First of all, thank you for your suggestion! It's always great if we can expand the Epinions product and topic spread. All that I ask is that if you make a suggestion, you promise to write a review to fill the space! It also really helps if at the bare minimum, you give me a link to a website for your suggestion. I can't add it without one, and hunting through Google sure slows up the process (not good on those days when I have a list of 10 new adds to work through!)
I can add about 95% of the things I receive requests for. The main topic areas I receive requests for but can't add, are things like busses and trains and shopping malls. If you are unsure whether I can add your category then feel free to ask before you start writing your review. There's nothing more frustrating than writing a review and not being able to find a home for it :o(
Sometimes in luggage and travel accessories, we have to ask Epinions to add a new product line to their data set before we can set up your suggestion. This means a delay of between a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how busy those good folk at epinions are. If I need to delay setting up your category, I'll drop you an e-mail.
I aim to add requests within 3-4 days, but I am on vacation a few times a year. On vacation, Epinions plays no part in my life. If I am going to be away for more than a night or two, I'll try to remember to leave a note on my short biography. You will be able to check why I haven't been able to get back to you. I'm in no way offended if you want to e-mail me after 3-4 days to see whether I have received your original request.
About me!
Hi I'm Chris.
I'm not sure whether to be pleased to have stuck it out at Epinions for so long or whether I should be shamed at the very visible pursuit of this pointless hobby.
Yey! I'm free of the curse of the alerts. Let me explain... when I first arrived at Epinions, I really felt I should try to read everything by everyone who rated me, who I trusted etc. Frankly, it got a little boring!
Now I read and rate what I like - believe me, if I have read your review, its because I want to. I might not get quite so many hits on my own reviews these days, but I'm enjoying hanging at Eeps again.
I trawl my WOT from time to time - if you haven't posted in twelve months then I might remove you. I keep you on my notification list, so if you become active again at Epinions then I'll put you back.
My Reviews
So, what do I do at Epinions? - my usual topics are travel, books, music and perfume.
I started here with TRAVEL reviews, as I wanted an excuse to write down and record my experiences. The fact that someone else may read and find my review useful is one big bonus.
As a result my reviews do tend to be full and detailed - I sometimes don't know just when to stop. Lately I've taken to write reviews just about just one thing I've seen, rather than a long list of attractions. It just seems to work better for me.
With BOOKS, I think I can string along a reasonable review. I pride myself in trying to review books that have yet to be be reviewed by anyone else. Not too tricky given the books I tend to read. If a review has already been written, I check to see if I can add a different slant, before I trouble to write it.
MUSIC is my weakest area, but I love music so much, I just can't stop myself from writing reviews. Again I try to avoid those areas where there is already a choice of 60 reviews.
I am still getting a style for my music reviews, six years on! I wish I could get down on paper how I feel about the music I hear. I guess it will just never happen.
My most recent addition has been to write on men's fragrances. I really enjoy analysing the smells, and researching details on the maker. They also attract a lot of hits - half a dozen reviews makes for a Top 200 writer in beauty apparently.
Some Stats
For some strange reason I have been taking some records of my progress for each three month period. Now I've started, I'm finding it hard to stop. I suppose a few may find this interesting!
HITS
3 Month Period
Member Hits
Ave Hits
Total Hits
Ave Hits
1
538
23
>
951
41
2
1054
26
2020
49
3
1459
29
3223
62
4
2042
32
5310
83
5
2442
33
8320
111
6
2954
34
11360
131
7
3902
39
17281
175
8
4966
46
22847
214
9
6158
52
29484
248
10
7164
56
35026
272
11
8362
59
41581
295
12
9655
63
49421
323
13
11009
67
55718
338
14
12500
71
63191
357
15
13969
74
70487
373
16
15546
77
80607
399
17
16691
79
90447
427
18
17802
81
101432
458
19
18891
81
112293
482
20
20029
82
120014
490
21
21295
83
126467
492
22
22738
84
133933
492
23
23886
84
141690
495
24
25194
83
151124
500
EARNINGS - the $64,000 question....
