We need a Better Business Bureau for our FSX purchases ...

[Icon 22 11]

Hello all,I just paid for an aircraft that was at best freeware quality. There were no screenshots of the 2D cockpit. It looked like it was out of FS3 at best. I have asked this company for a refund. I'll let you know how it goes.As fellow simmers we need to create a database/review for all aircraft/scenery, etc., that are offered for purchase. We can't ask AVSIM to host this site as it would put them in the middle, which is no fun or place to be.It has to be run with integrity and good judgement so we can rely on it. We need to state OUR feeling on quality and state how we were handled by the company that sells the aircraft, scenery, etc..Can we do this? Who can do this? And who has additional ideas on what can keep us safe as fellow FSX'ers. Lets stick together on this. What do you think?

[Bert Pieke 7,585]

IMHO, the Avsim forum is a pretty good resource for this... just search and ask fellow simmers for their opinion, or read the review if there is one, and you can avoid experiences like that.

[virtuali 4,421]

>And who has additional ideas>on what can keep us safe as fellow FSX'ers. Lets stick>together on this. What do you think?There's a very simple one, which I'm a strong believer of:Try-Before-Buy products...There's no better judge for a product, than you on your own machine, comparing against your own expectations.

[Geofa 108]

The "reader product review" forum might be a good place to start.http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=235http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

[doc1956 0]

>Can we do this? Who can do this? And who has additional ideas>on what can keep us safe as fellow FSX'ers. Lets stick>together on this. What do you think?Gary,I think that is an absolutely excellent idea! Instead of having to search different forums, Google searches, check old, outdated reviews etc having a database of user ratings on things like, Email feedback and support, value for price, brief comments on aircraft, scenery, grudges, praise, first impressions (etc etc) would be fantastic for users. It could be a one stop, first stop, place to go and see what users are finding out, particularly for new users who havent yet learned what developers are not worth pursuing and also those that definitely are. Perhaps the database could display averaged ratings to weed out users who are never happy with anything but what a beaut source it could become. It could be brief, not pages long, but providing all the key info in one tabulated format and dynamically changing as more users input?AVSIM would most certainly seem to be the perfect venue and I wonder if this isn't something that might be considered?Great thought Gary, I completely agree with you.Paul

[Tom Allensworth 1,532]

Geof, I agree with that suggestion 100%. The reader product review forum is truly under utilized and would serve as the perfect venue for readers to communicate their assessments of any given product (in addition to the opinions one can find here and other forums on AVSIM). The benefit to the review forum is that it encapsulates reader's opinions in one location, narrowing the search for information on any given product or add-on. Reviews that state "this product is XXXX" would not be helpful of course.As to the OP's suggestion, believe me; the community over the last 11 years has considered that numerous times. In the final analysis, the issue comes down to two pragmatic questions - who is going to pay the retainer for the lawyer, and who is going to pay for litigation when a product producer sues for defamation and slander? Reader opinions are one thing, statements that are declarative are something else again.

[Tom Allensworth 1,532]

See my post above. We have been there and done that. The review forum suggestion is a good one and should be utilized for this purpose.

[Guest fsxmissionguy]

Geof,The reader product review forum doesn't live up to its billing. There's one review - of a joystick.Take a few minutes and read the long, long list of requirements to post to that forum, and you'll realize why there are no reader product reviews there.To the OP (and anyone else considering a purchase from an add-on developer) ... unfortunately, you have to ask for community opinions BEFORE you buy a product. You'll usually get a good sense for whether it's worth the money. I've even bought some products ... just so there could be a "user review" on AVSIM for people to rely on.I also spend time on the developers forum to see what problems their current customers are complaining about ... but that's getting harder and harder as some lock their forums away until AFTER you purchase. And that right there is a dead giveaway.

[Geofa 108]

As Tom explained above-I think the rules are lawyer speak protection against lawsuit speak realities.I am sure a lot of people don't notice that forum-I know I hadn't until recently.http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

[doc1956 0]

Tom,Fair enough mate. Although the suggestion was just a Database of user ratings, nothing particularly different from what user opinions on the forums already post, just abbreviated and quick to review. The same level of Forum moderation would surely still apply, just as it does now, so perhaps litigation would be no different from the forums themselves and I have certainly seen some strong user opinions in those?The other thing is that, often, reviews don't come out on what all users would like to see, or as quickly, or they are outdated so the database would provide a dynamic source of updated User information. If the current Reader reviews are under-utilized there must be a good reason so perhaps a new look at reviewing is in order? I don't understand all the ramifications or implementation issues, it just seemed like a great idea from Gary. Thanks for reading anyhow.Paul

[Guest fsxmissionguy]

Yeah, I can definitely understand the sentiments.Even though opinions are protected speech (declarative or otherwise) ... someone still has to pay the suit when the offended party decides to sue, so I definitely understand Tom's reasons for wanting to do "quality control."

[Guest]

How does a user review posted in a specific forum differ any from a user review posted in this forum? I don't see the reason for all the rules. Its just a message board.

[Geofa 108]

Maybe Tom can explain. I don't make the rules-but I would bet lawyers did.http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

[slashed2 53]

That's a good question, I usually just do a search on this forum to see what people are saying, or maybe google it. Could be because it's specified as a review forum and that indicates Avsim responsibility for the content?

[Icon 22 11]

I did do a forum search for ""company name" customer service". The search yielded 1 hit which was uninformative. After that I felt pretty puffy and sprung for the aircraft.