Credibility of Reviews? VSHARES

Hi! It is the 2nd week of Aug and i am still lagging on various posts.

There is Mum’s birthday post, Vdates and blablablab. But that will come, before that, i would just like to clarify on some issues.

I have decided to not categorize myself under any category for my blog. For example, there are people out there labeling themselves as beauty bloggers, model bloggers, celeb bloggers and lifestyle bloggers etc.

I am none of the above.

HAHA.

Firstly, i started this blog to share my thinking and also, on my spiritual encounters with my faith and belief, Christianity. I still do and still will share on that. It is why i started this blog no matter what.
Then i started to rant a little because i realize it is still an avenue for me to pour out the real me. Well, parts and parcels of life and pet peeves.
I will include also parts of my life chapters and happenings, to record my feelings (recently i read back some of my posts. At some points, i gt touched by myself, at some points, i feel miserable and at some points, i feel happy. It is a very weird feeling to read back on my own history)

Also, if you have already realized, i will also share on services, music, movies, food, and on places i went, on products i tried- basically everything.
I wouldnt say i am any atas lifestyle blogger that will provide you information on fanciful restaurants and places (only).
Like you or him or her, i am just like every down to earth and practical person who goes to the common places, eating the common food, doing the common stuffs. Whatever i eat or wherever i go, you have probably went or thought of going. There are times i indulge but not as often as what you might read elsewhere.

The ‘reviews’ i put up are mostly non sponsored because i am not famous enough to receive that and as mentioned, i dont really need that because i am not living off my blog.
I paid and thus i feel the pinch if the services or products suck, and if not, i will probably rave about it.
Thus i conclude that my ‘reviews’ are probably more accurate, realistic and probably more practical and down to earth to the mass.

You see certain bloggers blogging about expensive products, 5 stars restaurants, atas massage palours, expensive hotels, etc.
To be honest, i appreciate those reviews so much so i will know where to head to when i feel like indulging.
But how often do you actually go to these places?
We are not bloggers with millions of hits, we will never be sponsored with such good deals.
Sometimes, because we are not someone influential, the services we get might also differ from what we read from the blogs.

For example,  i heard many complaints about a certain hair salon which apparently sponsored hell lotsa bloggers. Basically, many commented that they were not being treated nor served like what the bloggers described.

As much as understanding how marketing works.
Actually i really do not get the rationale behind certain sponsors. Why would any enterprise curry favour their bloggers exceptionally nice when they do not have to pay for anything? I understand that their reviews are very important so they are more or less like your editors, and thus the exceptional nice treatments.
But most of the time, as long as it is sponsored, it is unlikely they will write anything negative isnt it? And if that is the case, how credible is the review then?

On the contrary, why should the REAL customers be compromised on services? That is so strange. They are the real paying customers, do they not deserve better services just because they are ‘not known’?

To me, the word of mouth from a paying customer is more important than any editor/writer or blogger.
Yes, a well known blogger can reach out to more people at one go but if the service of the enterprise sucks, it is very unlikely that the customer (who visit the place after reading review of blogger) will return for a 2nd or 3rd time.
If service is good, a paying customer will still return for as long as the business is operating.

I mean, i am not comparing myself to any already famous bloggers out there. Neither am i trying to vie for anything. I do not even expect alot of readers nor getting into any competition. I am over the phase of being fame and attention hungry. I am not trying to insult any blogger nor their credibility, i am in no position to. But i just find some posts i read, rather fake and lacking of sincerity.

I have experienced lousy services from certain places which some bloggers raved so wonderfully about. Then i realize how the industries have been compromising in terms of services, despite doing alot of Marketing via online platforms and social media engagements.

For myself, i hate to call whatever i feedback as reviews because Reviews sound very unconvincing already. I cant even convince myself that the word “Review” is convincing nor sincere. HAHAHA.
So i decided to call whatver i share and feedback as “Vshares”. In one way, it is MY SHARING. It is not a general review, but it is based on my own personal opinion. Thus i do not want to bear the responsibility of speaking for the general public.

If you trust my experiences, well thank you. If not, it is ok too, frankly, it is not really my business right (since i have done my part in sharing, i am not obliged to. haha)

Actually, i will be very honest on my opinions on my sharings. One example is that The previous review on the Hada Labo 3 in 1 perfect gel was sponsored but i did not specially write or blog positive stuff about it just because it is sponsored. Way before the sponsorship, i have declared that i am a big fan of the product because it helps me.

Thus, from now on, whatever i share, i promise to be really down to earth and out of pure intention of sharing, and realistic.

Anyway, here is a little elaboration and explanation of how it works, i will include the following points to make reading easier:

• Category is product/services’ category.
  In this case, Skincare as it is.

• Value for money is how affordable it is comparing to market price, you see 4 Vs and that is on the scale of 5Vs.
  1 V means it is extremely expensive and 5Vs means it is very affordable  comparing to market rate.
  Thus here, i am suggesting that it is rather affordable.

• Level of Service is to tell you how satisfied i am with the service. Please bear in mind  that i am Not fussy but i am rather particular with services.
  In this case, i gave 2 Vs out of 5Vs. Which also means that the service basically fail because it is like 2 stars out of 5.
• Likes means how much i enjoy/like the service or product in overall.
  In this case, it is a major flop.
• Will i recommend to my friend: No
  Needless to explain.

Ok, this is just to clarify as i realize that there has been a jump in the viewership and i genuinely do not want to confuse readers. I wish to let readers know about the real truth behind every sharing. Ok…that’s all. Hope you enjoy the ‘sharings’ then.