-- Original Message ---
From: b.oowana
To: carcomm@css.one.microsoft.com
Sent: Thu Jul 17 07:51:29 PDT 2003
Subject: Consumer Review Feedback: Review ID #367681 (2004 Mazda RX-8 Manual)

Moderator MSN:

The fact that the RX-8 has not been shipped to a single customer yet makes this review section totally worthless. Yes I find these posting, particularly the negative ones like this totally offensive. You should remove all posts and wait until the car is in the hands of legitimate owners. The first deliveries to customers who ordered through the Internet back in January will receive their cars by the 18th of this month. Then give them a month or so to actually drive them and I’m sure you will see only Favorable reviews. Thanks you very much. :mad:


Their Response:

Hello boowana,

Thank you for writing to MSN Autos regarding consumer review feedback on a 2004 Mazda RX-8 Manual. MSN Autos strives to provide the most current and accurate automotive information available on the Internet and your feedback is important to us.
The opinions expressed in the reviews are the opinions of the writers and do not represent the editorial position of MSN Autos.
We have already assessed this review and disabled it accordingly. Please continue to report such inappropriate feedback.

For future reference, instructions and other helpful information about MSN Autos, go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at: http://autos.msn.com/help/FAQ.aspx
We hope you are enjoying MSN Autos, and we look forward to meeting all your future service needs. Thank you for using MSN Autos.

Sincerely,

Jas
MSN Autos Customer Support :p

oh EXCELLENT!! :D you rule the school Boo... bow down to the prophet!! :D

http://autos.msn.com/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?idmodel=10703&search=MostRecent&num=50&trim=All&lang=All

are they gonna do a wipe? coz i see ALOT of crap out there, which brought the overall rating down to 6.9 :mad: !!

the same thing is happening to the 6, why do people hate mazda? i posted 2 reviews on the mazda 6 and 2 reviews on the rx8 and i sent a letter to them too:D

lets all write reviews on it, atleast 2 each, it should work

i just sent a message about each of the fake reviews using the "is this review offensive" link.

These reviews are some of the best laughs I've had all week! :D(Well, after I reported "This scandoulus looking car delivers nothing but SCAM" post as 'offensive'.) It just got more and more farcical after that.

This one was really cute about the nuts in October:

"Horrible quality. Had to replace the engine and clutch at 12k. Brake and tire life of 14-15k max. Aluminum body panels are easily dented - had to replace the hood twice due to falling acorns. Also had to have 50+ dents removed and have it repainted after a windy day in October caused nuts to fall from a tree while parked at a football game. Power antenna broke. Interior finishes wore off w/i 3 months. Hood squeaked so loud, people could here me coming down the street. Air conditioning knob fell into the dashboard. Several factory recalls."

This review was posted 7/15/2003 and poster (the real nut?) claimed to have owned the car less than one year. :p

Yep. I emailed 4 of those offensive review report emails before I had to go. Now that I'm back, I'll do a few more. Gotta clean up this mess. It's not what I would call fun, but I feel better doin it.

edit:
Whew. Done. All the bad ones have been reported by me now too. Added a 10.0 reveiw while I was at it. So, what's new here? Hmmmm......

Ever on GUARD!!

Kudos.

Boowana, man, that site is littered with 1.0 - 2.0 reviews now. Dozens of them! I'm not sure what you did the first time, but you gotta tell 'em it's not just that one review, there's dozens!

Akkkkk!

In the meantime, y'all go there & fight this war!

To WAR! (http://autos.msn.com/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?idmodel=10703&search=MostRecent&num=50&trim=All&lang=All)

Somebody must really hate the RX-8 and rotary engines.

Originally posted by Racer X-8
Yep. I emailed 4 of those offensive review report emails before I had to go. Now that I'm back, I'll do a few more. Gotta clean up this mess. It's not what I would call fun, but I feel better doin it.

edit:
Whew. Done. All the bad ones have been reported by me now too. Added a 10.0 reveiw while I was at it. So, what's new here? Hmmmm......

yeah you have to report each one like you and i did. this morning i started receiving email replies to each of my objections that are just like Boo's:

Thank you for writing to MSN Autos regarding consumer review feedback on a 2004 Mazda RX-8 Manual.
MSN Autos strives to provide the most current and accurate automotive information available on the Internet and your feedback is important to us.
The opinions expressed in the reviews are the opinions of the writers and do not represent the editorial position of MSN Autos.
We have already assessed this review and disabled it accordingly.
Please continue to report such inappropriate feedback.
For future reference, instructions and other helpful information about MSN Autos, go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at:
<http://autos.msn.com/help/FAQ.aspx>
We hope you are enjoying MSN Autos, and we look forward to meeting all your future service needs.
Thank you for using MSN Autos.

i won't put my 10 review up until i have my car, i don't want to lie like the rest of them:D

The admin has now posted a Review Notice.

Mazda USA had confirmed that the RX-8 are just being released to the public. Please disregard all the previous consumer reviews [July/18/2003]

Oh, and they gave the RX-8 all 10s. :D :D :D

Good work people! On to the next challenge.

Treken - my favorite part is "Power antenna broke" - there is no power antenna, it's on the rear window.

Well, the false reviews are still there. So I wrote them this email...

Dear Admin,

THANK YOU for posting the "Admin: **** PLEASE DISREGARD PREVIOUS REVIEWS ****"

I, and the people who are in the know and are watching this review, are grateful for your action. Please also REMOVE those false reviews. Many people won’t study all of the reviews, they’ll just look at the averages, which are still falsely skewed. I’m sure you can understand that. If you can’t selectively remove them, then just remove all of it and start it over again, or just don’t have one for the RX-8. Mazda has worked like crazy in developing this car to the perfection that it has achieved. They certainly don’t deserve this.

Please don’t take this the wrong way. This is not anyones fault but the liars that ruined this review. I hope that you can correct it to where it should be, and perhaps keep monitoring it, because I’m sure the liars aren’t finished with their fun yet.

THANK YOU!!!

(end of email)

We'll see if they can fix it right. But, hey, we're getting somewhere!

wow....
i posted a "review" of 10, yeah ive driven it, for 2 mins, not enough to give a true review...

anyawy, i just said that most if not all the reviews there were false and many were libel and told the admins to wipe the entire board and also told users to ignore anything there

in the end...can we really win?
________
Body Science (http://bodyscience.ws/)

I did my part too. Did a 'yes this is offensive' reply to each message and did a review. Also sent this to MSN corporate:

"You really should have some basic quality control edits on these posts. As you have acknowledged, some fools have posted lies that diminishes the credibility of your website. I like the disclaimer, but why are the posts still viewable? If I were Mazda I'd bring legal action. This is commercial speech and the legal standards of the commonly misunderstood "freedom of speech" doctrine are different. You may be putting MSN in legal jeopardy."

I wish I could think of this a funny, but damn it makes me angry. Who is/are these posters? (Ex-wife of a Mazda guy?...or ex-husband...)

too bad I can't pull up this webpage a guy used to have that literally made it his life's work to slander mazda because of air bag sensors or something.

It was hilarious. Guy from around here too.

How can you stop slander on consumer review sites? That's like ridding the world of e-mail spam.

I liked the "Two Recalls" review.

Quote -

Pros: ...Quality construction.
Overall Review: ...lack of quality.

Here's another good one titled: "Remember the RX-7? Where are they now?"

Quote:

Overall Review:
Seriously, I'd rank 350Z and S2000 higher than RX-8 among two-seaters.

"notchy and long throw gearbox shifter" :confused:

If the RX-8 is a long throw exactly whrere would the top of a short throw shifter be in relation to the console? Would you have to reach into a hole to find the shifter? Could your fingers get caugt on the drive shaft? :p

Other gems. "no ABS", "non adjustable steering wheel", "timing chain broke"

I have barely read any of this thread but that don't matter I'm just going to rate it a 1 because I damn well please.

The RX-8 reviews on MSN are my heros. You don't need to know anything to voice an opinion. This is America it isn't how much you know but how much you act like you know that matters. Facts are for wussies. Attitude is all that matters. And bad ass attitudes RULE!

Now, I need to get back to my Super Street mag so I can look at all the pretty pictures of all the super cool add-ons that boost power by 300% for less than $100.

Neon tail-pipes are the shiznit!!!

So all you RX-8 driven' suckas out there, consider yourselves owned!

-out.

Originally posted by MrWigggles
I have barely read any of this thread but that don't matter I'm just going to rate it a 1 because I damn well please.

The RX-8 reviews on MSN are my heros. You don't need to know anything to voice an opinion. This is America it isn't how much you know but how much you act like you know that matters. Facts are for wussies. Attitude is all that matters. And bad ass attitudes RULE!

Now, I need to get back to my Super Street mag so I can look at all the pretty pictures of all the super cool add-ons that boost power by 300% for less than $100.

Neon tail-pipes are the shiznit!!!

