Why bad ratings?

I have some questions…

I saw alot files that have just 1 star of 5. I want to know why buyers are rating with for example 1 star? I mean they KNOW what they are buying, they are seing the previews, images, videos. So how can a buyer be disappointed of a file when he knows what he is buying.

AJ is the perfect example: The buyer really hears the full song or what ever just with some watermarks. So he likes the music and thinks that it will be useful. Thats the reason why buyers are buying items. So why is he giving just 3 stars? The file is not that as he thoughts? Just for fun? Needs that file but overall its not that good?

What do you think?

A bad rating on AJ indeed sounds stupid but on other marketplaces , lets say on GR it doesn’t.Even though you see the preview of what you get the content might not me as well oraganized and easy to work with as it seemed so this is one reason I can think of.

But the AJ bad rating sounds a little strange.I have no clue how things work there but maybe someone can clarify this issue for us as I am keen to know how might someone do to get a bad rating in AJ.

Ratings are… overrated!

The ratings here are almost useless. There are great items with hundreds if not thousands of buyers that have 2, 3, and 4 star ratings. Its usually because some people dont know what they are doing or how to use it, or people are just out to be a-holes and rate everything they buy 1 star.

I think the rating system needs improving. I never even bother to look at a theme on TF that has 3 stars or less. Yes some disgruntled idiot may give a low rating out of spite but I just don’t want to take the chance in buying it.

BoostShock said
I have some questions… I saw alot files that have just 1 star of 5. I want to know why buyers are rating with for example 1 star? I mean they KNOW what they are buying, they are seing the previews, images, videos. So how can a buyer be disappointed of a file when he knows what he is buying?

I don’t know about ratings on AJ but for TF, some themes just don’t work as advertised. Some take several revisions and 6 months to actually get what you thought you were buying…a fully functioning theme. That’s why a theme would get a 1 star rating and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

If anything there should be a more robust rating system with more questions.

And I’m with cline, I don’t buy any theme with less than 4 stars.

For example, in AJ, i understand, but in AD, or TF, I can understand one star ratings. Authors usually don’t take the time to EXPLAIN how the file works. And buyers usually have no idea how you coded it.

Concept

Why Rate ?

Value?

1. the pretty picture
2. the write up
3. the screenshots
4. the demo / live preview
5. comments and feedback
6. FAQ ’s
7. and yep … ratings

Not only that some files because they are not DATE stamped as to when they were released, and may have had few comments, suffer from Authors coming , releasing and buggering off..

This is prevalent I suppose across the CodeCanyon marketplaces in my experience, and some items have suffered obsolescence due to a fiew factors, which could be changes and improvements in technology. Changes to html standards and jQuery and Css updates , plus changes to and releases of new browsers.

So are ratings worth their salt?

To improve the service

I also think, all files should be date stamped, as to : release, Updates, and provide a more cohesive feedback system that employs ratings too.

I also think, each item, lets face it on a good day there are about 4 items released each day on CC. So each item, could arbitrarily have a feedback, and comments system tailored to just the product, and not whimsically hidden away on a products download page …

As a concept, if CC ratings ( Envato ) were a supermarket, they would not sell much… by this I mean, if supermarkets grouped all expensive items in one aisle, then no one would buy anything… by mixing it up, and making people work to find the good deals, inherantly there is value to seeking out a bargain .. the analogy is, if all ratings are on one download page ( current ) then people do from time to time venture on there and just go click click click .. wantonly and with no real reason as to their scoring patterns..

The ratings need to by dynamic within the product and coupled with a feedback comment system, to introduce fairness, and accountability…

To just click 1 star and then mooch off, does a voter no harm… allow them to give honest feedback, that can be addressed could mean the system, would re allow users to change their rating based on the reply to their feedback..

At times, people give bad feedback, JUST to get the authors/sellers attention.

How often have you had to return to a shop, to exchange an item, or get a refund…

You must have witnessed the “GUNG HO” people that DEMAND and threaten this that and the other… and where do they get? All to often , nowehere…

However handle the complaint, and act maturely, you retain the clients business by HOW you deal with them. Ratings are no different, but they need to GROW up and become more of a Function than a Hinderance…

Thats my Bit Said.

Ste

SportTipsWorld said

Concept

Ratings are there for people to give their opinion as to the worthyness, quality and level of expected vs received service they perceived they should have got.

Why Rate ?

Ratings are just another tool to which users are allowed the anonymity it seems to rate up or down an item they have purchased. As with Mortgages, please realise rates can go UP or DOWN . It is an inherant value of ratings that they are not there as a ONE star affair, allowing people the only opportunity to rate 5 stars or nothing.

Value?

My thoughts on this vary, however some people base their buying trend or reasoning, on a few factors, and some on a plethora of research.

1. the pretty picture
2. the write up
3. the screenshots
4. the demo / live preview
5. comments and feedback
6. FAQ ’s
7. and yep … ratings

Not only that some files because they are not DATE stamped as to when they were released, and may have had few comments, suffer from Authors coming , releasing and buggering off..

This is prevalent I suppose across the CodeCanyon marketplaces in my experience, and some items have suffered obsolescence due to a fiew factors, which could be changes and improvements in technology. Changes to html standards and jQuery and Css updates , plus changes to and releases of new browsers.

So are ratings worth their salt?

I think they are just another component of the industry, however I think they can be improved. People do rely on good ratings, but moreso these days the tech savvy amongst us, also rely heavily on a combination of attributes and tools to ascertain a files worth, but with ratings we tend to all agree , they are only worth employing as a useful barometric measure if they are accompanied by FEEDBACK .

To improve the service

My thoughts are simple, keep the ratings, but also make it mandatory as to leave feedback.. this then could open up a whole new can of worms, but if you play with fire, you get a fire extinguisher or you get burnt, you makes your choices.

I also think, all files should be date stamped, as to : release, Updates, and provide a more cohesive feedback system that employs ratings too.

I also think, each item, lets face it on a good day there are about 4 items released each day on CC. So each item, could arbitrarily have a feedback, and comments system tailored to just the product, and not whimsically hidden away on a products download page …

As a concept, if CC ratings ( Envato ) were a supermarket, they would not sell much… by this I mean, if supermarkets grouped all expensive items in one aisle, then no one would buy anything… by mixing it up, and making people work to find the good deals, inherantly there is value to seeking out a bargain .. the analogy is, if all ratings are on one download page ( current ) then people do from time to time venture on there and just go click click click .. wantonly and with no real reason as to their scoring patterns..

The ratings need to by dynamic within the product and coupled with a feedback comment system, to introduce fairness, and accountability…

To just click 1 star and then mooch off, does a voter no harm… allow them to give honest feedback, that can be addressed could mean the system, would re allow users to change their rating based on the reply to their feedback..

At times, people give bad feedback, JUST to get the authors/sellers attention.

How often have you had to return to a shop, to exchange an item, or get a refund…

You must have witnessed the “GUNG HO” people that DEMAND and threaten this that and the other… and where do they get? All to often , nowehere…

However handle the complaint, and act maturely, you retain the clients business by HOW you deal with them. Ratings are no different, but they need to GROW up and become more of a Function than a Hinderance…

Thats my Bit Said.

Ste

Superb! Great answer!

Enabled said
For example, in AJ, i understand, but in AD, or TF, I can understand one star ratings. Authors usually don’t take the time to EXPLAIN how the file works. And buyers usually have no idea how you coded it.

A couple of buyers rate 1 star because they are too lazy to open the documentation. Others rate 1 star because something looks broken because they either don’t use the latest wordpress version or they have installed some plugin that’s already packed with the theme so obviously an error will show up.