Knot Annie

EKobrenski

A lot of brides are upset about the new policy allowing vendors to post. We also want to know why we are the only board that was singled out with this. This is probably one of the more collegial boards on the knot, and this feeling of vendors being encouraged to watch us is going to interfere with that. I figured I would post so everyone can see the response.

october010bride

I would also like to add that the knot was created and functions as a place for brides to learn from one another, work together and achieve a single goal... a wonderful wedding day. By allowing vendors to respond to negative posts, the knot then invalidates itself as a place for brides to learn from one another and work together. And by allowing the vendors to "lurk"and respond to our reviews we lose our ability to tell the truth. Without the ability to speak our minds and tell the truth there really is no need for a message board. Brides are smart enough to do their homework. If there is one bad review a person can investigate more to get to the truth, if there are 15 bad reviews there's no hiding the fact that the vendor is bad at their job.

richkatm

I agree with pp's! I think the new policy is lacking in the areas mentioned above. I've seen many a review that has been helpful and insightful and I think that by letting vendors "reply" then locking the post is unfair and completely ruins the purpose of the board. The board should be here to help brides with research not let vendors interfere with the natural advice/research and decision making process. I would love to see the new policy amended or removed. I also can't help but wonder if this is all a result of the recent "topic" of the bankruptcy at GCC and the venue suggestions that were taking place.

Shazzie116

I think it's absurd that only our board is being effected by this new  "policy". This is a place for brides to exchange information, opinions, and reviews according to our experiences. Very rarely does someone give a bad review that wasn't deserved by a vendor. I find that posters are very kind and even forgiving in many cases in the services rendered, even if they are less than ideal. We should not have to discuss alternative options for posting vendor reviews, and we should not worry about censorship in our review postings. We have just as much a right as vendors to say our piece, and the fact that a thread can be cut off when a vendor posts is ridiculous. If a review is bad, the vendor should examine why they have a disappointed customer, and brides should be able to feel like their opinion can be open and honest. It seems as if this is completely in regards to the GCC and vendor posts that were a result of this happening. It became clear VERY quickly that there were solutions and resources being offered to these brides, and vendors should not have been posting here. If they are upset that they did not follow the knot rules, we should not be punished for speaking up. These rules are set in place across all of the forums. If it goes for Boston, it should go for all boards or not at all.

jenwindy

Knot Annie,I feel partly responsible for the new recent vendor policy change on the Boston board. The unintended consequence of my comment may have been damaging for a vendor's reputation, but I have reason for my belief and would be glad to clarify if I were given the chance. However, I am unable to explain further because the thread is now locked from comments. This new policy defeats the intent of the forum board to share good and bad experiences with other brides.

jenwindy

Brides are smart enough to do their homework. If there is one bad review a person can investigate more to get to the truth, if there are 15 bad reviews there's no hiding the fact that the vendor is bad at their job.This is very true. On the flip side, one bad review is not going to break a vendor if they have a number of other brides out there who love them and will speak well on their behalf. By freezing the thread, you prevent those brides from speaking well of a vendor. Vendors need to take their whining ways elsewhere. We don't need it on this board.

Scarlet856

Well said JenWindy! Welcoming vendors to this Board in this manner is like bringing ants to the picnic. While this might serve as a CYA to the knot, it provides no service to the brides on this board and discourages meaningful exchanges and discussions that have otherwise taken place on this board.  The aspect about providing the vendor with the ability to respond and then locking the post is disturbing to say the least. IMO this is almost certainly going to deter brides from providing their honest opinons - information that is priceless to those of us seeking their input.  I forsee this board dratically changing as a result of this new policy and becoming someplace that I will not be comfortable posting information that can be manipulated in this horribly unfair fashion.

kebmtm071605

I just read that vendor response on the DJ post, and I see this whole thing basically turning into vendor advertisements.  It just doesn't seem in the spirit of the community rules.

kbmeow

 I am a newer knottie who does more lurking than posting. I just read the DJ thread.  I noticed that people really didn't say anything about his work but there opinion of him.  He came back with an add with way to much info.  never did he say, I am sorry you got that opinion but.....    I can understand a person wanting to explain something.  However closing the post after seems a bit extreme.  Everyone is entitled to there own opinion about a person.    I also think it should be Knot wide not just Boston.  A all or nothing type thing

Beantown Mama

I just wanted to say DITTO to everything PPs have said. I don't like the new policy at all.

shagadelk7

I definitely agree with you girls. All the DJ thread was a plug for his business, not a rebut on what people said bad about him. If that's all that the vendor reviews are going to turn into , I don't think it's worth welcoming them on the board.

