Product Review Forum

[snakeblitz33]

Saltwaterfish.com,
I was wondering if you could create a forum where people could do some serious product reviews. One review per thread. In the thread people can tell the features and benefits of the product, whether they liked the product or would recommend it. Also, what kind of mods, improvements, or things that they did not like about the product. How much it costs on average at local fish stores and such.
In my opinion, I think this would create more dry good sales for you all. It would bring more people who are just surfing on the internet for reviews on products. They can find the forums and eventually order goods off of this site. There is also a plus for you, because in each review, the person who is writing the review can also say if it is available on SWF.com to buy. (perk for you.)
Besides that, there are people who always ask "Is this a good product?" and they could get that answer in the product review forum before asking it in another thread. Also, when people do ask about a product in another forum, someone can simply find the link to the review and post it, without answering the same questions over and over again.
It's ultimately up to you, but I believe it is a sound business decision to let people review products that you all sell as well as letting new people find the forums/website through product reviews.
I personally think it's a great idea. Does anyone else?

 

[mboswell1982]

i totally agree snake.
i gots a question for ya man, what can you tell me about the reef octo bh100ss hang on the back skimmer? i found one new for 107 bucks on another site, an was wondering what anyone could tell me about it, ive heard some good things, but someone else was saying its a POS, an was wonder what you, with your experience, could tell me about it
thanks snake
mike

 

[snakeblitz33]

Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2909135
i totally agree snake.
i gots a question for ya man, what can you tell me about the reef octo bh100ss hang on the back skimmer? i found one new for 107 bucks on another site, an was wondering what anyone could tell me about it, ive heard some good things, but someone else was saying its a POS, an was wonder what you, with your experience, could tell me about it
thanks snake
mike
mboswell, I can not give an accurate review because I have never used one. Someone who has used one can create a thread for a review. Anyone that has used one can comment on how good or bad it is in the review thread. People can also give their opinions on what it looks like or how well they think it works - but it won't be accurate if they haven't ever used one.
I think that this product review forum is a great idea still - Even if it has to be in a specific format. A format that can be stickied in the top of the new forum. Such as:
Product Name:
Approx. Date purchased (month, year):
Approx. cost: $xxx.xx date: (month, year)
Features:
Benefits:
Pros:
Cons:
Mods:
Your opinion:
Recommend?:
SWF.com has it?:
There's a lot of equipment out there, but most of it is about the same as well, so a study or research can be posted for a product as well, like T5 lights:
T5 light bulbs
Daylight:
Actinic:
Variation:
Distribution of light:
Spectrum:
Bulb lifespan:
Actual bulb lifespan:
Color Spectrum chart compaired to Metal halide and Power Compacts:
Average Cost: $xxx.xx Date: (month, year)
Ambient Heat generated:
Aquarium temp problems:
Pros:
Cons:
Features:
Benefits:
Retrofit Kits: yes
Reflectors recommended: Individual
Etc, etc, etc.
Personally, I would take the time to do some of these product reviews, and I am sure that many others would as well.

 

[spanko]

Isn't that what the Lighting, Equipment and DIY forum is for?

 

[jackri]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2909298
Isn't that what the Lighting, Equipment and DIY forum is for?
Yes, but then to do a specific product review would be helpful in people picking out new equipment they may be thinking about buying instead of a more general lighting question like halides vs t-5 or something like that you could do a product review of say phoenix bulbs.
Just my .02

 

[snakeblitz33]

Lighting, Equipment and DIY forum for me is a place to ask questions of how to set something up, what type of equipment to use, how to use it, how to adjust things the right way, DIY projects that people do - and ask how to do them.
So, if you say - What kind of skimmer do you all recommend? And there's two people who are very strict and adamant about seaclone 100 skimmers being the absolute best, and everyone else saying no - the buyer can go to the product review section and get a much better idea of what products are the best and if swf.com carries it.
I think I'm going to write up some mock reviews for certain products to see if people like it or not in the lighting, equipment and DIY section of the site and if there are people who like it, then it proves my point of needing the product review forum.
I think it's an excellant opportunity for the crew of swf.com to listin up to certain new products that are selling very well on the net.
Of course though, it is still up to the owner of swf.com to go through with it or not.

