Great to hear of changes coming next year. My comments would be that I hope that the ratings continue to include a large point range with lots of room for subtle differences in ratings (i.e., 0 to 10). I don't like some services like TripAdvisor that try to encapsulate everything within a 5-Star rating system. I also hope that there continues to be multiple ratings for specific things, like currently is done in TL so things like bathroom, amenities, cleanliness, etc., all get reflected accurately.
As far as the consumer input, it is great to hear that is coming. For that to be successful, I think you must include a mobile app for iOS and Android that let's people rate the campground numerically while they are sitting there. Waiting until they are home, in front of a PC, I think will loose some reviews that people mint due on their smartphone while they are in the campground.
IF the new ratings and guides are going to have a public comment component, it needs to also have a component that will allow the campground to respond to those comments. On RVparkreviews.com my parks have had several negative comments that could be answered very quickly and easily if we had the ability including comments that could not be about our parks, but must be mistaken identity such as "the Pool and Gameroom were filthy", since we don't have game rooms or pools. Instead, there are negative comments sitting out in cyberspace that appear to be legitimate but are not.
Precisely why i suggested GS/Tl build a site, connected to the guides, a cross between rvparkreviews.com and the ARVC connected Guest reviews/rated .com sites,
applying only to member and listed parks.
The first is a useful yet free for all anonymous place to post on all camps,
The second too intrusive, restrictive of comment .
There is a need for the middle ground consumer comments in such a way that is more accountable than rvparkreviews and easier than Guestrated/ reviews.
Max
thread cc. to Mssrs. Bambie, and McKinnon
edit-- Bob, thats the way my guests see it.
* This post was
edited 04/11/12 10:29pm by SDcampowneroperator *
From a consumer perspective, I don't believe campground responses to consumer comments do any good, IF the goal is help the consumer determine what the campground is like. The only exception is when there is an error made such as the example highlighted above when there was a comment on the pool not being clean and the campground has no pool. This can be solved with a simple "Report This" link on every comment. This could be reported to the moderators for review and correction if determined to be a factual error.
Otherwise, again, if the goal is consumer information, campground comments to user comments don't do any good. If a user comments that the showers are dirty, I am not interested in reading that the campground's response is that they take pride in keeping the showers clean, or that they clean them twice a day or that it was a holiday weekend and a staff member called in sick. If that is all true, over time positive comments will trump the single comment about them being dirty. The campground response does nothing to help me decide whether to stay there or not. I don't know truth. Owner responses to consumer reviews only accomplish an online PR battle in my opinion and do nothing to enhance the information provided to the NEXT reader. Of course the campground will defend itself and knowing that, it doesn't help the reader decide the truth.
jeffcarp wrote: From a consumer perspective, I don't believe campground responses to consumer comments do any good, IF the goal is help the consumer determine what the campground is like. The only exception is when there is an error made such as the example highlighted above when there was a comment on the pool not being clean and the campground has no pool. This can be solved with a simple "Report This" link on every comment. This could be reported to the moderators for review and correction if determined to be a factual error.
Otherwise, again, if the goal is consumer information, campground comments to user comments don't do any good. If a user comments that the showers are dirty, I am not interested in reading that the campground's response is that they take pride in keeping the showers clean, or that they clean them twice a day or that it was a holiday weekend and a staff member called in sick. If that is all true, over time positive comments will trump the single comment about them being dirty. The campground response does nothing to help me decide whether to stay there or not. I don't know truth. Owner responses to consumer reviews only accomplish an online PR battle in my opinion and do nothing to enhance the information provided to the NEXT reader. Of course the campground will defend itself and knowing that, it doesn't help the reader decide the truth.
