- Joined
- Mar 27, 2011
- Messages
- 14,125
- Points
- 113
Reviews are a big part of what make this forum so great. Yet I often come across reviews where new members come away feeling angry, and forum veterans are left frustrated :undecided:
We should always encourage each other to post reviews about the various lasers, services, companies, and people that cross our paths. :yh:
So I'd like to cover some very basic review Do's & Don'ts.
Review DO's & DON'Ts For Laser Pointer Forums.
This is meant to hopefully clear up the mysteries of unwritten rules here on LPF for our newer members, and save the nerves, and blood pressure of our veteran members.
Without further ado...
The DO's! :wave:
DO Be completely honest about the product you're reviewing. If you are receiving a discount, partial refund, or some other compensation for the review, be honest about it. Honesty is the best policy. Getting something in return is NOT wrong, nor does it invalidate a factual review.
DO Wait until you actually have the product you are reviewing in hand. Few things are as frustrating as a thread that gets forgotten, after it is made with something along the the lines of "I ordered laser XYZ from Company ABC, this is my review! Wooo HOOO!" and then the thread is never updated.
DO Be as detailed as possible. The more details you provide, the better. For example; length, width, diameter, weight, type of lens, current draw, and divergence.
DO Try to format your review so it is easy to read. Few people enjoy reading walls of text. Use the Advanced Edit screen to adjust the formatting, and the Preview Post option to see how your post will appear.
DO Post your review in English.
DO Be mindful of your grammar, abbreviations, and syntax. Nobody enjoys reading a review riddled with spelling mistakes, and abbreviations meant for texting.
DO Post lots of nice pictures! You know the old saying? Picture is worth a thousand words... Well it's just as true now, as it was when photography was in it's infancy. You don't need to be a photographer, to take great photos. Here's a wonderful guide to taking pictures: Link.
(Also if you don't post pictures, expect this to happen:shhh
DO Post a video. While pictures are great, a video can be even more informative. Some of the best reviews contain both a video, and lots of pictures. If you are camera shy, that's ok! I am too
You don't even need to talk.
Now that you've gone through the DO's, some of the DON'Ts might seem silly to you never the less;
The DON'Ts! :tsk:
DON'T Ever lie in a review. I cannot over-stress this enough. This forum is extremely vigilant, and knowledgeable. The truth always comes out. If you are benefiting in some way from the review, just be HONEST about it.
DON'T Post a review on a product, or service, until you have actually received the product, or the service has been completed! I know it may be tempting to post a review after placing an order, and getting great service during the order process, but hold off until you have the product, and it hopefully also surpasses your expectations.
DON'T Get offended, or defensive. Sometimes people here are just grouchy, grumpy, and angry. Usually they still mean well though, and most of the time know what they are talking about.
DON'T Be discouraged if you are not an English speaker. LPF is an international forum, and while people will be picked on for being lazy with spelling, and grammar, no one will fault you for not properly being able express yourself when English is not your native language. Some of the best, and most welcome reviews on here come from members outside the US.
DON'T Be intimidated! Every single person here, without exception, was a "noob" at one point :shhh:
DO WRITE A REVIEW!
I hope that this helps clear up some confusion, and look forward to reading your reviews in the future.
Please comment, and let me know if I missed anything in the DO's and DON'Ts.
:thanks: for Reading!
P.S. - http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/review-formatting-guide-yours-easy-read-84623.html#post1224748
We should always encourage each other to post reviews about the various lasers, services, companies, and people that cross our paths. :yh:
So I'd like to cover some very basic review Do's & Don'ts.
Review DO's & DON'Ts For Laser Pointer Forums.
This is meant to hopefully clear up the mysteries of unwritten rules here on LPF for our newer members, and save the nerves, and blood pressure of our veteran members.
Without further ado...
The DO's! :wave:
DO Be completely honest about the product you're reviewing. If you are receiving a discount, partial refund, or some other compensation for the review, be honest about it. Honesty is the best policy. Getting something in return is NOT wrong, nor does it invalidate a factual review.
DO Wait until you actually have the product you are reviewing in hand. Few things are as frustrating as a thread that gets forgotten, after it is made with something along the the lines of "I ordered laser XYZ from Company ABC, this is my review! Wooo HOOO!" and then the thread is never updated.
DO Be as detailed as possible. The more details you provide, the better. For example; length, width, diameter, weight, type of lens, current draw, and divergence.
DO Try to format your review so it is easy to read. Few people enjoy reading walls of text. Use the Advanced Edit screen to adjust the formatting, and the Preview Post option to see how your post will appear.
DO Post your review in English.
DO Be mindful of your grammar, abbreviations, and syntax. Nobody enjoys reading a review riddled with spelling mistakes, and abbreviations meant for texting.
DO Post lots of nice pictures! You know the old saying? Picture is worth a thousand words... Well it's just as true now, as it was when photography was in it's infancy. You don't need to be a photographer, to take great photos. Here's a wonderful guide to taking pictures: Link.
(Also if you don't post pictures, expect this to happen:shhh
DO Post a video. While pictures are great, a video can be even more informative. Some of the best reviews contain both a video, and lots of pictures. If you are camera shy, that's ok! I am too
You don't even need to talk.Now that you've gone through the DO's, some of the DON'Ts might seem silly to you never the less;
The DON'Ts! :tsk:
DON'T Ever lie in a review. I cannot over-stress this enough. This forum is extremely vigilant, and knowledgeable. The truth always comes out. If you are benefiting in some way from the review, just be HONEST about it.
DON'T Post a review on a product, or service, until you have actually received the product, or the service has been completed! I know it may be tempting to post a review after placing an order, and getting great service during the order process, but hold off until you have the product, and it hopefully also surpasses your expectations.
DON'T Get offended, or defensive. Sometimes people here are just grouchy, grumpy, and angry. Usually they still mean well though, and most of the time know what they are talking about.
DON'T Be discouraged if you are not an English speaker. LPF is an international forum, and while people will be picked on for being lazy with spelling, and grammar, no one will fault you for not properly being able express yourself when English is not your native language. Some of the best, and most welcome reviews on here come from members outside the US.
DON'T Be intimidated! Every single person here, without exception, was a "noob" at one point :shhh:
DO WRITE A REVIEW!
I hope that this helps clear up some confusion, and look forward to reading your reviews in the future.
Please comment, and let me know if I missed anything in the DO's and DON'Ts.
:thanks: for Reading!
P.S. - http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/review-formatting-guide-yours-easy-read-84623.html#post1224748
Last edited:
