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By Helen of Troy on 30th Oct 2006

Helen of Troy's Ratings

Overall value	10/10
Helen of Troy's recommendation

Good Points

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I found the Review Centre quite by chance on Google search when looking for reviews on a particular car I was thinking of buying. I found what I was looking for and bought the car. I then decided to check reviews for other things, and found most very helpful. I got hooked.

A bit nervous but excited writing my very first review, I waited in eager anticipation to see it! I have since written many more on a huge variety of things and services, some good, some not so good! Looking back now on my first few, I feel I could have written better, but was a bit green! I have only had a PC for less than a year, therefore I am still learning and have learned a lot through the Review Centre. I am building up my keyboard speed the more I write, and I enjoy writing reviews.

I also leave comments if I feel the need, rather than just leave positive or negative ratings, as I feel it is more helpful to all the writers and the readers, and I appreciate it when a comment is left on any of my reviews. It gives a chance to give further information if I know it, and it I have missed something I could have included.

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In all, the Review Centre is an excellent site. And as you are already here, you probably already know that! The staff who generally remain in the background are always on hand for help in the Activation help Forum if you have any problem or query. I visit the site on a daily basis. There is always something new going on!

See you soon, happy review reading/writing!

39 Comments on Review by Helen of Troy for Review Centre www.reviewcentre.com

1. Anonymous101 on 21st Dec 2006

   I have to agree with the second sentence in the bad points. Very true.

2. Helen of Troy on 27th Dec 2006

   I should also add there is an ipod shuffle to be won every month so it is well worth writing reviews here! So far I have written well over 100 reviews on various items and services and I certainly haven't finished yet!
   So get writing and you may be the next winner!

3. Anonymous101 on 3rd Jan 2007

   What subjects would you recommend on reviewing with a view to winning prizes.

4. Helen of Troy on 3rd Jan 2007

   Hi there Review Centre! Can you please direct the last commenter please? I would not want to mislead or misinform! Thanks!

5. Chris N on 4th Jan 2007

   Hi Micky/Helen,
   
   The competition winner is drawn at random on a monthly basis. For every review you write you will receive one entry into the prize draw.
   
   Thanks,
   
   Chris N

6. Lee2008 on 4th Jan 2007

   I think the review centre is a good website to look at honest reviews of any number of products, but in my opinion the forum section of the website is being systematically abused by reviewers discussing topics with absolutley no relevance to any of the reviewed articles. I did not think the review centre would allow such utter nonsence to be published on the web. I'm all for having a laugh me, but to play word association on a review site beggers belief in my opinion.
   I would suggest the reviewers responsible for ruining this site, sign up to MSN messenger and they can then play their little games to their hearts content. Why on earth would i, or anyone else for that matter be remotely interested in what another reviewer had for their tea? or what colour top they have on? There are websites designed for people who want to chat to each other and this is not one of them. Why don't the people ruining this site go and find a proper chat room for discussing mundane subjects and then come back to the review centre and review it.
   This website has helped me decide in buying all manner of different things. I trust the honest reviews of my fellow reviewers, keep up the good work everyone. There is only a handful of reviewers who are spoiling the forum section of this site, and hopefully they will see this comment and take note. All the best to everyone for the new year. Lee.

7. e4chin on 5th Jan 2007

   When will the new list of ranks be posted?
   
   and can we have edit buttons for our posts and avatars?
   
   always being pickey,
   e4chin

8. Anonymous101 on 5th Jan 2007

   Cheers, now were did I leave that pesky thinking cap of mine!!

9. Review Centre on 5th Jan 2007

   The forums are a place for casual conversation. We want the forums to be a nice, friendly place for members to relax and get to know each other and to exchange useful information. The topic-specific forums are moderated to be on topic, but in the Lounge members can have whatever conversations they desire as long as they are enjoying themselves (and it is within our T&C). If you have an issue regarding the forums please use the Feedback Forum or the contact form to discuss it.

10. Helen of Troy on 5th Jan 2007

    As a regular user of the forums I can only assume I am one of those persons who you are referring to as "ruining" this site. Before last March I had no idea even how to switch on a PC, let alone use one! Computers and IT were not taught when I was at school many years ago. I am about to become a GRANDMOTHER Lee. Have you not stopped to think there may be lots more people out there in the same position, maybe just starting out learning about computers? I did not even know what a forum was, let alone join in on one, and was in fact quite nervous to try at first. If there is something simple in the forums to join in with, it may encourage other nervous users, not quite sure how to join in, to add something and get started. Eventually building up their confidence to become an active and helpful member of the Review Centre Community. Some of us do not know it all Lee. There is plenty of space in the forums for all and if a topic does not interest you, then pass it by! Start a thread that YOU like. I have communicated with many very nice people in the forums and will continue to do so whether by word asscociation, what I had for tea or anything else I decide to join in with. Likewise many others will continue to do so, and hopefully more and more people will see what a happy place this is and join in! You should try it Lee, rather than knock those who use it.

