Grief over a review

[Gabapentin]

I'm really conflicted over a situation I find myself in, and I'm seeking some 3rd party opinions.

I recently wrote a review for a new product from a small publisher which I have somewhat of a relationship with; ie. I've playtested for them before. The review pointed out many positive things in the book, and was overall an approving review. There was one negative editing issue I pointed out, and in fairness, I harped on it pretty hard. However, I indicated the problem was known to the publisher and would be corrected in an errata. I gave the book a 4/5.

I was surprised when I received an email from the publisher telling me how disgusted (their word) they were with the review. How they felt betrayed. I was told, in essence, that if I couldn't give it a 5/5 I shouldn't have written it in the first place. I replied to the email, laying out my reasoning and pointing out that the review was quite positive, and not to mention a 4/5 isn't bad.

The reply was basically: you're wrong, you're going to destroy the company because of your terrible review. I was told the decent thing to do would be to pull the review. That's what I ended up doing.

Here's my quandry: I don't think I did anything wrong. Furthermore, I feel like I was bullied into pulling my review. Now that I've acquiesced, the publisher is all nice to me again. The change from the rather aggressive emails beforehand is very marked. If I was in the wrong, please please tell me. I'm really conflicted over this. The major question I'm asking myself is: do I want to have a relationship with a publisher who acts this way. Help!

 

[jaerdaph]

It's hard to comment or offer advice without seeing the actual review.

 

[Cergorach]

When companies tell you that you shouldn't post a review unless it's 100% positive (and scoring 5 out of 5 points is bloody amazing) are suspect and should stop distributing addictive and mind destroying substances to their employees.

I don't know what you wrote exactly, so i don't know whether or not the review was really disgusting, i haven't seen your handle before so i don't know if your the person that writes disgusting reviews. That reminds me, what is a disgusting review anyway?

I'm pretty curious which company this is and to a lesser extend the product. I'm not expecting to find this out... *sigh*

I only have professional (work related) relationships with companies, i tend to have relationships with people, i call those people 'friends'... If someone that isn't a friend reacted in that way they shouldn't bother to approach me again, friends on the otherhand have the oppertunity to make an appology ;-) But they should hurry...

In other words: "Give them a tool set and explain to them what the can do with the electric screw driver."

Personally i find that other reviewers should be warned of this reviewer, because this might happen again. You might want to consider contacting one or more of the staff reviewers...

 

[Old Fezziwig]

I agree with jaerdaph, but I will say that if a company really asked you to pull a 4/5 review saying it would "ruin" them, then they might need to make a reality check. I can only speak for myself, but a well-written, well-reasoned 4/5 is usually enough to get me to buy something, particularly if I'm interested in it.

As for whether or not you want to have a relationship with this publisher, you'll want to consider what type of relationship you want with them. I'd be a bit leery of continuing any relationship where the publisher felt free to bully me around over things like that. I just don't have the time for that sort of stuff. Still, it'd be easier to gauge this if you hadn't pulled the review.

Best,
Nick

 

[DanMcS]

What were they going to do if you didn't pull the review, kidnap your kitten and send you little tufts of fur taped to threatening notes?

Post it again, give them a 3/5, and include a note at the bottom of the review about how the company has a despicable marketing strategy of whining and complaining about less-than-perfect reviews. Companies like that need to be held up, ridiculed, and made known to everyone.

 

[jerichothebard]

I'm really conflicted over a situation I find myself in, and I'm seeking some 3rd party opinions.
...
The reply was basically: you're wrong, you're going to destroy the company because of your terrible review. I was told the decent thing to do would be to pull the review. That's what I ended up doing.

Here's my quandry: I don't think I did anything wrong. Furthermore, I feel like I was bullied into pulling my review. Now that I've acquiesced, the publisher is all nice to me again. The change from the rather aggressive emails beforehand is very marked. If I was in the wrong, please please tell me. I'm really conflicted over this. The major question I'm asking myself is: do I want to have a relationship with a publisher who acts this way. Help!

It's a quandry. First, a few questions.

1 - did you playtest the product that you playtested?
2 - were you paid for playtesting any of their products, whether you reviewed it or not? (and by paid, I mean any form of compensation beyond the free playtest copy and your name in the credits)
3 - Do you feel your review was unfair?


Now, here are my thoughts.

A - 4/5 is a great review. If I were writing RPG products, I would be thrilled with a string of 4/5 reviews.
B - Barring any unethical or questionable actions on your part, you should not pull a review due to pressure from a publisher. EVER. The whole point of a public review forum is to help your fellow community members by serving up an honest report of the quality of a product. It's a journalistic thing - never bow to pressure, from corporations or the government or even just your friends. If you're writing an editorial, you have the responsibility to stand by your opinions unless given ample, legitimate reason to change them.
C - If your review was honest and ethically delivered, then the publisher acted extremly unethically in pressuring you to pull a review. You should not allow them to set such a precedent.
D - If they are that worried about not having "perfect" scores, something's wrong with them that is out of your hands.
E - By agreeing to pull the review, you have undermined your own integrity and given them the opinion that you can be bought or bullied into toeing the corporate line. Not good.
F - However, if you were involved in the production of the product in any way, then you have already compromised yourself by reviewing a product that you couldn't possibly be objective about.

Assuming that you weren't involved with the production of the product you reviewed, I strongly suggest that you re-post the review, along with a note about their conduct, and sever your relationship with them. It's harsh, but their actions were really over the line.

But that's just my opinion, and I have pretty strong views on journalistic integrity. Which is, in many ways, what this amounts to.


Jericho

 

[BiggusGeekus]

If you knew the guy and he wanted a 5/5 he should have told you up front. Yeah, that's unethical and all, but given his reaction to your 4/5 I'm kind of unclear why he just didn't go all the way and pay your $20 for a perfect review.

 

[tensen]

Well, it is quite silly for a publisher to want a review removed. Even bad publicity is in itself good for a company. I'd personally rather buy a product, even with somewhat bad comments about it... then buy something without reviews.

But whether the publisher was right or wrong.. we don't know the full story... so we can't really tell you. And if you did it to stay on their good side... posting this thread won't keep you there. So why exactly did you do it?

 

[Crothian]

Repost the review. Unless you were factually wrong in your review then there is no need to remove it.

 

[Psion]

I was told the decent thing to do would be to pull the review. That's what I ended up doing.

Here's my quandry: I don't think I did anything wrong. Furthermore, I feel like I was bullied into pulling my review.

It sounds like the publisher was overreacting and that were bullied into pulling the review. Further, I don't think you were doing the publisher any favors by pulling a positive review. Fans can smell fawnishness. A positive but discerning review is far more credible that one that recognizes no error.

And you have done your fellow fans the disservice of withdrawing your insight.

I think you should consider reposting the review. If the publisher harps on you again, point him to Monte's article on advice for game designers:

http://www.montecook.com/arch_lineos62.html

Especially point #1.