just a suggestion many users and myself find useful on other forums.

To the mods:

There should be a Vendor review and a product review subforum.

This helps consumers by saving money on worthwhile products, while giving feedback to manufacturers on requested improvements.

Vendor reviews would also give feedback on good/bad service, the criticism should aid the vendor to improve on areas lacking.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Got some great examples you can link we can look at?


Here on CL to accomplish those things we have a couple of different approaches today.

First for product reviews they go specifically in the model forum for the vehicle they apply to. Create a thread giving product feedback on RSR springs for example and that would go in the suspension subforum for that model Lexus.

For vendor feedback our vendor marketplace is enabled to allow iTrader ratings should you wish to leave some for your experience. If there is an issue with a vendor, this very site suggestions forum consolidates those comments beyond itrader to try and get resolution.

 

Dave,
one example is how they lay it out on the Nasioc forum. They created a subsection called 'Nasioc reviews' with three subforum links visible from the main forum page.
Car part reviews
Vendor reviews
Dealership reviews

Of course rules have to be laid out for posters with actual experience with said part/vendor/dealership, to avoid obvious self-promotion, bashing, etc..

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=56


Thanks for explaining how the product reviews are laid out here on CL. IMO, this may make it harder to search for part reviews and may bury reocurring problems with a particular manufacturer.
Also, though the iTrader rating system has good intentions, it does not allow a person to create a lengthy dialog for the vendor or buyer, where someone can also chime in. Creating a subforum area would make a good platform where buyers can voice praise of services and/or settle disputes publicly, rather than in rare cases otherwise be ignored in the background via private message.