Now before I start, I know that say travel reviews need to include a lot of info, and so would be longer than a review on Toilet roll.
Lately I've been reading lots of VH reviews I must add, but ones that tend to be giving the bible a run for its money in terms of length.
While when reading a book review it's useful to know a little about the author and other books they've done, I don't think it's necessary to overally pad the review. Here is a made up example : -

A review on Tesco's

My family have been going to Tesco's for many years, since my mother ripped her tights one day and desperately needed another pair.
So off we all went in our Ford car that is falling to pieces, to find our nearest store.

Now imagine the review carries on like that for another 20 or so lines, and then finally mentions the store. Only for at the end for the review to continue on for another 30 or so lines, with quotes form various papers about the store and the history to how tesco's began.

For me anyway, although sometimes it can make for an interesting read I don't think all that padding makes for a easy on the eye and interesting review.

What do you all think? Lisa x

I agree, but perhaps my example wasn't clear. Just imagine a review does contain everything you would want to know about a product. At the start and finish however it's contains lots of padding with lots of unnecessary info. Lisa x

Exactly! It's like a book review, all I mainly want to read is what the book is about, and what the reviewers opinion of it. I don't want to read streams and streams about the author, and quotes from the book for example. Lisa x

I think reviews need a certain amount of padding, but so long as it is in good proportion to the actual content. A few lines of intro and a few lines in summary is just a nice way to start and end a review, rather than launching straight into it.

I agree, but at times there are huge chunks at the start and finish. An interesting intro and a good summary is plenty in my opinion, as well as the stuff in between obviously regarding the product. Lisa x

I acually agree. I have marked down reviews because I simply had to wade trhough about three or four paragrphs of irrelevent trip just to get the information i needed. i suppose something like food revies it does not matter.

Quotes and lyrics can be good if they are short and ilkustrate somethingf but not whole verses of songs.

My pet hates are historys if the company whereit has no relevence, toilitires ingridents (unless they are natural products) and saying both about the alerrgies and the fullingridents lists on food reivews!!

I often mark down slightly if a DVD box set lists each and every episode with short synopsis of each, every boring when there are 20-25 episodes, list of extras and virtually no personal opinion.

CD reviews I take on a more individual basis, sometimes I don't mind individual tracks, other times it should be kept to a general feel of the CD with track listing at the end - if not too long if wanted - as I can skip over it.

Company history, biographies of actors, lists of actors, discography or singer/group from cradle to grave is not necessary in particular when combined with track by track listing of songs.

I once rated a food review pretty low due to the fact it talked about virtually everything other than the food it was supposed to discuss. My comment was "But what does it tastes like" after fighting my way through 3000 words of padding. Got a lot of stick for that.

I agree with the sentiments in this thread. Some of the travel ones go on forever and people will insist on sticking in lengthy histories about places that it's just as easy to look up on the Net. It's opinion that counts, not write everything you can about a subject and hope for the best.

So if a bra review had too much padding, rate it down ??

Depends what sort of padding, lol. Lisa x

No but I might if it were a review of underpants.

I recently rated 3 really long reviews H, they were all by the same person and to be honest they were so long I lost interest and forgot what I was reading so did not take in all the information...I was then subjected to a lot of abuse by a group of members who thought my ratings were unfair!! Firstly Helpful is actually a good rating and secondly a long and lengthy review does not appeal to all, I rated according to my own preference and shall continue to do so , despite the consensus of opinion amongst those few that disagreed !

Let's not get this thread any more specific please. I do understand. I gave someone a VH and they demanded an E in my private guestbook. I ignored their plea.