Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)
WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
are plugin developers allowed to bribe us for good reviews?
No, thank you for raising this.
Thread Starter
R Lev
(@thestraightarrow)
I’m sure you can access the review in my profile, but to make it easy for you, here is the relevant review: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/worst-company-i-have-ever-dealt-with-in-30-years-also-useless-plugin?replies=4
I also have email documentation that I can send you if you need that. The relevant portion from the emails is below:
So I kindly would like to ask you delete your review text and change the stars at least make it 4 if you don’t want to make it 5. And after you change it, within 10 minutes you refund will be under process, it can take several minutes, but I assure you it will be done immediately.”
Also, when I refused to do so and told them it was even impossible to change or edit reviews, they replied with the following, albeit in broke english, I think implying that they have paid or bribed users for reviews before.
I would like to inform you, that in WordPress you can change your rating any time. So we met this situation, that users changed their rating.
Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)
WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
In my opinion, some authors are messing up the WordPress.org review system by changing it from a feedback perspective into a customer perspective.
Some authors advertise their commercial services on WordPress.org in one way or another, be it on a plugin description page or in the plugin itself. This introduces a confusion between what is and isn’t in the free plugin. I’ve seen happen when people create support and review topics on the WordPress.org plugin (the free one). In this case you’ve done the latter.
WordPress.org doesn’t sell anything or intend to. It’s purpose is to distribute and maintain open-source software that is found on WordPress.org.
If authors are using WordPress.org reviews as part of their business model then they’re missing the point.
Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)
WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
Thread Starter
R Lev
(@thestraightarrow)
Thank you. After the nasty emails and attempt at bribery to issue a refund that was previously promised, I won’t be changing their review, but it’s good to know. When I went to their review page to see if editing was even possible, I didn’t see an option but that link you sent worked so thank you. It’s the first review for a plungin I’ve ever left so I wasn’t sure of the policies or processes for editing. Thank you!
Thread Starter
R Lev
(@thestraightarrow)
n this case you’ve done the latter.
Did I leave the review for their plungin in the wrong place? I didn’t see one for for the upgraded version of the plugin.
In my opinion, some authors are messing up the WordPress.org review system by changing it from a feedback perspective into a customer perspective.
I’m confused by the difference between a feedback and customer perspective. I my purpose in leaving the review was to let those considering upgrading the plugin that it didn’t work or provide any of the promised features.
Not trying to dispute or argue anything, just trying to understand so I do things properly in the future. And I started the forum because I didn’t know if it was against WordPress policy for plugin creators to pay or bribe for favorable feedback. I didn’t even know if you guys oversee any of that in the first place. But in the event you do, I thought you should know.
Andrew Nevins
(@anevins)
WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
Did I leave the review for their plungin in the wrong place? I didn’t see one for for the upgraded version of the plugin.
Sort of, there isn’t a place on WordPress.org to support or review the commercial plugin.