EMAIL FROM CIAO

I recently asked if ciao would consider reinstating the monthly competitions. What does it cost them ? One diamond. What does it gain them ? Loads of people trying to compete to get that diamond and hence loads of reviews.

Looks interesting that they are considering the reinstatement of competitions and that changes are afoot.

Good morning Rachel,

Any general enquiries about community-related issues should be sent, as
usual, to either the feedback or info e-mail addresses. The overall decision
to re-instate the monthly competition will be taken by myself and you can
usually contact me through the feedback e-mail address. As you are aware, we
decided to suspend the competitions as we were unhappy with the format that
they then took. However, there will be some significant and far-reaching
changes in the next few months regarding the structure and functionality of
the community aspect of Ciao UK. Although I have significant input into
these changes, I have no overall decision-making authority, this being the
board members responsibilty. Saying this, we do hope to re-introduce the
monthly competitons at some point, but until the restructuring has been
implemented, I cannot give you an exact time-frame. I am sorry to be a bit
non-commital on this issue, but I cannot be any more specific at the present
time.

Best Regards

James

Quote :

significant and far-reaching changes in the next few months regarding the structure and functionality of the community aspect of Ciao UK

For the better or for worse, do you think?

Or will they just kick us all off and start from scratch?

Perhaps they have decided to do away with guestbooks, sack the abuse team and start all over again, though knowing the way in which they have been acting recently, a change in the community aspect could mean changing the colour of the site to blue.

That sounds a bit worrying in some ways doesn't it. I hope it doesn't mean they are thinking of minimalising the comunity aspect as for me that is a very large chunk of what ciao is. without it it just becomes another review site in my opinion.

Yes, I read it as them perhaps overhauling the community/Guestbooks, or even scrapping them altogether.

It will be interesting to see what does happen!

I think getting rid of the community is a good thing.

Sites like this will more than make up for the social side and maybe leave the comments box for, well comments you know?

None of us knows what it means. Look at the way in which dots have a negative effect on the site, and are a cause of much ado. Maybe they will overhaul that and get rid of dots. Enough people have told em. Or maybe keep them up to a certain level for new people to have the incentive, but stop them at poo colour

OOOhy, I'm nearly at Poo!

I think the fact that ciao are trying to do something positive is good. Let's hope they get it right.

Positive in what context though?

Is positive not paying people for writing and not giving people their money for months at a time?

I think that Ciao should have a better user policy and make earning money easier.

Their surveys have to be amongst the worst out there for qualifying for, there have been instances where you have answered questions for 5 to 10 minutes and then get told you do not qualify.

Other survey sites pay you a token gesture for not qualifying (One I still do pays 10p if you do not aulify and over a £1 for each one you do) but still people cling on to the hope the qualify for the lucrative booty should they get through the "You have given us enough info to carry out research but we wont pay you!" stage.

Nothing about Ciao makes you feel wanted or comfortable there and Dooyoo is very clique but you can amke a couple of quid for every review you post there and have a good laugh at the idiots who post tosh.

Quote :

Nothing about Ciao makes you feel wanted or comfortable there and Dooyoo is very clique but you can amke a couple of quid for every review you post there and have a good laugh at the idiots who post tosh

But why do they post tosh. I don't think laughing at em is the answer Angus. I really do not. Two new members that I rated this week and that I commented on improved and that to me is far more worthy. They wanted to be review writers and no one was telling em how it works.

As for ciao, let's face it it cannot get worse in its judgement as in the last couple of years it has gone down the pan. I keep the cup half full and hope that changes are for the better.

It is not the new members I find funny rach, but the old ones.

There is almost a template for writing a review and they almost read like a nursery rhyme at times.

nadadadada
nadadadada
nadadadada

It is almost like they are written without the slightest bit of passion or personal insight.

I made a point a while back on Dooyoo with my Blardy reviews and it was funny to see the response they got, cheered me up anyway.

Bu Tosh I mean I feel they are watching movies to review them rather than enjoy them.

I get the feeling people by a packet of crisps to analyse them and not eat them.

That is what I mean by Tosh.

At anytime, go visit the last ten reviews on Dooyoo and tell me, how many of them offer good consumer advice and how many are posted to impress the raters?

Wish I had time now Angus, but I don't. I have four acres of grass to cut and have to catch the neighbours in for their lunch, as they have my tractor stored in their barn. I shall look later though. I tend only to write about things that I am passionate about these days and find that some bore the arse off people, but if one comment says that they are pursuaded, kind of makes the effort worthwhile, so try to get as much detail in as I can. Might read boring but I try.

Let's talk people. Our input is needed by ciao. Lets get together and list what things we think are valid for changing on a site like ciao to help the site improve.

Just got another email.

Hello Rachel

As I mentioned in my previous mail, we are still looking at ways to improve
the format of the competitions run for the community and as soon as we have
finalised our ideas we will let our members know. Contrary to a number of
opinions, both on Ciao UK and external forums, we do take on board member
feedback as we realise that that our members occasionally do have a valid
contribution to make when it comes to the development of the site. Of
course, there are good ideas and bad ideas but the majority are given some
consideration. Essentially, technical and strategic developments have to go
through the entire management heirarchy of Ciao and Greenfield before they
are undertaken or implemented and for an organisation of this size, this can
be a frustratingly slow process. This applies to both staff and members. I
appreciate your feedback on these issues and I wish you a pleasant weekend.

Best Regards

James

Including the word ocasionally in that is a tad insulting don't you think?

Being fair, I believe that our contribution to site policy is minimal, but what do ciao get as feedback from members, apart from rants about site policy. Why not help us to move forward by preparing a report that is a mixture of views signed by all concerned, to show ciao that members can get together and can make valid comment that affects us all and the efficiency of ciao as a site as well.

That's what I thought!