SimMarket reviews cannot be trusted

[greggerm 312]

Allow me to add to some of my thoughts from above...I will be taking any reviews on Simmarket with a veritable saltmine's worth of grains, but as some of you have already mentioned, if a negative review was *disrespectfully* harsh, then I can understand it being pulled. Saying that you didn't like a program and providing clear reasons why is one thing; simply saying that a product is poo and not giving readers insights as to why is quite another. (*This coming from someone who has NOT seen the original poster's review, so it is not a judgement on that).Nevertheless, this (alleged) quote from Simmarket..."...reviews are subject to review and may be deleted by the management or on developers request if they areunfavourable to our businness."...tells me all I need to know about the independance of the review - they should post that statement loud and clear with their reviews so that everyone knows.

[Guest timcclayton]

I understand that there is a wide difference of opinion about this issue (some of it though from clearly pro-SimMarket users - Mr Skorna for one, who gave me no option to reply to his comment on FlightSim.com because he made his comment, then promptly locked the thread! - http://forums.flightsim.com/dc/dcboard.php...ng_type=search)The real aim of my post was really just to warn other people like me out there that SimMarket has this kind of policy coupled with a non-existent refund/returns policy - a dangerous mix. The costs incurred, while annoying, were not the main reason for me being upset with SimMarket and I certainly have no axe to grind. And for those who doubted it here, my reviews on SimMarket were fair and balanced, not a rant - but thanks to SimMarket, I won't be able to prove that.I just don't like that "no refund" policy though, particularly when it's linked to that kind of review policy! It harms the whole community when people like me feel that they can't trust reviews and retailers - other industrious designers may well lose out because of SimMarket's attitude.And, above all, it's hardly ethical or fair trading.

[JSkorna 137]

Hi Tim,I did not post and then lock that thread. Why? Because I cannot lock threads.Sorry, Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://www.fseconomy.com/

[Guest timcclayton]

In that case, I apologise. The tone of your reply there looked as though that were indeed the case, but I should have done my homework and checked the mods' names first. Any idea why FlightSim.com would have locked that thread - are they part of the same group as SimMarket?

[JSkorna 137]

Hi Tim,Fair enough!I remember that I posted here and copied the same response after reading your exact same post at FlightSim. The only part I added was the question about how many other forums you had posted this at.No, there is no connection between them and SimMarket. But if I remember correctly, it was a preactive lock to prevent flame posts from starting.Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://www.fseconomy.com/

[Guest advina]

As was noted above, shopping on the internet is almost always "buyer beware." Unfortunately for the buyer, there are very few sources which permit him or her to actually "beware." Thus, I appreciate being informed that the reviews on the website may have been edited for content.Perhaps others are right and the deleted reviews were distastefully stated. Then again, maybe they were not. Certainly, having a review system that immediately posts user reviewers without first channelling them through an intermediary moderator suggests that the reviews posted are unedited and reflect the experiences, good or bad, of all those who saw fit to post.Now that we know that those reviews, rightly or wrongly, may have been edited, all of us buyers have an opportunity to beware.I appreciate the warning - it has made me more wary.

[Guest timcclayton]

Strange. Part of their forum rules state:"If one comes in here and insults our other guests, pick fights, is rude, or generally disrupts the flow of our gathering, they will be asked to tone it down or leave. The rest of us just want to converse. However, this does not mean that our guests can't debate like adults (i.e. with respect and thoughtfulness)."Now, I don't think my post was insulting, picking a fight, being rude or disrupting the flow and, even if it was, I wasn't asked anything by anyone - the thread was simply locked. I DO think the original post was in everyone's best interests as I think everyone has a right to know SimMarket's attitude and policies, and I can only assume that Flightsim.com have a similar editorial policy to SimMarket.Anyway, that's my last word on the subject :-abduct and, in hindsite, I probably wouldn't have bothered posting in the first place! :-lol

[drom 0]

