Comment with Evidence Claiming Advertising and No Deal Downvoted

Spennyrich on 28/07/2024 - 10:46
Last edited 28/07/2024 - 11:01 by 1 other user

I recently responded to a deal posted a few days ago: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15543607/redir.

As I am considering solar for my new home build, I was genuinely interested to know if this package was a good offer, especially since we’re all on OzBargain to save a few extra bucks. I had already been doing my own research and found a number of reputable companies online (with decent reviews) offering similar packages with the same brand and specifications for upwards of $1000 less than what this post offered. I challenged the OP by stating that there are cheaper packages available from other businesses. They claimed that these businesses didn't have good reviews, which is untrue as evidenced by the reviews I shared:

https://ibb.co/VjbddJz
https://ibb.co/nPZwTYW
https://ibb.co/XVdcTTd
https://ibb.co/dWFtGNg
This may seem like a small issue, but it was alarming to me that this deal was shared on OzBargain with very little response. It’s likely because people aren't regularly up to date with what makes a solar package a bargain. When I tried to respond and claim it was advertising and not a deal (as well as another user), we were both downvoted. None of these downvoters responded with comments explaining why I was incorrect. To me, it seems like there is some foul play at work. This post didn't reference a previous price or savings and offered no considerable savings compared to other businesses offering the same thing. If you look at the user’s other posts, you can see they also have very minimal votes and responses validating this business. Yet, any negative sentiment gets more downvotes than the actual post votes.

Am I overthinking it here? I am just so confused why this type of post wouldn't get flagged and why there are so many downvotes on people who try to call this out.

Has anyone else seen this type of thing before?

Site Discussion

Comments

  • BOGOF on 28/07/2024 - 10:54
    +12

    Am I overthinking it here?

    Yes.

  • Moderatorneil on 28/07/2024 - 11:04

    It’s likely because people aren't regularly up to date with what makes a solar package a bargain. When I tried to respond and claim it was advertising and not a deal (as well as another user), we were both downvoted. None of these downvoters responded with comments explaining why I was incorrect. To me, it seems like there is some foul play at work.

    There is no "foul play" detected. The users who negative voted you are long time members.

    Your comment:

    No deal!

    This is far more expensive than what other businesses are offering:

    https://ibb.co/VjbddJz
    https://ibb.co/nPZwTYW
    https://ibb.co/XVdcTTd
    https://ibb.co/dWFtGNg

    My guess is that OzBargainers would have appreciated typing out the name of competitors, prices, etc. instead of linking to screenshots of Instagram ads on a 3rd party image hosting site full of ads. Respectfully for someone who wished to inform users of solar deals, you didn't really do so in your comment.

    • Spennyrich on 28/07/2024 - 11:23
      +1

      Good feedback thanks! Next time ill try and be more concise with what i'm comparing it too.

      • AngoraFish on 28/07/2024 - 11:29
        +7

        There's a small but active group of OzBargainers who don't think that down voting deals should actually be a thing, and react accordingly. People who've negged a deal almost always generate negs themselves unless the deal is grossly, almost obscenely bad. One learns not to bother after a while.

      • DoctorCalculon on 28/07/2024 - 20:08
        +4

        Since you have acknowledged Neil's constructive criticism above, why not go ahead and actually do what he suggested???

        Ain't nobody got the time to go through those ad infested links.
        Please do share your research correctly in words or comparison tables, and then see how the crowd here reacts.

    • donga100 on 28/07/2024 - 22:38

      I hate those types of ads because there is so many scummy tricks with solar pricing. You click through and it turns out they are quoting an inadequate inverter or some other crap and then there is a "small upgrade fee" to get something sensible/useful.

  • AngoraFish on 28/07/2024 - 11:14
    +10

    You seem to be expecting a much higher level of general intelligence from pub group-think on OzBargain than is ever going to be the case.

    Up and down votes are a pseudo-democratic popularity contest amongst anonymous internet randoms.

    The posts that people vote on are ones that they feel strongly about.

    Up and down-votes take literally less than a second, and the amount of thought that goes into voting is typically about the same.

    Very helpful, well argued and well thought out posts rarely generate many votes either way because they're uncontroversial. Sometimes, however, very helpful, well argued and well thought out posts get spammed with down votes simply because they don't match the firmly held existing opinions of the mob.

    Welcome to the internet.

  • JIMB0 on 28/07/2024 - 11:46
    +1

    The same thing happens when you warm against using econnex.

    • Gunnar on 28/07/2024 - 11:53

      From the Big House … to Your House

    • Spennyrich on 28/07/2024 - 11:59

      I never got paid out from them haha 😄

  • randomusername2017 on 28/07/2024 - 12:18
    +3

    Queensland..beautiful one day, solar scandal the next 🍿

  • Dollar General on 28/07/2024 - 12:54
    +1

    Meh

  • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 15:08
    -4

    People in VIC are jealous with QLD because of cheaper deal from the solar post link above.

    I don't mind anyone post any deals, then anyone include me inform if there are other better or cheaper deals/discount. People can vote with their wallet.

    I don't like if mods remove a post if just because there's no specific deal/bargain in the post. Just need to inform the person to put example of specific bargain/deal/discount. We cannot expect everyone create a new post with very good/complete post as many people are just silent readers and certain people may create a new post for the first time (less experience in creating posts). DO NOT remove someone's post just because it's not complete yet. We are in Australia, not North Korea. Who likes censorship?

    Try to think more positive, guys. This is Ozbargain. Not Oz Censorship …

    • Baysew on 28/07/2024 - 17:07
      +2

      This is OzBargain, not OzNospecific deal/bargain.

      Perhaps the people who have to read out loud should actually read the Deal Posting Guidelines

      OzBargainers value their time and don't wish to muck about with incomplete or non-deals.

      • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 17:16

        Not all Ozbargainers value their time. JV is one of them. Not everyone read the Deal Posting Guidelines. So many people are just silent readers and when they try to create a new post for the first time, mistakes can happen and less experience in posting too. Removing the post will discourage people to inform new deals/bargains that we may not know or late knowing.

      • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 17:34

        Many people have addiction to their phone and computer (gaming also). Internet Forum can also be part of the addiction as it could make people happy, less lonely, etc.

        In reality, many people like to waste their time for happy feeling from phone/computer addiction (fb, instagram, tiktok, forum, gaming, etc.)

      • Clear on 28/07/2024 - 18:01
        +1

        This is OzBargain, not OzNospecific deal/bargain.

        But it is OzRRP when it comes to stores like Aldi 😜😜

        • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 18:12

          How about gift card deal in Aldi …

          • Clear on 28/07/2024 - 18:15
            +1

            @neoleo: Discounted gift card deals aren't RRP 😉

    • Moderatorneil on 28/07/2024 - 19:39

      I don't like if mods remove a post if just because there's no specific deal/bargain in the post. Just need to inform the person to put example of specific bargain/deal/discount. We cannot expect everyone create a new post with very good/complete post as many people are just silent readers and certain people may create a new post for the first time (less experience in creating posts). DO NOT remove someone's post just because it's not complete yet. We are in Australia, not North Korea. Who likes censorship?

      In our latest stats, we removed 20 deals for No Bargain listed out of 2651 published deals. Less than 1% (.75%). We (moderators & power users) fix up the other 99.25% but when you write Up to 50% off @ Blah Store, there is no indication of what the bargain is. Is there 99 items at full price and 1 at 50%? IF we can figure it out, we will but we can't read minds and I think at the very least some effort is needed.

      • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 19:45
        -1

        Yeah need to educate, remind and guide people to put specific deal such as up to xx% or whatever that is not specific enough.

        • Moderatorneil on 28/07/2024 - 20:09

          Yeah need to educate, remind and guide people to put specific deal such as up to xx% or whatever that is not specific enough.

          When a deal is removed, a PM is ALWAYS sent with a link to the specific place in the guidelines. The user is then free to repost the deal with what they think is the bargain.

          However to quote yourself:

          Not all Ozbargainers value their time. Not everyone read the Deal Posting Guidelines.

  • neoleo on 28/07/2024 - 15:22
    -1

    It would be nicer if Scotty and mods put long term ongoing deals on certain days/date in front page or Live as Deals Of The Day for example.

    People can forget certain ongoing long term deals as they don't see it straightaway in front page or Live.

    For example $10 Ippudo ramen (regular size, not small !) every 1st of the month (or different date on other state). Black Friday deals, Boxing day deals, etc. —> Deals of the day to remind people.

  • freefall101 on 28/07/2024 - 16:01
    +3

    offering similar packages with the same brand and specifications for upwards of $1000 less than what this post offered

    You didn't post those though. Nor did you reply to the OP when they posted that they don't mention the brands. So what gives?

    A quick look through those deals your screenshotted with no details, only one had details on their website of the actual deal and it's Eging panels with a SAJ inverter, which isn't a similar package - the same site charges $4,200 just to move to TW panels and from a quick look online the Solax inverter is more than $500 more than the SAJ one. Why didn't your "research" show what I could find in 2 seconds on google?

    You're taking this too seriously but your post has none of the details you claim you had here.

  • ihbh on 28/07/2024 - 16:16
    +2

    The first rule of OzB is not to take anything personally.

    Many OzBers are dumb and ignorant - just ignore them. The more discerning ones appreciate your comment, insights.

    • meong on 28/07/2024 - 17:59

      I'm dumb and ignorant, please here accept my negs

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/07/2024 - 18:50
    +2

    You posted a heap of screenshots of ads. What did you expect? Ads generally never have accurate pricing "From $XXX" "Save $XXX".

    Also you have history of poor comments, evidence here!

    https://ibb.co/XLxtvq3

  • ol mate on 28/07/2024 - 22:36
    +2

    tbf, the response the rep/OP of the thread gave to your comment was correct - the IG ads you screenshot didn't mention panel/inverter brands. So the neg votes on your comments are fair imo.

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