True, many parks would try and post to minimize the impact of a bad review. However, from an onwer's point of view, forums that allow individuals to insult, attack and damage a business without that business having any recourse is unfair and I would be very hesitant to advertise with such a site. There is a very vocal minority of people who take offense with businesses and are not above lying to damage that business. I have a friend who owns a neighboring park where a couple of years ago there were some terrible reviews posted about his park. Things like the power pedastals damaged the reviewers rig, sewage was leaking out of the pipes, drug deals were being openly conducted unapproved charges added to credit cards etc. I knew this couldn't be true and I asked him what the heck was going on. He said he had to kick a group out that causing trouble and damage to the park. They had actually dug a pit in the middle of one of their sites to roast a pig in. He was certain they were just posting trying to hurt his business. Those reviews last forever. He still gets questions about them, and probably has people avoid his park because of them. If he had the ability to respond, at least he could attempt to mitigate the damage.
Good dialogue on consumer comments and ratings. We don't have all of the specifics worked out just yet, however, we do understand the balance needed. Our approach most likely will be that we won't take anonymous comments, rather we will have consumers set up a profile before comments can be posted. Much like this site. We are also considering how we can allow park owners to address some of the comments that are posted. And we will continue to provide our ratings -- using the 3-part, 1 through 10 system we have in place so consumers have a standardized rating as well as consumer comments to help paint the picture of the park.
Ann Emerson
Vice President & Publisher
Good Sam Family Directory
aemerson@goodsamfamily.com
AEmerson wrote: Good dialogue on consumer comments and ratings. We don't have all of the specifics worked out just yet, however, we do understand the balance needed. Our approach most likely will be that we won't take anonymous comments, rather we will have consumers set up a profile before comments can be posted. Much like this site. We are also considering how we can allow park owners to address some of the comments that are posted. And we will continue to provide our ratings -- using the 3-part, 1 through 10 system we have in place so consumers have a standardized rating as well as consumer comments to help paint the picture of the park.
I suggest that the Park Owners be able to provide information to Good Sam and that Good Sam then follow up with the camper who made the post to arrive at some close approximation of what the occurrence was and then the Good Sam folks can post a "Good Sam Followup" much as is done on the Good Sam help line when businesses are contacted to assist in resolving a complaint. This seems to be a reasonable means for both parties. Of course there are any number of other sites as has been mentioned and GS has no sway over them. I must say I have not yet stayed at a GS only Park having had much confidence in the KOA system and have not been disappointed by them yet. Now that I am no longer a newbie and am feeling more confident I will be trying some this season.
I am very glad to hear that there is a review of the rating system going on as we have found in the last few years that quiet often the GS numbers just did not go with the park and normally felt like we had been misled by the GS numbers into staying at a park that was not anywhere as good as it's numbers indicated. I am writing from one at this time, one very near our home as we needed to do a check out on our new TT before hitting the highway. This is the highest rated CG in this area and the bathrooms are old, run down and dirty (8.5 with star??), there is approximately a third of the CG being used as what would be called a mobile home park down south here. The rigs have been here for years - before you ask how we know; shrubbery planted and with several years growth, tags either totally missing or as old as a 2008 registry. I cannot believe if this park was checked last year that it would not be hit on the numbers for having right at a third of the lots taken up with units living in the park and not camping - also an inspector here in Alabama should know that State Law requires either a tag or mobile home sticker or it is tax evasion. In addition they run a Marina and we were kept awake till late last night by boats being pulled out of the water and were waken this morning before 5 am with boats being launched - to the point of even pulling trucks with empty boat trailers onto the empty lots around us at that hour of the morning. I am going to do an evaluation of this CG later and will point out the problems, I am ashamed that GS would have a CG this near my home this badly misrated - not sure if it is a CG, mobile home park or marina but sure does not qualify in my mind for a 8.5/8.5 star/8.5! I would definitely like to see a consumer (camper) rating system along with the inspector numbers.
1998 F150 4WD, Heavy Tow package - rated for over 7,700 pounds
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2012 Jayco Jay Flight Swift
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This has been an especially informative topic. Most posts, including mine, have been off the OPs original question.
So far, it is a given that a majority agrees on a form of consumer rating connected to TL/GS/ Woodalls.
Someone , please post a new topic specifically addressng how you wish to see TL/GS/Woodalls be your trusted source of information.
Your idea could be instrumental.
Max .
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