 

[coral keeper]

I like the idea.

 

[stdreb27]

I dunno, (sorry but you invited me) if you have looked at other sites with much higher traffic, I typically don't find a good reviews, or it has been loaded with spam. And that is with a much larger base to draw from.
Second the question arises what about products swf does not sell. People browsing a section will see products not available through this website and be drawn elsewhere for purchases. It might be worthwhile if limited to product sold through the website however. It is one thing to mention a quality skimmer in the thread, another for a vender to set up a product review section with any sort of needed organization.
Also, this has been done, on a larger scale, for a smaller forum used to drive traffic to their store side, innovation, not a scaled down duplication of another site is needed.

 

[gmann1139]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2909726
I dunno, (sorry but you invited me) if you have looked at other sites with much higher traffic, I typically don't find a good reviews, or it has been loaded with spam. And that is with a much larger base to draw from.
This is my concern, as well. I think this would have to get the "50 post minimum". That way we know who is posting.

 

[alix2.0]

i think its an awesome idea! you all know, i have an opinion on everything. now i would be able to make my opinions known to the world!

 

[snakeblitz33]

Yeah, fifty post minimum is a great idea to get rid of some spammers. Also, if the thread is well presented and all the opinions are in about the product the thread(s) can be locked.

 

[gmann1139]

Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2910184
Yeah, fifty post minimum is a great idea to get rid of some spammers. Also, if the thread is well presented and all the opinions are in about the product the thread(s) can be locked.
Thread, or forum?
One thread with reviews is going to be too difficult to navigate. I thought we were talking another sub-forum.

 

[alix2.0]

i do believe that he's talking a new forum, with one thread per product. then, when all opinions on the product have been discussed, the thread can be locked, kind of like the archives.

 

[culp]

Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2910184
Yeah, fifty post minimum is a great idea to get rid of some spammers. Also, if the thread is well presented and all the opinions are in about the product the thread(s) can be locked.
they had that rule for the classified forum and look how well that worked out for us.

 

[snakeblitz33]

The classified section was closed for reasons that do not pertain to this forum.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Hmm, I guess no one else is interested in the product review forum? Well, I guess all I'm asking is if Saltwaterfish.com could respond to this thread?

 

[lion_crazz]

The only reason I could see causing the forum to fail is if every thread turned into a "where can I get this product" type of deal.
Other than that, I don't think it is necessarily a bad idea to have a product review forum. It would certainly help new comers who need to decide on a type of filter, skimmer, and powerhead. That way, anyone who has experience with that particular product can see the thread title and chime in with their experience.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/2912112
The only reason I could see causing the forum to fail is if every thread turned into a "where can I get this product" type of deal.
Other than that, I don't think it is necessarily a bad idea to have a product review forum. It would certainly help new comers who need to decide on a type of filter, skimmer, and powerhead. That way, anyone who has experience with that particular product can see the thread title and chime in with their experience.
on the flip side, you could argue, that it would help SWF identify possible new products. Remember that dry goods thread they had?

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2912115
on the flip side, you could argue, that it would help SWF identify possible new products. Remember that dry goods thread they had?
Oh yeah, I totally agree. If there is a high enough demand (i.e. lots of interest in the thread), SWF.com could look into stocking it on the website. Absolutely.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/2912123
Oh yeah, I totally agree. If there is a high enough demand (i.e. lots of interest in the thread), SWF.com could look into stocking it on the website. Absolutely.
I mentioned that earlier in the thread, but I still think that is a great benefit for saltwaterfish.com to take advantage of.
But, I can see where people can say "where do I get this product from?" sort of thing, which would be a little more work on the mods to monitor people from posting links. I know that I can try to do my part to let the mods know which threads have links.
If swf.com stocks the item, then we can easily say that you can find it on swf.com! (just incase people don't read the fact that they can in the first post of the thread.)