Feedback Request - Potential New vBulletin Product

Discussion in 'vBulletin Discussions' started by gnatster, Dec 4, 2009.

  1. gnatster

    gnatster Regular Member

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    [FONT=&quot]Over the last few months several of our customers have expressed an interest in having a vBulletin product developed to support reviews. While there are some solutions available the feeling is that there is not a high quality, fully supported, and actively developed product that tightly integrates with vBulletin. In order to assess the interest in a product of this nature, collect requirements, etc. we are looking for feedback.

    If you would please indicate if you are interested in a such a product please post in this thread. Assuming there is sufficient interest we will start collecting requirements.

    Thanks...


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  2. Chani

    Chani Grand Master

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    I could probably use a product where users upload a file (image, video, text file) and users could review it.

    But as far as product reviews, I don't really have an interest in that. Sorry.
     
  3. kneel

    kneel Regular Member

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    prolly not here...but I run a toyota forum...so idk...how would you use that on your mini site?
     
  4. gnatster

    gnatster Regular Member

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    For my own site I have multiple ideas on useage.

    1. Shop review - User goes to a local shop, writes about experience. Rates various aspects such as cost, quality, cleanliness, estimate accuracy, timeliness, loaner cars available. There are also feilds to put in contact info, address, phone. Others can add to it as they use the same facility.

    All this is searchable in many ways included distance from zip code. Build in Google to/from directions and mapping features as well. Allowing for others to find shops in the area with reviews by people you know. Potential to monetize this is high as well in a regional advertising model. Shop owner pays to be on site with small banner, maybe sponsoring the forum that a local club has on the site.

    2. Vendor Reviews - As members purchase from the various site vendors they add their experiences. Site members learn over time who the good guys are.

    3. Product Reviews - Company X makes a Cold Air Intake. Soeone on the site has one. Review is set to gather information about the part. User fills in some blanks, writes his/her experience with the part. Others add to it. Junk gets weeded out pretty quick. If vendor is part of site as well they get good feedback on what works and what doesn't. For those users with issues a good vendor would contact and help determine the issue.
     
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  5. gnatster

    gnatster Regular Member

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    With the basic requirements we have currently that would be doable. User could post a file (image, video, text file) . A custom set of attributes is created by the site admin. Off the top of my head things such as EXIF data for a photo site. Title, Author whatever... users would rate and leave comments.
     
  6. Chani

    Chani Grand Master

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    Awesome! :D

    I'm all for it, then. :)
     
  7. Nick

    Nick Regular Member

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    This is something I could find a use for on perhaps all three of my forums. Both of my bird forums could use a Product Review script and AA could use webhost and maybe forum script review sections.

    Might be something I'd be interested in checking out.
     
  8. FullMetalBabe

    FullMetalBabe Zealot

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    8) Something like this could be useful to my anime community in which they review anime series or Manga series. X3 I'm all for it!
     
  9. Haltech

    Haltech Novice

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    I would be interested, but it has to support multiple images obviously and page breaks..

    Right now i have a bastardized system using VBMagazine, which the only thing i use out of it to write my reviews is the multi-pages plugin. Support is non existent by that guy and if you ask him questions about how to do something, he gets all pissed off at you. I explained to him, if you write a damn manual for this software you develop, it may cut down on people asking you questions, directly, no?

    anyhow, check out these links below to some of the reviews ive written. God knows, i would like to see a more thorough product designed for this purpose and would pay for it.

    Cobb Tuning 3" 07-08 MazdaSpeed3 Street Downpipe Review - Mazdaspeed Forums

    Cobb Tuning Mazdaspeed 3 FMIC (Front Mount Intercooler) - Mazdaspeed Forums

    Cobb Tuning Mazdaspeed 3 Short Throw Shifter - Mazdaspeed Forums
     
  10. Shelby

    Shelby Regular Member

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    I can't say I'd be terribly interested. I imagine though that a fleshing out of the CMS could perform this feature just by adding the ability to create custom fields. Anyway, yeah, not interested.
     
  11. superfishnz

    superfishnz Novice

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    I too would be interested but it would really depend on the SUPPORT side of things.

    VB is good and highly security conscience. So if I took on a product, I would like to see it readily worked on and any security 'holes' being fixed. I would definitely pay for something like that.
     
  12. Haltech

    Haltech Novice

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    We all have different visions and purposes when we run forums Shelly. Most Automotive Enthusiast and Computer Enthusiast forums do extension reviews if you ever look on the net, which is why something like this could be very useful without having to have some $10K website built.
     
  13. Nick

    Nick Regular Member

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    If the CMS were to become capable of this, it's still no good for those of us who don't plan to touch vB 4.
     
  14. BamaStangGuy

    BamaStangGuy Administrator

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    You say 'Tightly integrates with vBulletin' but I see that lacking greatly in one of your current products, the Garage system.

    For example, why do you not 'tightly integrate' the current vBulletin Album system into the garage? Why recreate the wheel? vBulletin already provides a built in way to share photos. Use it. Let members choose which of their albums show up in their garage and ditch all the code used to recreate another album system.

    Also, your garage designs lack creativity and are just plain.... plain. Thought should be taken in about what kind of information is most important and how you can make it as easy as possible to make that information visible and easily found via search as well as on the page.

    I just don't see a whole lot of wow with any of your products. That's the honest truth. I was very interested in your vendor tool product but after looking at it I just wasn't all that impressed.

    If this is just going to be another one of those review systems that act like a forum but the first post looks different then it's not worth it.

    With that said, if you want a nice product and want detailed feedback on it, I have a few ideas that deal with email marketing with vBulletin.
     
  15. 2dub

    2dub Regular Member

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    I have used both review post and GARS. I've stuck w/ GARS but am always looking for something better.

    The rest of my site is in WordPress and I've looked at some things with WP.

    Reviews are a pretty popular feature of my site that the members really seem to appreciate.
     

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