Send Us A Review or Recommendation

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Instructions for posting reviews

PSP's Recommendation Policy

PSP's Negative Review Policy

 

Instructions for posting reviews:

NOTE: Only PSP members may provide reviews.

PSP RECOMMENDATION POLICY:

 

Park Slope Parents wants to hear from satisfied folks about local businesses. We allow “Shout Out” recommendations without responding to someone’s questions specifically asking for a recommendation (e.g., “We love this new restaurant”). Recommendations should be made by customers of the business in question based on their first-hand experience within the last year. In no event should the recommendation be made by the owner, co-workers, a relative, or anyone else with a financial interest in the business or product. Any other personal ties (friendship, former business relationship, etc.) should be made clear in the post. If you received a discount or complimentary product or service then you cannot give a shout out-- it's vital that you have the same experience that people will have if they use the business.

We ask that you submit reviews and comments that offer information based on your own, first-hand personal experience in the last year. Furthermore, if you can offer a bit of inside scoop or helpful suggestions, please do. Sometimes the most useful reviews include a tidbit of information you can’t find in the basic contact information.

In no event should the recommendation be made by the owner, co-workers, a relative, or anyone else with a financial interest in the business or product. Any other personal ties (friendship, former business relationship, etc.) should be made clear in the post.

Negative reviews are as important as positive ones, but please review responsibly. Your opinions are generally protected under the law, but reviews containing false information or information that can be construed as libel or slander are your responsibility and be very careful in posting information that could negatively effect the future of a business (read more here).

 

 Who can send a review:

• Active members of Park Slope Parents
• Those who have a first-hand experience with a business or service. (If you haven’t tried it, you can’t recommend it.)
• Those who have NO conflict of interest in making a recommendation (you can’t post for family members, spouses, co-workers, networking group affiliates, people who share your work space, etc.).
• Those who gain nothing from posting a recommendation. (If you got/get a discount/free stuff/etc, you have a conflict of interest in making the recommendation).
• People who haven't sent a review in the past year.

 

What we won't post:

• An adsy marketing message that really sounds like an ad rather than a first-hand experience shout out.
• A forwarded newsletter or message from the teacher or program owners
• Self-referrals or recommendations
• Discounts (if the service/business wants to give a discount they can contact PSP to join our discount program).
• Reviews that you’ve posted before about the same company. (One shout out is a happy customer; more than that unsolicited and you’re marketing for the business.)

 

Reminder:

If your proposed recommendation falls into the NOT ACCEPTABLE category, you (or the business) can still buy a commercial post under the PSP Commercial Post Policy. It's a great way to boost your own business--and a great gift to help out a friend's business! Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information.

If you want to make a recommendation, please ask yourself these questions first to determine whether you have a conflict of interest:

1. 1. Do you have a financial tie with the business? (if yes, you cannot post a recommendation)
   2. Have you actually tried the product or service? (if no, you don't have a recommendation to make)
   3. Is the owner of the business a friend? (if yes, you must state this)
   4. Is the owner of the business a relative or co-worker? (if yes, you cannot post a recommendation)
   5. Have you posted in the last year?  (If it's an unsolicited recommendation you can only give a "shout out" once a year.)

 

Examples:

* ACCEPTABLE: "I'd like to put in a good word for the people at the Personal Touch Bookstore. I've been searching for years for an out-of-print book I loved as a child, and these guys not only tracked it down for me, but also gift-wrapped it beautifully for my child. Let's all support this wonderful local resource! (I don t have any ties with the business--just a happy customer)."
 
* ACCEPTABLE: "A new bakery just opened on my block, and the food is delicious! The owner is my husband's best friend, but I'd eat there even if we were sworn enemies. It's called The Good Post Cafe--check it out!"
 
* NOT ACCEPTABLE: "Hi everyone, I'd like to announce that I've invented the world's best sling, and it's now available in local stores and online. Order your Backsaver 2000 today!"
 
* NOT ACCEPTABLE: "Has anyone else noticed how great the food is at that new Canadian Cuisine restaurant? Whoever owns that place is doing a wonderful service for the neighborhood--the macaroni and cheese is the best around!" [In reality, the restaurant is owned by the poster's mother-in-law.]
 
