I just wanted to lodge my dislike of the TER policy regarding free memberships for multiple "reviews". As a fairly infrequent hobbiest I find the resources available from this site to be highly valuable but, at the same time, somewhat compromised by this policy.

To go out and see someone without any reviews is a risk I assume, but the judgment on who to visit off the information provided by this site is meant to reduce that risk to ensure I have a good time.

My issue is not only do I have to look at the reviews of the provider but also at the history of the reviewer to gauge whether or not the review is legitimate (obviously, the more reviews a provider has reduces that risk). At best, someone posts a fake review that isn't that far off the money in terms of what the provider offers. At middling I show up and the provider just doesn't offer all the services as described or isn't the girl in the pictures but is still nice (this has now happened to me once). At worst, I show up it's the girl in the picture all alright, but by the time I've paid my money I discover the description might as well have come from Mars for what's on the table (happened once).

As for providers with fake reviews that aren't the girls in the pics and someone I would rather avoid, the only thing I risk losing is my time since I'll walk (happened once). In this business, I consider that no harm no foul.

A recent review of a particular provider which couldn't have been further from my experience with her sparked my interest in writing this. The first review was more spot on so it was my choice to take a leap of faith on an encounter but it just didn't work for me for a whole host of reasons. The second review, however, I now knew to be completely fake because of that experience. It's down right deceptive that someone bent on getting VIP status posts a review like this that couldn't be further than what's offered. As for appearance I realize YMMV in terms of what a hobbiest likes and dislikes. But when it comes to performance it can end up being a real let down, especially if the money's been paid, if the services aren't as described and can dramatically effect the encounter not to mention making an infrequent hobbiest like myself feel totally cheated.

This poses a clear problem for hobbiests who are looking at a relatively new provider, and for the provider themselves. Not only do we have to wait for a review but then we have to question the integrity of the review (less business for the provider). For an illegitimate provider this is great since they can tag a bad review on their website and it will be awhile before the community catches on. For the hobbiest the risk is magnified since they could actually end up walking into a potentially threatening situation off a fake review.

So now the question is what is the value of my paid in membership if I still have to question the integrity of the information provided? As far as I'm concerned, if I'm willing to drop a few $$$ a year for some fun in this business than it seems like small change to pay to become a member of TER to add that little element of safety in this hobby. If the policy is meant to attract new members, I think the site would be better served by offering one month free, no reviews necessary, and then either pay up or get lost.

The shame of it is I'll avoid new or visiting providers with only one or two reviews who I might otherwise want to see not because of what's said in the review but, because of TER's policy, I have to question those reviews.

I know, I'm probably blowing in the wind here saying things already known to be true, but I just had to toss in my 2 cents. And no I don't plan on giving up my membership since I have learned to navigate around these questions and issues and I have a pretty good sense of what to look for. Still, I just wanted to say my piece.

I agree. There should be no credit for reviews at all.

This is a community, if you want to contribute fine, if not, you will be noticed on the discussion boards.

It amazes me when someone makes a post like, I'm in the area.... The poster has no reviews and has only made posts looking for something. Then, the poster will get responses, I don't get it.

You will always have contributors and non-contributors, you will never get around it, but I think over time, you will have more contributors because they will recogonize the value to the community.

As far as your particular situation, contact Admin or hit the 'report a problem' on the review and be detailed in your response. Corrective action is likely if you are adamant about your position.

is that many of the paying members don't post. So there would not be as many reviews if they did not offer some level of membership to those who do.

A community is made up of people from different strata of the environs. Maybe what you want is to have a more "exclusive" section of the site set aside for you?

Of course, you would still be taking advantage of any reviews that non-paying members post.

True, but I would rather base my decisions off fewer honest posts than more dishonest ones. More to the point, though, why pay for a membership if I can just post a made up Penthouse letter? If people really like the resources provided by this site they will pay if they have to but won't if they have a choice. I suppose another way of adding value would be to tag a none paying VIP member who posts a review. I'm a paying member. How do I know you are? (I don't mean to be antagonistic here, I'm just trying to make a point)

I'm one of those who only get VIP when posting a  review (which is down to once every 3 or 4 months now).  I do think that the free VIP for reviews encourages more people to share (I myself would still write reviews even if I paid, many might not), but I think they should limit the free VIP to people that A)have been members for 3 months or more, B)have posted 5 reviews, not 2 C)members who have posted at least 1 board post within the current month (or week if they want to be more stringent).  This would not stop the fake reviews, but it should make it easier to identify them.  They also need to make is to everyone (not just VIP) can see the reviews by poster.  That's the one feature of VIP (other than the detailed session section) that I miss when I'm on basic.  I like to check the reviewer's other reviews when I'm reading to see if his likes/dislikes are similar to mine, but also to see if it looks like he is putting up fakes for VIP.

BTW, I choose not to pay for VIP because I don't want to provide credit card info to pay and I'm hobbying much less these days.  Generally I can get good info without it, and do enjoy the 2 week stint I get when I post a review, but when I'm inactive for 2 or 3 months I tend not to need the extra info that VIP adds.

SMEGMA!!