11. Chris N on 5th Jan 2007

    Hi e4chin,
    
    The guy who usually compiles the rank lists is enjoying an extended festive vacation but is back in Review Centre Towers on Monday so I will ask him to try and provide an updated league table - with a bit of luck we will have that for you in the early part of next week.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Chris

12. Chris N on 5th Jan 2007

    Me again, with regards to your point about the Avatars and Edit Button, I know Avatars is something we are hoping to bring in, I'm not sure about any plans for an edit button though.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Chris

13. Anonymous101 on 5th Jan 2007

    I think not receiving a point for posting in "The Lounge" would remedy all these current issues that have recently been raised with regards to rank. People have abused the scoring system, of that I am convinced. If you read some of the threads, folk have been encouraged to post nonsensical gobbledygook in order to attain a promotion. Some threads provide evidence of this, as I have read reviewers "back slapping" on their latest promotion and of people "catching" up and "overtaking" each other. I don't want to fall out with anyone. I have been enjoying "word association" and "What Are You Wearing Today" myself, I just don't feel I deserve a point for my contribution, despite my enjoyment from being involved. I respect everyones point of view, and I hope we can iron these current difficulties and clashes of opinion, as all the reviewers involved are good writers, and appear to share a passion for the Review Centre. It does make for fascinating debate though!!

14. Mr E on 5th Jan 2007

    I spend a lot of time looking around the Review Centre, and I have come across this after looking at a review by helendydunn, and clicking on the link for other work, as there are so many reviews she has done. I enjoy reading about what other people think. I am not one to join in, being one of the nervous ones mentioned. I have used the forums on the mundane subjects Lee1979 refers to, but only three times up to now. I admit I was looking for an opening and found one or two there. When I have more confidence I will join in more, but until then, I will quietly stay in the background as I do not want to be called a nuisance. Thank you helendydunn for pointing out that there are people like us who are still learning. I wouldn't know what MSN Messenger is, let alone go to chat there. I am recently retired, and I am not a hundred percent aux fais with computers, so Lee1979, please don't send us off somewhere more confusing. I think you need to know that there are those of us who like reading the banter and will join in from time to time. There are those of us who like this site enough to stay on it for a chat if we want to, in the forums and not go somewhere else. There, I have had my say, and now I will return to watching for now. Thank you. That took me over half an hour to type with one finger!

15. Anonymous101 on 5th Jan 2007

    What are avatars? cheers

16. Anonymous101 on 5th Jan 2007

    I know what an Avatar is now, and I'm not bothered about one.

17. Anonymous101 on 5th Jan 2007

    Mr E, I hope you gain the confidence to become a more active reviewer, as I enjoyed the articulate points you raised. Great pseudonym by the way.

18. Lee2008 on 5th Jan 2007

    MSN messenger is free service provided by your broadband provider which enables any person who you have permitted to know when your computer active, and you can communicate using your keyboard to each of the members who are in your group. It is very easy to learn, you will have fun doing it. If you can write an expert review and get it published I'm sure you can learn how to activate MSN messenger, as it's as easy as sending a text. br>
    Thanks for your comments.

19. Lee2008 on 5th Jan 2007

    I take my rank seriously, I would love to open a discussion in the forums, however I intend to be a Field Marshall one day, without bumping up rank with idle chit-chat. So I'm sorry, but you will not see me in there until the awarding of points has been totally overhauled. I am aware that us reviewers don't make up the rules, but some of us take advantage of a loophole in my opinion. Give credit when credit is due, that's all I ask.
    
    Lee1977.

20. Helen of Troy on 5th Jan 2007

    And you may have noticed by now, negative ratings do not decrease rankings. Ranking is gained by participation. By participating in writing reviews, by commenting on reviews and by posting in the forums. Whatever participation any member has is clearly marked by the number of reviews written, the number of comments made and also the number of posts in the forums. I have written a lot of reviews, made a lot of comments and posted in the forums on a regular basis. I am sure the Review Centre only decided to do the ranking thing as a bit of fun, not to be taken so seriously. What do I gain by my ranking? Please tell me? Does it mean that I get paid more? NO. No-one gets paid here! It means I have participated more, and that is all. As far as negative ratings on reviews go, if they are given without good reason or knowledge of a product or service, or without any comment, they could only be misleading for genuine users of this site looking for any opinions. Now I am happy to go along with the rules of the Review Centre, and everyone knows what the rules are when they join. If they want to remove the points I have gained by posting in the forums, along with everyone elses also, then it is entirely up to those who run the site. Suggestions can be made, and they are heard by the staff there. But at the end of the day, you cannot just come along and expect them to change all the rules just because you don't like them. Yes, there is an element of fun in the forums regarding ranks. So, what?! That's what they are for in my opinion. A BIT OF FUN to go alongside SERIOUS and light-hearted reviews, comments and posts.