MandahGirly

I did NOT realize that the Boston board was the only board being singled out like this. That is NOT cool one bit and definitely makes me wary of posting any potential reviews or even just ranting/raving about reviews. I also didn't know that a post would be locked after a vendor posts. I think this is a terrible idea! I think a vendor should be mature enough to PM a Bride with their concerns if they have them. While we can prevent vendors from lurking on the Knot, I think if said vendors act in a responsible manner, it shouldn't be as bill of a deal that is has already escalated to.

kmt_cas

I also agree 100% with the other ladies here.  This has been brought up several times, but how is it that Boston is the ONLY singled out area?  That is absurd.  If this is your new vendor policy (which I still disagree with but that is beside the point right now) it needs to be board-wide.  Singling out the Boston board is ridiculous.

foolforfood

I'm not sure why the Boston board is receiving this "special treatment". Unlike other local boards, we have the benefit of the lively www.boston.com wedding forums, which is pretty much a carbon coby of TK.  In the past, vendors had the right to post rebuttals on the the www.boston.com  boards.  However, those posts were not automatically locked after the vendor rebuttal.  I am not sure what boston.com's current policies are, however, I may be finding out soon enough.  I have to say that the DJ post shows how completely unnecessary the new vendor policy is.  Not 1, but 2 separate posters wrote about the same complaint.  That is not a coincedence.  Those brides did not stand to gain anything by posting.  Why would they make those comments if they were not their true beliefs???  They simply answered the OP's question honestly based on their first-hand experiences.  However, the DJ that replied does have a monetary gain.  His rebuttal was not even a true rebuttal.  It was advertising space. He did not once rebut the comments re: his overbearing and pushy sales tactics.  Hmm...I wonder why.As your legal team has probably advised you, libel is the printing of untrue statements that damage the reputation of another.  Each element must be present to prove libel.  In many cases, including the above matter, brides speak the truth.  I am sure both brides experienced aggressive sales pitches from the DJ.  They have no reason to lie.  Lastly, I wonder why reviewers are treated differently than reviewers on other opinion boards such as cityseach.com, chowhound.com, etc.  Why is it that other sites allow for open speech?  What makes TK brides so much different?

kates2480

I agree with everyone! and am just glad my wedding is over and I don't have to deal with this. I got lots of ideas and vendors from this board, I found it very helpful! and I'm sad that it won't be the same for other brides to be. I'm rarely on the board nowadays, but come back every once and a while to see how it's going, but this is absolutely WRONG! and I think you all should jump ship and make your own discussion board if it doesn't change SOON!

EKobrenski

Shagadelk...does knot annie check enough to see this?  or should we send an email?

foolforfood

I just wanted to add that this new vendor policy comes at a great time. At least 3 prominent knotties got married last weekend.  Those weddings have been highly anticipated by fellow knotties and they run the gamut of local vendors. Their reviews are due any moment.  I cannot speak for all of them, but I highly doubt they will post their reviews in the current climate.

foolforfood

Ekobs, if you want to share this thread with Annie, her email is ajones@theknot.com .

shagadelk7

Just an FYI, I've emailed Annie to figure out more details of this policy. I will be relaying anything to you girls as soon as I hear.

EKobrenski

thanks shag and fff! 

countrygrl10711

I agree... I turn to the knot to get honest opinions from brides about their vendors or reviews of other services. Allowing this new rule, brides wont be able to give their honest opinion and I think thats why a lot of brides come to the knot and post.

shagadelk7

Just an FYI, we aren't the only board with the vendor review policy.

foolforfood

But the rules only apply to certain boards.  If TK wants to do it right, the rules should apply to everyone, not just a select few.

EKobrenski

they may want to add a  "Vendor Harassment Policy" to complement the new posting policy, in light of recent events.

jamidandedb

[img]http://tinyurl.com/6vuk3e[/img]

jamidandedb

Don't mess with the knotties!

Wishin986

Why make the board more hostile - if you add vendors in for responses it's just going to start a separate banter -- a lot of people come here to vent and talk about anything and everything both wedding related and non wedding related - there is no reason that shouldn't apply to vendors rants/raves.  We're all going through the same thing so we can understand.  Doesn't make sense to make it an open forum for a discussion between a disgruntled client and a vendor.  Plus if the knotties are still working with the vendor and they see it it may adversely affect their wedding and cause friction. 

AlwaysABridesmaid...

We come to this board to speak freely and give honest opinions. Now if we post our opinions we have to face getting into a post war with a vedor? This is ridiculous. Set up a diffferent board for vendor comments and rebuttals! Leave our board alone!

Manda2828

ditto- /agree with pp

Knot Annie

I emailed your mod but it is definitely not only your board. We'd never target one board and have been posting vendor responses on other boards for a little over a month now. But, this is the first time we've received a negative reaction and I think I know why. Negative vendor reviews have never been allowed on The Knot. We have always deleted negative reviews because they violated our rules. But, now we are allowing brides to post honest reviews with the caveat that a vendor may reply. All vendor bashing should have always been deleted on this board. Also, with any new rule there is always trial and error. I think that in this case it has forced us to look at the rules more carefully and re-evaluate what can be posted and we have decided that a vendor will not be able to post an email from a bride. We have edited the response on your board so it no longer contains any quotes from the email. Also will make sure that the post is relevant to the topic at hand. I appreciate your feedback and realize this is a shock for your board since you didn't know that negative reviews were always deleted. Thank you.

jenwindy

This recent reply suggests that I am supposed to feel lucky by the new policy because other boards were not allowed to post negative reviews. I am not feeling it.We have maintained a harmonious community on the Boston board for a long time, even with less-than-stellar performance reviews. All of us need a lesson on what constitutes as "vendor bashing"; I do not feel I crossed that line.