* NOT ACCEPTABLE: "I am a photographer and could take great photos of your baby. My website is www.greatbabyphotos.com.”
NOTE: Businesses ARE allowed to post PRIVATELY in response to a request (e.g., "My wife is a pediatrician"; "I specialize in computer repair for Macs"; "I own the store X") but that relationship to the business needs to be made clear in your private post. Please don’t use the list to troll. Occasional follow ups are fine, but actively trolling for business is not allowed.

 

Finally:

• All reviews are screened by Park Slope Parents admins before posting. We reserve the right to NOT post any reviews that we deem problematic to either you or to Park Slope Parents.
• Park Slope Parents reserves the right to remove reviews and comments that it finds to be objectionable, unfairly biased, personal attacks, airing of dirty laundry, or bigoted.
• Park Slope Parents reserves the right to shorten lengthy reviews (e.g., over 500 words), or we may ask you to shorten your review before including it on the website.
• If your proposed recommendation falls into the NOT ACCEPTABLE category, you (or the business) can still buy a commercial post under the PSP Commercial Post Policy. It's a great way to boost your own business--and a great gift to help out a friend's business! Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information. 

 PSP's NEGATIVE REVIEW POLICY:

 Please note we want the website to represent every member's opinions: the good, the bad, the "meh."

At the same time, we also want to be mindful of how words can impact a business and give the full story to make your experience have the most impact.

Before you send us a review, please take the following steps:

1. 1. TRY TO CONTACT THE OWNER/MANAGER before posting a negative review. A conversation with the owner/manager can often clear up misunderstandings or bring needed attention to a bad situation (an employee in need of better supervision, a misguided policy, etc.).  If things can be cleared up to your satisfaction without lasting damage to the business or its reputation, everybody wins. (and you also get a sense of satisfaction making things happen to make our local businesses better). If you find positive resolution with people in charge, feel free to post about the resolution as well.
   2. NO RESOLUTION? REPOST YOUR MESSAGE. If you've found the owner/manager unresponsive or unreasonable, repost your message, including the fact that you tried to resolve the situation. This is especially true if it's an ongoing pattern or policy change. Remember that you are responsible for the content of your post, NOT Park Slope Parents.
   3. ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL CONDUCT? Contact the Better Business Bureau or the consumer division of the Attorney General's office, who can often take effective measures.

 

It makes sense that people get upset by bad experiences and that they see roadblocks to shouting it from the rooftops as unjust and hindering them from protecting children and neighbors. Therefore, if you feel you've done your best to resolve the situation in a fair way but still have not received resolution, post a review about it. As we said, YOU, the member, are responsible for the content of your messages. There may be ramifications to posting . However, with the exposure our list gets to other media sources (that is, other outlets that sometimes pick up posts and try mock the content), we'd like to be seen as a positive force in our local neighborhoods.

Finally, on behalf of our members and the staff of Park Slope Parents, please don’t threaten a business with “If you don’t fix this, I’ll post to Park Slope Parents.” We’ve gone through that this over the years, and it’s against our policy as well. Trying to use PSP to bully people isn't cool. 

It's important that we allow all voices to be heard. We want the list to be an accurate resource for people and want to mediate against a situation that could be just a misunderstanding. Therefore, if you feel you've done your best to resolve the situation in a fair way but still have not received resolution, please re-post your message. However, with the exposure our list gets to other media sources (that is, other blogs that will pick up this post and try to make a mockery of parents in pubs), we'd like to be seen as a positive force in our local neighborhoods.

 

READY TO GIVE US A REVIEW? Here's what you'll need:

• Business Name and contact information about the business/provider
• Your Park Slope Parents Member ID OR the email address you receive PSP emails (only PSP members may provide reviews, so you must include this)
• Your Unbiased, even tempered Review* (Please read the PSP's Recommendation Policy)
• Your agreement to our "Declaration of Integrity"  

Declaration of Integrity:  

• You will be required to agree to this Declaration of Integrity. If you can't make this certification your review will not be included on the PSP website. 

  I AGREE TO THE DECLARATION OF INTEGRITY…. if you certify that I have no conflict-of-interest in making this entry (I are neither owner/employee/family member/best friend). I realize that false advertising is a Class A misdemeanor (Section 190.20 of the NYS Penal Law) and violations to this declaration may result in myself or the business being publicized for the violation and my membership suspended. 

Have Everything?  Submit your review on THIS FORM.

Please: 

• Allow 2-3 weeks for your review to post (longer if the recommendation was posted to the PSP Advice Group). If it doesn't show up after 3 weeks, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..