21. e4chin on 6th Jan 2007

    I just think avatars could help us know a little more about each other. Like I am wondering, what kind of avatar would Chris have? It helps show the users own sense of personality and style. Just something to make our posts a little more personal.

22. Lee2008 on 7th Jan 2007

    I have competitive streak in me which I can't hide from, I take this competitive streak into all aspects of my life; I can't help it; it's who I am. When I play football I'm a tough tackling central midfielder with a keen eye for goal. I always do my best to play by the rules. When I'm playing on computer games with my children I always want to win. When we go bowling, guess who has his own ball? It's not a bad thing to be competitive in my opinion. I don't use Review Centre to make friends, although I have. And I certainly do not intend to upset any of my fellow reviewers, but like you say in your review helendydunn one mans treasure is another mans rubbish. and we don't always have to agree. Life would be boring if everyone was the same. Please do not take my comments personally; it's just a difference of opinion.

23. Helen of Troy on 7th Jan 2007

    I didn't know what MSN messenger was. Thanks for your explanation, but I don't think so. I am happy to stay on this site and continue to communicate with others here. I now feel able to ask what others may consider silly questions now in the forums, without feeling stupid due to my lack of computing and IT knowledge.
    
    As you are not using the forums anyway Lee, I see no problem. What is it you are getting so worked up about? Just the points for posts?
    
    I have spent a lot of time recently trying to work out how to send pictures to the Review Centre to accompany Reviews. I tried and tried and finally gave up trying. Then I thought I would ask in the forums if someone could help me out. I had a quick response with excellent instructions from another reviewer. I would never have worked this out for myself! I tried and tried again. Eventually SUCCESS! I have now managed to send in several pictures. I already know points are not gained by sending in pictures, even though it takes a heck of a lot longer doing this than writing a review. Unless of course it is a VERY long review! I have now sent in a fair few and I am waiting to see if they are acceptable or not. If they are not, then I will continue trying until I get it right!

24. Helen of Troy on 7th Jan 2007

    Just read your last comment about the competitive streak Lee. I strongly recommend you come over to the forums and have some fun. Work out what word comes next on word association. There have been some brilliant words used! Gets the old grey matter working! Then pop over to the films forum and play same name movie game. Also gets you thinking. It is all like a little competition! With no end and no prizes! Just a bit of fun! There seem to be more and more people now joining in on the forums, and it's great when a new name pops up! Eventually you join them on another thread and discuss other stuff too. It's like a subtle 'getting to know you' thing. This is just words. In the forums the words develop into a personality. A personality becomes like a friend. A friend you can trust that when you want an opinion or some help with anything, products, services etc., even how to do something, you can ask knowing they will help you if they can. I can see the relevance of what you consider trashy threads; now I hope you can too. We know nothing about each other with these words. Therefore to assume anything about any writer here is wrong, like 'I post to up my ranks?'... I post and spend a lot of time here, as I am often unable to go out. Personal stuff which has absolutely no relevance, so I won't go into details. But it is certainly not just to change the little picture next to my username!

25. Lee2008 on 7th Jan 2007

    If you care to check my recent reviews you will notice that the phantom negative rater has also cast his/her objective eye over my reviews. It may be a reviewer who disagrees with my reviews, and I believe everyone has a right to their opinion. I am aware that leaving a negative rating does not alter that reviewers rank, so why do it? Unless you can honestly say you disagree with it? Why ask for a league table of leading reviewers if you do not take it seriously. For me a league table turns it into a competition. I like competitions, and I enjoy forums, but I cannot allow myself to enter into one on the Review centre as I will receive a point towards my rank, which I feel I don't deserve. You ask me what you gain from having a high rank; I can only answer for myself, but I would gain personal satisfaction knowing I attained a high rank through merit on reviewing and commenting. I could hold my head up high and feel as if I deserved the rank which I attained. Would you honestly still use the forums as much if you did not receive a point? I doubt it. I look in the forums on a regular basis and it's clear they are being used for the gaining of points. Do you honestly believe you deserve to be rewarded for submitting one word in the forums?
    
    I can sleep at night knowing I may be little too serious, but I'm fair. I would love to know the views of other reviewers, so please feel free to express your opinions.
    
    Thanks for reading.
    Lee1977.

26. e4chin on 7th Jan 2007

    The ranking system shows how much time we spend at Review Centre, not that we actually know anything. The main thing I get out of the forums is the cultural exchange. Granted, the practicality of this is limited to say the least, but it doesn't hurt to know.
    
