experience, it does not mean that a vendor is always perfect. Saying, "well xyz vendor has never been anything but perfect FOR ME" seems to imply that there must be something wrong with the other consumer since they are not happy for whatever reason. Those sort of comments do not seem to accomplish anything, in my opinion.

Consumers need to feel that they can post about negative experiences here without being attacked. I am not always sure that is the case, though!

 

[purrfectpear]

It depends on whether the OP is making a mountain out of a molehill.

Yes, yes, I know..............it''s "real" to the OP

I''m not so "PC" that I can''t discern the difference between someone who expects the stars, the moon, and the world and whines if they don''t get it...and someone who has realistic expectations that the majority would share, and are not being met.

One is a legitimate complaint and one is just mud slangin'', whining, and threatening the vendor into seeing things "their way".

In short, if you are going to impune a vendor on a public forum you had better have your little duckies in a row and have a reasonable, sensible complaint.

 

[bee*]

Date: 5/7/2009 1:40:54 PM
Author: icekid
I don''t exactly think it is appropriate to ''defend'' vendors. How can a consumer outside the situation really know enough to place blame, on the consumer or vendor? I do, however, think it is appropriate to bring up the vendor''s point of view and of course how there are two sides to every story. And obviously the vendor is always welcome to come and defend themselves and give their side of the problem.


Sharing positive experiences in someone else''s thread does not seem helpful to me, though. While it''s great that one person had a great experience, it does not mean that a vendor is always perfect. Saying, ''well xyz vendor has never been anything but perfect FOR ME'' seems to imply that there must be something wrong with the other consumer since they are not happy for whatever reason. Those sort of comments do not seem to accomplish anything, in my opinion.


Consumers need to feel that they can post about negative experiences here without being attacked. I am not always sure that is the case, though!

Yeah this is kind of how I feel as well. I think that people should be able to share a negative experience and I agree with PP in that it is usually easy to tell if someone is expecting too much or if they aren''t. I don''t think that there is anything wrong with defending a venue if you have been happy with their service but just don''t let it take away from the OP dissatisfaction if it''s valid.

 

[mrscushion]

I think everything depends on the tone, and spirit, of a post.

I have in the past felt that this consumer forum isn't always as consumer-friendly as it could and should be. If a consumer has shelled out a lot of money on a piece of jewelry and it isn't to his or her satisfaction, that consumer should be emphasized with -- within reason. Empathize and then express your surprise at the grievance or your confidence that all will be resolved well.

 

[neatfreak]

I''m with Fiery. But I do always try to solicit the ENTIRE story from the OP because often convenient little parts are left out (e.g., a vendor won''t contact them back but they have yet to pick up a phone and call them).

 

[E B]

Date: 5/7/2009 1:40:54 PM
Author: icekid
I don't exactly think it is appropriate to 'defend' vendors. How can a consumer outside the situation really know enough to place blame, on the consumer or vendor? I do, however, think it is appropriate to bring up the vendor's point of view and of course how there are two sides to every story. And obviously the vendor is always welcome to come and defend themselves and give their side of the problem.

Sharing positive experiences in someone else's thread does not seem helpful to me, though. While it's great that one person had a great experience, it does not mean that a vendor is always perfect. Saying, 'well xyz vendor has never been anything but perfect FOR ME' seems to imply that there must be something wrong with the other consumer since they are not happy for whatever reason. Those sort of comments do not seem to accomplish anything, in my opinion.

Consumers need to feel that they can post about negative experiences here without being attacked. I am not always sure that is the case, though!

I agree with this. I never understand why people feel the need to jump in with, "Well, MY experience was fabulous..." Well, good for you. Feel free to start a separate thread about it.

I had a negative experience with a well-known PS vendor (who I've since worked and been very happy with) over a year ago and posted about it without naming names. I got lots of support and great advice, but had I named the vendor from the beginning, the tone (and advice) might have been very different. Maybe not, but I'd seen enough to know it wasn't worth risking. And that's not how it should be.

I don't hang around RT as much as I used to anymore, so for all I know, things may have changed. For the better, I hope!

 

[mrscushion]

Date: 5/7/2009 3:16:26 PM
Author: mscushion
...should be emphasized empathized with -- within reason. Empathize and then express your surprise at the grievance or your confidence that all will be resolved well.

Argh -- I meant empathize, of course. Normally, I can spell. *Blush*

 

[Steel]

No, free speech and all.

But the corollary of that is that I don''t have to listen

.

 

[Imdanny]

When it comes off like defensiveness, it''s just not very helpful. Sorry.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 5/7/2009 4:44:18 PM
Author: EBree

I agree with this. I never understand why people feel the need to jump in with, ''Well, MY experience was fabulous...'' Well, good for you. Feel free to start a separate thread about it.

I understand where you are "coming from", EBree. When a rational poster-which is more than 99% of the posters here-tells a story about a bad experience there is usually no need for more to be said, although one might argue that new readers of Pricescope should be given a balanced a view of a vendor. (There is, after all, no guarantee that a new reader will open any thread other than the first one he was reading. So if someone who had had a positive experience with the vendor chose to respond by opening another thread, it might be overlooked.)

My problem is not with rational posters, however . Some posters will use an open forum to attack vendors irrationally. It is then that it is nice to be able to hear someone else say that he did not have a similar experience.

I guess I am saying that I do not see this as a black and white issue, but as one that has shades of grey.

AGBF

 

[E B]

Date: 5/10/2009 10:51:13 AM
Author: AGBF

Date: 5/7/2009 4:44:18 PM

Author: EBree

I agree with this. I never understand why people feel the need to jump in with, ''Well, MY experience was fabulous...'' Well, good for you. Feel free to start a separate thread about it.

I understand where you are ''coming from'', EBree. When a rational poster-which is more than 99% of the posters here-tells a story about a bad experience there is usually no need for more to be said, although one might argue that new readers of Pricescope should be given a balanced a view of a vendor. (There is, after all, no guarantee that a new reader will open any thread other than the first one he was reading. So if someone who had had a positive experience with the vendor chose to respond by opening another thread, it might be overlooked.)

My problem is not with rational posters, however . Some posters will use an open forum to attack vendors irrationally. It is then that it is nice to be able to hear someone else say that he did not have a similar experience.

I guess I am saying that I do not see this as a black and white issue, but as one that has shades of grey.

AGBF

I completely agree, AGBF.