Wedding Wire Review System

How are you able to post reviews? I can't even access that option in my profile; I assumed that you can't until after your wedding date.

In general, I always try to look in multiple locations for reviews of any service or establishment; that's just good practice. (Also, it doesn't look like you've been here for very long, so where are you "hearing and seeing" people having problems?)

I had no idea. It explains why so many have perfect, glowing recommendations! It reminds me, though, how most business won't give references. for former employees because of potential lawsuits if they give bad references. My old job literally gives job title and dates of employment, that's it. When I used to do hiring, it was so irritating to get those pointless kind of references only to find out later the person was fired for stealing! I could understand not allowing reviews that are out of line in some way, but an honest, negative review should never be disregarded!

Natasha: My point is, I don't see any evidence provided that this is actually the case. Many online sites have plenty of negative reviews--yelp.com, for instance (although there have been accusations about them having shady practices to decide which reviews get priority, etc.).

So I'd like to hear from people who've actually POSTED reviews here, and what their experiences doing so have been.

Cabell is right -

1st: you can't post a review until AFTER your wedding.

2nd: I've seen SEVERAL very negative reviews on WW. Where are you getting this information, sewicob?

Cabell - take it down a notch. geez.

I'm getting this information from the vendors I've tried to use and the vendors I've come in contact with that weren't the best experiences.

Besides, I posted a review on a photographer I used for engagement pictures and my wedding isn't for awhile, so I don't know why it let me do that but it did. Of course they forced me to take it down because it wasn't glowing, but whatever.

I can read forums, even if I don't post regularly. And these kinds of attitudes are why people don't. Why do you care how "long" I've been here? This isn't a job; it's an online forum. Calm yourself.

I've posted many reviews, one which wasn't horrible but it wasn't totally positive either. And it is still there. I wonder if vendors have the ability to take posts down they don't like? I honestly don't see anything wrong with that, it is their way of advertising. And if something seems offensive, it should be taken down. Plus, there are always 2 sides to a story/review.

@ sewicob-most all soon to be brides on here are super sweet and helpful. i think sometimes when we type things each person will perceive them in a different way then intended. like with text messages..you dont get to hear the actual tone of a person so things get mis-communicated...

anywho...i always hate that about the ratings here too.. tehy all are so "perfect" wierd.

Sewicob-why are you personally attacking Cabell? She did nothing but try and help you. Telling her to take it down a notch is a little over the top. Don't post a thread if you don't want opinions (either for or against you) posted. Feel free to take it down a notch.

Try and find a way to contact ww personally if you think you aren't able to leave a proper response to a vendor. Are you posting a review in regards to how they handled you during an "interview" for your wedding or did you actually receive services from a vendor you're trying to post a review on? I can def see Cabell and MrsJoseph's point of views though..don't be so defensive. They weren't out to offend you.

Not sure, although I have heard something similar in the past (that WW takes down the negative reviews.)

@Potters- that would be fine if it was the vendors' website but this is a public forum and reviews are designed to help.

Assuming that the negative reviews get taken down, I think one thing that can help is seeing how MANY good reviews are and reading the substance of the good review. Also checking out other independent sites like google or yelp.

I am a vendor and I dont have a way to take down reviews that I think arent in our best interest. The only way I can think that it would be possible is to contact the admins of WW and explain the circumstances of the review and why it might not be on the up and up. I havent had an issue like that so I dont know if it would work or not.

I just looked at the review section and there is a way to respond or dispute a review. I had never looked before so I didnt know it was there. Not sure what happens if you hit dispute since I have never done it.

You can have a review removed at any site if you can prove that the person wasn't a client (they'll go back and ask the reviewer to provide a signed contract from the vendor). Reviews are for people who have used the services. I know WW was working on changing the system so you could post reviews prior to your wedding date.

IMO, reviews are the LAST step. Too many people rip into vendors in the review instead of trying to work out a problem which is usually a simple misunderstanding. I'd rather have an honest correspondence of what I can do better to improve. I always try and work out a solution with a vendor (I buy almost everything online) before going and posting a bad review about the business. If the product is good and the problem is solved, what is left to be negative about??

I've never noticed any complaints by anyone about reviews being taken down and most WW brides stick around for a while. I've also seen several negative reviews.

I DO know that in order to write a review you need to have completed services with the vendor. I also know that you need to have passed your "wedding date."

Not sure how the OP managed to post a review (I've tried and cannot) unless she has changed her wedding date. I can't imagine any vendor telling a potential client that their negative WW reviews were removed.

I DO know that sometimes WW "cleans up" reviews (the vendor has a lot of reviews so WW removes a group) as I have had a vendor tell me that grouos of reviews have been removed...

I wasn't able to do any reviews until AFTER my wedding date. All of them were good, one not so much... and they are all still there.

Oooh this reminds me of when a popular travel site was accused of having hotel staff posting negative reviews of other hotels, while boosting reviews of their own properties.

LOL Just a random thought.

IMHO the best reviews come from friends, fam and co-workers. At the very least, these people would catch hell if they steer a bride wrong, so their recommendations have to be truthful!

Nicci: Thanks--my point was, how would someone have collected hearsay on the topic if they haven't been using the site much? The extreme defensiveness I got in reply to the question makes me wonder about the motives for making the post, frankly. :p

Matt: That's interesting--one vendor that I ended up booking had one negative review, but when I read it, it turned out to be entirely based on their failure to return a phone call from the reviewer. The reviewer hadn't actually booked or used them! They returned my call very promptly, and the people who had actually used them really liked them, so I went ahead and booked.

Teresa: I think aside from any possible behind-the-scenes shenanigans, there is a tendency to positively evaluate services you used after your wedding is over, because you have kind of a "glow" surrounding the whole day in your memory, and nobody wants to think back and realize that some part of it really sucked. It's a psychological thing.

The vendor probably doesn't track them that closely. Reviews are for people who have USED the services. Most all the sites that I am on, you can have a review removed just be requesting the reviewer provide the site with a contract. Otherwise a person that holds a vendetta against someone could come post as many negative reviews as they want!

@Cabell -I totally agree with you. Seems that the OP was only looking to start something, not get something resolved. Why would WW suddenly let the OP post a review when no one else can? That makes me say hmmmm....

I've actually seen a few negative reviews, and remember this particularly, because the caterer we are going with had about 20 good reviews, and one really awful one. I read the awful one, and it was not taken down, but the vendor was able to respond, and it was the factual response from the caterer to the bride that made me actually want to go with the company- the fact that they follow up on thier complaints!