...actually $4121 after six plus years (including CL, moderator, advisor and Christmas 2003/4/5 bonuses)
3 Month Period
Amount ($)
1
6.59
2
16.56
3
20.01
4
21.40
5
23.75
6
25.95
7
34.15
8
54.63
9
76.33
10
98.08
11
173.46
12
202.19
13
232.54
14
315.86
15
693.50
16
1017.04
17
1337.91
18
1663.10
19
2115.57
20
2435.24
21
2749.39
22
3045.20
23
3294.77
23
3548.91
25
4121.11
I currently have 295 Epinions with over 100 hits, 159 with over 250, 86 over 500, 44 over 1000, 18 over 2000, and 8 over 3000 - the largest number of hits for a review being 6479
If a few get something from my reviews then I'm happy.
Thank you all, the sheer quality of some of your reviews and your support and comments does keep me writing here!
Top Events
I know some may disagree with some of the events on my list as being a "top event" but, hey this is my space!:
Top Reviewer: Oct 2002 - Nov 2004 - Travel
Advisor: Jan 2003 - Nov 2004 - Travel
Moderator: Sept 2004 - Sept 2006 - Travel board. I'm delighted that the board is in the safe hands of Kenn and Michelle.
Category Lead: Nov 2004 - Present - Travel
It just goes to show that Epinions can hold a few surprises even for old timers like me. In January 07 I picked up my first non travel hat - a Top Reviewer in books. Gotta do some work now to hang onto it!
# 7 Top Earning review: Dec 2002 - Beauty
# 4 Top Earning review: Jan 2003 - Beauty
# 7 Top Earning review: Oct 2006 - Books
# 7 Top Earning review: Sept 2007 - Books
Finally made the top 1000 most popular reviewers in December 2003. To map my steady rise up (and subsequent slow slide down) the slippery pole of Epinions, here's my progress.
Dec 03 - 979, Jan 04 - 925, Feb 04 - 883, Mar 04 - 830, Apr 04 - 814, May 04 - 781, Jun 04 - 757, Jul 04 - 740, Aug 04 - 715, Sep 04 - 700, Oct 04 - 679, Nov 04 - 663, Dec 04 - 643, Jan 05 - 635, Feb 05 - 613, Mar 05 - 594, Apr 05 -573, May 05 - 559, Jun 05 - 547, Jul 05 - 540, Aug 05 - 547, Sep 05 - 508, Oct 05 - 497, Nov 05 - 479, Dec 05 - 471, Jan 06 - 467, Feb 06 - 459, Mar 06 - 455, Apr 06 - 459, May 06 - 461, June 06 - 465, July 06 - 462, Aug 06 - 458, Sept 06 - 459, Oct 06 - 456, Nov 06 - 453, Dec 06 - 450, Jan 07 - 448, Feb 07 - 444, Mar 07 - 438, April 07 - 431, May 07 - 428, Jun 07 - 425, Jul 07 - 424, Aug 07 - 423, Sept 07 - 421, Oct 07 - 410, Nov 07 - 410, Dec 07 - 409, Jan 08 - 392, Feb 08 - 392, Mar 08 - 392
So, how did my first 300 reviews break down?
Hotels and Travel 126 (42%)
Books 68 (23%)
Music 52 (17%)
Home 20 (7%)
Beauty 12 (4%)
I've also written in Computer Hardware (2), Electronics (1), Home and Garden (1), Kids and Family (1), Movies (6), Online (3), Outdoor Gear (1), Pets (1), Restaurants (5) & websites (1).
And finally, a little about me....
My partner & I have two black cats Mad Cat & Dandy
I enjoy reading, learning, current affairs, cooking, eating, drinking, music, travel, walking and art (not necessarily in that order).
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Seventh Level of Hell! Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
'Tis a great mystery, but somehow you have come to belong in Jane Eyre; a random world of love, kindness, madness, bad luck and lunatic ex-wives. There really isn't much to say about the place you belong in. It's your place, and though it seems far from reality largly due to how random the events are, you seem to enjoy it. You belong in a world where not too many people understand you, and where you can be somewhat of a recluse. Take this quiz!
INTP - "Architect". Greatest precision in thought and language. Can readily discern contradictions and inconsistencies. The world exists primarily to be understood. 3.3% of total population.
What Mythological Creature Are You (Many Results and Beautiful Pics)
Harpy: Harpies are beautiful creatures with wings that are said to have terrorized sailors. You are slightly arrogant and vain but you probably deserve to be. You are confident in your abilities and know what you want to achieve in life. Similar to vampires you will use almost any means to get what you want. You have some friends but you only hang around with people who think like you do. Take this quiz!
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