I too appreciate the warning, it is good to know from a buyers perspective about biased reviews though I must say I always check multiple sites/forums before making a purchase (only if I don't know the author).If someone says a product is 'cr-p' and leaves it it's very hard to put much weight behind their post anyway but if they detail the issues/problems with the product then I am more inclined to investigate the specifics further if I feel they might affect me.If the author of this thread submitted a areview that was fair but negative and it was removed then I don't think he should be flamed for his post.RegardsJeremy

[Guest jboweruk]

I once wrote a bad review on Simmarket, and it's still there, even though after dialogue with the developer of the product I retracted what I said before. I didn't actually know how to get my prior (and it has to be said unfair) review of his product removed. The guy who wrote the program actually went out of his way to help me get it working properly, that was the problem I was having, it just wouldn't run at all. After he assisted me it worked fine. I think he's now working on several major updates to make it more compatible with other add-ons.

[Guest kittie]

:-wave Santa Claus does exist! Don't you know, it's Tim the Tool Man Taylor!!!Now that that's settle, I can go on with my day.

[urthgental 181]

Hi,thanks Tim for your post. This will really help me to evaluate payware add-on.As a newbie in the fs area, it's really hard to judge about the quality of add-ons and to recognize which sites offer independ reviews.avsim & flightsim publish reviews of great depth and quality.Regardless of the actual product, these letters give me confidence, that I can trust the reviewers here:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho..._id=1385&page=2I had some concerns about simflight reviews. There is to often a *must have* statement. Driven by your post I checked the the relation between simflight & simmarket which clarified a lot.http://media.simflight.com/sites.htmIf you can recommend any other trustworthy sites, please let me know.Regards,Heiko

[MD83 1]

I was looking at SBGR by World Sceneries:http://secure.simmarket.com/product_info.php?products_id=694The page clearly states that the scenery is "FS VERSION: FS2002 FS2004", and I was going to buy it. I then visited the publisher's website (http://www.worldsceneries.com/novosite/V_3_ws/V_3_eg/guarulhos.htm), where I was greeted with "FS2004 only" .... I have FS2002 :(.World Sceneries didn't reply to my email. Simmarket don't refund so I have decided not to purchase :(-------------------------------------------If it doesn't have a VC I won't be concerned :)

[Guest SageWisdom]

I agree with the original poster's remarks about SimMarket reviews. They are without a doubt commercially oriented and not worth reading for objective information. The same is true for the reviews at flightsim.com. They are really for the most part editorials promoting their advertisers, and if you are not an advertiser they have never heard of you.But I have no question about the integretiy of the reviews here at Avsim. I find them completely objective, even if it is for a product by someone who advertises here.My observation.

[boshar 6]

Don't have experience wit them but the FAQ (http://www.worldsceneries.com/novosite/V_3_ws/V_3_eg/suport.htm) at their website says:The WorldSceneries guarantees the compatibility between its sceneries and the original Flight Simulator 2004 (and its aircrafts as well). We do not bear responsibility for others

[Guest JTEK99]

>But I have no question about the integretiy of the reviews>here at Avsim. I find them completely objective, even if it>is for a product by someone who advertises here.Wow.Your standards for objectivity must be mighty low, my friend. I can't recall a single review at any of the major flightsim sites that recommended *NOT* purchasing a particular product.Statistically, I find that utterly fantastic.At least at Simmarket, I can hear at least SOME truths, even if I have to wade through some obviously ridiculous one-or-two-line complaints from the AOLers who manage to swim upstream and make it to the Review Submission Page. Thus, statistically speaking once again, I can easily say that: "Hmmmm... Four 10-20 line statements calling this product a complete and utter piece of garbage due to factors A, B, and C. I think I'll stay away from this one."Or I can head over to a major flightsim site and read: "There's very little wrong with this package, except for a few minor quibbles."Strange that there would be such a discrepancy between the two when, quite often, it's universally recognized that Product X is a complete and utter dud.