    I know I don't deserve this rank as much as Helen, Deadeye or Bombom101 do. They talk about on-topic things and write real reviews. But it's all in good fun! I actually don't care too much about my rank, although it is fun; and because I have such a high one, I can't help but flaunt it.
    
    I respect all, no matter what their rank, so it's just whatever you want. Review Centre wants all its users to be happy. I am happy, and I am open to change. Whatever you want to do Review Center!

27. Helen of Troy on 7th Jan 2007

    Many people in the forums are asking for a league table.
    If you want to remove points for posts then why not for comments too, and just have points for reviews? That would mean changing everything, which is rather a lot to ask! Some of the posts in the forums are not just one word; some go into lengthy detail. It is all about communication.
    
    As I have already stated, I will go along with whatever the Review Centre decide. It will not change my use of the Centre in any way. I use the forums because I enjoy using them. No ulterior motive I am afraid, no matter what you may think. I will also continue writing reviews. But if posts were to be exempt from points then maybe comments should be too!
    
    Maybe the only answer to this is to scrap the ranking system altogether and stop all this disagreeing. Or keep it STRICTLY for reviews only.
    It would be a shame, as many seem to quite like it, but I will go along with whatever.

28. e4chin on 8th Jan 2007

    The ranking is neat, and it does give a slight motive to participate more. I think the rankings are fine the way they are. There is a reason there is a lounge, and if Review Centre wants, they can discontinue giving points for forum posts, but I think it is fine the way it is. The page where the ranking is explained (www.reviewcentre.com/ct50.html) says that the rank is there to help others tell if you are new or have been here for a while, not to show how well you can write a review. All of these debating comments are pointless, and they should be the ones not receiving ranking points.
    
    Let the ranking system stand is what I say!

29. Helen of Troy on 8th Jan 2007

    I agree with you e4. This is a pointless way to earn points. The rules were put in place long before I came onto the scene, I was happy to accept them as they were, and still am! But any changes then I will go along with that too! Now this debate could easily have taken place in the forums, the points gained here for comments are exactly the same amount! Doing the same thing, so really what is the argument about? It began that a 'handful of people were abusing the forums.' It then went on to the points gained for posts. So what is it to be? Do we use the forums and then get blasted because our Rank automatically increases? Or do we not use the forums and just let them all die? I think the former. It would appear no-one can actually win this argument so let's just get back as before?!

30. Anonymous101 on 8th Jan 2007

    I agree, no points for comments is a great idea!

31. Lee2008 on 8th Jan 2007

    If i can beat you guys, i may as well join you. I've started a thread in the lounge.

32. e4chin on 8th Jan 2007

    I am glad that you agree hwlwn, the ranking system is fine and to change it now would be nonsense.

33. Helen of Troy on 9th Jan 2007

    I've been there already Lee! I hope you get as much enjoyment from the forums as I do. I'm sure you will!

34. e4chin on 17th Jan 2007

    Yes you have found that the forums are quite fun.
    
    I also want to say that the new emailing system is a beaut!

35. Helen of Troy on 18th Jan 2007

    We all love the Review Centre in it's entirety! Any new members, please come along to the forums and get to know everyone! This has got to be the best site on the net!

36. degbert on 25th Jul 2007

    I completely agree with this review.
    
    The review centre does two things for me. First it is an excellent place to both post and research things on the market that interest me, and other people. A free way to get some useful objective input. Second, for me personally, it is a nice way to make my mark on the world and offer some advice in a non-confrontational and purely altruistic way.
    
    The site itself is easy enough to navigate; the reviews are generally very strong; the quality of the prose makes most of the input highly readably and informative, even enjoyable. The rankings, watch items, are neat touches, and bring the site to life.
    
    The frequency of competition or request for particular reviews could be a lot more proactive, to build up the sense of community a bit more, but apart from that I really enjoy being part of the reviewcentre community!

37. rubblegum on 9th Apr 2008

    I found this review unhelpful because...the people at Reviewcentre appear terrified of any comment which isn't fashionably politically correct. They also have the annoying habit of re-writing carefully worded reviews..This maybe because there is a lawyer looking over the shoulder? Liability issues?
    
    Also some expert reviews are plain daft...the poster of this review gave 10/10 for a packet of tea and got an 'expert' review for it..

38. happy65 on 9th Apr 2008

    My reviews have been re-worded in the past too... as far as I can see it is done to comply with certain rules regarding publications and perhaps you are right with the lawyer idea, but I think that's done for a reason... after e-mailing them after the edits in my reviews, they were quite helpful and I can actually - kind of - understand where they are coming from...

39. rubblegum on 18th Apr 2008

    The 'expert' reviews on this site are starting to get silly and the moderating needs to improve in my opinion or the site credibilty will suffer as far as I am concerned.
    
    I see someone has posted a review of a packet of biscuits (10/10) and been awarded an expert review..

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