The New Intimacy

#Announcement - Changes to the Review Program pt.01 (Ideas for the future direction)

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Contributor: Gary Gary
Alright, please read carefully. We are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. I repeat, we are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. (For those of you who get panicky) However at this point the program does need a major overhaul.

The Review Program, as it is at this moment, how it has been, is no longer sustainable. What that means is that so many things have changed since the design of this program, that the current model has run its course.

Due to the massive growth of the community and the Review Program, most of the products that are eligible for reviews have reach their maximum number to assign. A little over two years ago we changed this number from (2) to (3) along with expanding our catalog and instituting our Sponsored Review Program.

Now that we are beginning to change our direction to specialize in more proven products, while expanding into other areas, the amount of product available for the Review Program has reached its limit.

A simple solution would be to raise the limit of product that can be requested, but that is only a band-aid remedy. In a short period of time we will only find ourselves in the same situation we are in now; where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find available items.

So...

What we have been discussing is refocusing the Review Program by drastically increasing the amount of points that you will receive for each published review that is submitted, along with increasing the discount percentages on Buyout assignments. Buyouts would then replace our current model of the 'free assignment'.

Yes I know this sounds terrible at first. But please take a minute to consider the current state of the program, then take a minute to consider how these new ideas can actually offer you more freedom to review anything that you want. You will no longer be limited by availability, or the price range of your rank. It is a little give and take, but it seems like a pretty logical and fair trade off to me...

What do you think?

(Thank you all in advance for your feedback!)
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Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Actually sounds like a very fair trade off! I see a lot of good logic in this idea, especially as Eden decides to hone its inventory choices.

So we would mostly focus on buy-outs, would DR's still be a part of the picture?
03/27/2013
Contributor: mpfm mpfm
This sounds good to me. It's been hard to find free assignments anyway. Will the DR program still be in effect?
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
So doing away with the monthly assignments, and increasing the discount on buy-outs? Would DRs and push assignments still exist?
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
The Description Review Program would not change. However, we only push DR assignments as needed, so this would continue to be a very small program.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
The Description Review Program would not change. However, we only push DR assignments as needed, so this would continue to be a very small program.
How will it work for students who are looking for assignments in relation to the Mentor Program?

When new products come out, will they just be assigned to folks for DRs or push assignments, instead of us requesting them? Or will they not be assigned at all.

I think the monthly assignment concept hasn't worked well for a bit, so I don't mind it going away. I do still think that new products should be assigned and reviewed by people who can write a detailed quality review, DR or no.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Can I assume then, that the status of Advanced Reviewer won't have much meaning, without monthly assignments. And our debates on the other thread, regarding voting and such, don't really matter?
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by charmedtomeetyou
How will it work for students who are looking for assignments in relation to the Mentor Program?

When new products come out, will they just be assigned to folks for DRs or push assignments, instead of us requesting them? Or will they not be ... more
There a few ideas about the Mentor Program as far as assignments go, but until we nail down these immediate changes I can't say for sure. Since the price limit at a student level is currently $30, perhaps we will allow the first student assignment to be a free assignment, and then the 2nd assignment would be a buy out.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Gotcha! I'll sit tight and wait for more info.

I will say that I like the idea, and I'm eager to know more. The monthly assignments were just getting everyone all angry and bitter because nothing was available, and trying to find products for students was tricky at best.

I agree that making buyouts a deeper discount would mean that people have more freedom to choose what they want to review.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by charmedtomeetyou
Can I assume then, that the status of Advanced Reviewer won't have much meaning, without monthly assignments. And our debates on the other thread, regarding voting and such, don't really matter?
Each level of change will affect many other aspects of the community. We will just have to go one step at a time here.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
Each level of change will affect many other aspects of the community. We will just have to go one step at a time here.
I don't need my whole seat...just the edge!

Thanks for keeping us informed, even if it means an avalanche of questions!
03/27/2013
Contributor: The Vixen The Vixen
I think this sounds like a great idea! I much prefer buyouts over free assignments because of the freedom to choose your product, and it's hard to find a free assignment anyways.

I'm curious, would our rank affect the level of discount for a buyout?
03/27/2013
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
Alright, please read carefully. We are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. I repeat, we are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. (For those of you who get panicky) However at this point the program does need a major overhaul. ... more
Sounds like great change to me, thanks for keeping us informed Gary!
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Questions are good! And I knew there were going to be a lot.
03/27/2013
Contributor: mpfm mpfm
I emailed you earlier about the Milestone Assignment Review. You indicated that is still available when a reviewer reaches 100 reviews. Is it safe to assume that will still be in place after these changes are made?
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I think this sounds like a great idea! I much prefer buyouts over free assignments because of the freedom to choose your product, and it's hard to find a free assignment anyways.

I'm curious, would our rank affect the level of discount ... more
That's a cool, interesting idea, but it would worry me since people could still write a million crappy reviews to up their rank quickly and then order with a deep discount. I like the idea personally, of course!
03/27/2013
Contributor: Trysexual Trysexual
Deeper discount sounds like a good idea and maybe even just carry that over for students, as I know not all students get/got free assignments. I'd rather see students enter the mentor program, who are going to put forth the effort to improve and stick around, rather than just grab their "free toy or two" and do the bare minimum.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I think this sounds like a great idea! I much prefer buyouts over free assignments because of the freedom to choose your product, and it's hard to find a free assignment anyways.

I'm curious, would our rank affect the level of discount ... more
Again... lots of ideas on that. We might have a tier system that incorporates rank, # of reviews, and time in the community. Also, if we did a system of tiers, I personally would want to include all current members in the top tier, and then as new people come into the community the would have to advance through the system.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Trysexual
Deeper discount sounds like a good idea and maybe even just carry that over for students, as I know not all students get/got free assignments. I'd rather see students enter the mentor program, who are going to put forth the effort to improve and ... more
I agree. I don't see an problem with no free things in the program. I didn't get any, and I didn't mind.
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
Again... lots of ideas on that. We might have a tier system that incorporates rank, # of reviews, and time in the community. Also, if we did a system of tiers, I personally would want to include all current members in the top tier, and then as new ... more
Sounds very good to me.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by mpfm
I emailed you earlier about the Milestone Assignment Review. You indicated that is still available when a reviewer reaches 100 reviews. Is it safe to assume that will still be in place after these changes are made?
I love the milestone assignments. As of right now, there is no plan to end these.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Trysexual Trysexual
How soon would/will all this be implemented?
03/27/2013
Contributor: Gary Gary
Quote:
Originally posted by Trysexual
How soon would/will all this be implemented?
Right now, I cannot say for sure. But I would hope as soon as possible.

(You all seem to like this idea, if the proposal gets approved this week... it could happen very soon)
03/27/2013
Contributor: charmedtomeetyou charmedtomeetyou
(Review Program Mentor)
Not that I didn't like getting monthly things, everyone likes stuff for free, but this seems smarter. You write your reviews, get more for each review and then use that to do buyouts for things you actually want at a deeper discount. It all sounds good to me.
03/27/2013
Contributor: mpfm mpfm
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
I love the milestone assignments. As of right now, there is no plan to end these.
Thanks. I'm getting close and was concerned that might be something that was cut. It's a very nice incentive to write reviews.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Trysexual Trysexual
This may be a stupid question, so pardon me if I sound ignorant (and slightly off topic). Does EF generate much revenue from advertising? (or avoid it?). I was always wondering if part of the reason the points for activity/forum participation etc. was so generous, involved keeping viewers active on the website, in order to generate higher ad revenue (which we know keeps many sites online and in business).

I, like others here, am on EF a good part of the day. I pretty much have a tab or two open at all times in my browser on EF. I figured maybe the google analytics or whatever stat site measured the time users spend on the site and thus determined their eyeballs were worth more $$, because of the amount spent on the site (ie HOURS/everyday vs. a few clicks and gone). This would be attractive to advertisers too, assuring that their ads got seen often by visitors (whether that be companies like Lelo or whatever...probably the penis enlaregment pill companies..haha).

Maybe you can't answer that too specifically in a public forum, but was that ever a consideration (present or future)? I love the look of the site being clean and all, but it seems like a potentially lucrative opportunity. Then again, I don't know quantitatively how much that would generate.

Sorry for the long post, but I sometimes wondered how the review system was sustainable myself, with so many users involved and maybe there was another angle altogether.
03/27/2013
Contributor: PropertyOfPotter PropertyOfPotter
I actually think this is a brilliant idea! Receiving more points for reviews + a larger discount for buyout assignments + instantly getting approved for the items you truly want = about the same as requesting a free assignment that you may or may not be super excited about!

I will be interested in seeing how this effects my students, but as far as how I feel about it for myself, I think it's wonderful! Thanks for keeping us informed, Gary!
03/27/2013
Contributor: Trysexual Trysexual
Quote:
Originally posted by PropertyOfPotter
I actually think this is a brilliant idea! Receiving more points for reviews + a larger discount for buyout assignments + instantly getting approved for the items you truly want = about the same as requesting a free assignment that you may or may ... more
Yes, 30% is nice, but there are sales so often, that you don't always need to use a buyout or can catch a better deal even on sale.
03/27/2013
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
I think thse questions may have already been asked & if so, I missed a response to them.

-how will new product reviews be handled?

-will there still be push assignments other than DR's?
03/27/2013
Contributor: Lovely Jubblies Lovely Jubblies
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary
Alright, please read carefully. We are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. I repeat, we are NOT going to be eliminating the Review Program. (For those of you who get panicky) However at this point the program does need a major overhaul. ... more
I think it's an excellent idea! I've only done one review but I really want to get writing more. This would be a great incentive to do that.
03/27/2013