So all you RX-8 driven' suckas out there, consider yourselves owned!

-out.

Is Mr. Wiggles being facetious tonight perhaps?

No, I know. You ditched your yellow RX-8 for a yellow Evo VIII. Then, you're the one who posted all those reviews. Ah man. Shazbot! Tell me it aint so, Mr. Wiggles!! Tell me it aint so!!!

LOL Wiggles!

Thought I'd bump this to the top. Obviously, the problem has NOT been rectified, so I'd encourage everyone to go and state your displeasure to MSN autos by using the "This post is offensive" button.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 4:01 PM
To: 'rx8orders@mazdausa.com'
Subject: MSN

Why don't you guys start legal action against MSN? This is outrageous.

http://autos.msn.com/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?idmodel=10703&search=MostRecent&num=50&trim=All&lang=All

Tried another approach. Sorry, but I can't just let this be, so I posted this on MSN. I bet they delete this message soon.

"Pros:
Everything

Cons:
Draws attention of psychopathic, mentally deranged spammers, like you see on this site.

Overall Review:
No one should trust any reviews on this site as it has no quality control. MSN allows outrageously blatant lies to be published. True, you want to encourage people to be open, but these provable, shameless, slanderous lies are being permitted by MSN. If this is acceptable to MSN, I would never trust this site again. "

Originally posted by LesPaul
[BTried another approach. Sorry, but I can't just let this be, so I posted this on MSN. I bet they delete this message soon.
[/B]


;) i bet they don't

I wrote to them (MSN) as well, and got the standard reply. NOTE When you give them an ID#, YES they will remove THAT ONE. I sent them 8 ID#s that I thought were esp. awful... and then I said they should go through and get rid of at least half of what is there.

The reply was they would delete those 8 (by ID# I gave), and be sure and bring any others to their attention. Zikes!! That could take the rest of the year. Any they don't or won't do it themselves!!!

Unfortunately these reviews are like CRABGRASS. You just can't pull one!!! AND they keep showing up by the dozens a day or more. AND yes it all Mazda cars and trucks and vans, not just the RX-8. For all I know it other brands as well. Maybe someone hates MSN, and wants to ruin their auto site????


Maybe everyone should take 10 and then..... oh to heck with it, if someone buys a car based on reading rather than driving...well they diserve what they get, and so does MSN if they don't fix their site.

hmmm... and what forum member can we think of that has a hatred for mazda, a propensity for using multiple names and enjoys telling the world that he hates mazda except for on here until he is exposed? gee who could that be? i wonder how many of those reviews are coming from that forum member.

Originally posted by zoom44
hmmm... and what forum member can we think of that has a hatred for mazda, a propensity for using multiple names and enjoys telling the world that he hates mazda except for on here until he is exposed? gee who could that be? i wonder how many of those reviews are coming from that forum member.

*knock knock* ;)

Originally posted by wakeech


*knock knock* ;)

who's there?:)

I saw those reviews as well and wrote two of my own the beginning of the week.

This is obviously one person with a grudge against Mazda. I wrote and asked if they track IP addresses of those submitting reviews. I'm sure they would find the same IP for all the rediculously low scored entries.

Maybe if enough people complained they would do that. It's an easy matter to track IP addresses and prevent the same person from entering a review more than once.

There are easy ways to change, modify, conceal or otherwise work-around IP addresses.

Originally posted by LesPaul
There are easy ways to change, modify, conceal or otherwise work-around IP addresses.

That's true, but it may not be a computer geek that is stuffing the ballot box. Most people don't know how to do that.

Another way MSN could make their reviews more realistic is to require an MSN passport login to make a review, and then limit reviews to one per person. As it is, one disgruntled Mazda customer is getting kicks out of slamming the RX-8.

I've sent in a couple of "offensive" notes on individual reviews, but they still haven't done anything about the problem. I get a from letter back from Sabrina at carcomm@microsoft.com.

This time I wrote a long note to them suggesting that they require an IP check and a passport login to prevent multiple reviews from the same person. I'm sure that email will end up in file thirteen also, but at least I'm trying.

Maybe notes to that address will get some real response. If you search for MSN on this forum, you'll see that the uncontrolled review system is generating a great deal of negative publicity for MSN Autos.

Originally posted by zoom44
hmmm... and what forum member can we think of that has a hatred for mazda, a propensity for using multiple names and enjoys telling the world that he hates mazda except for on here until he is exposed? gee who could that be? i wonder how many of those reviews are coming from that forum member.

I seriously doubt it is our "beloved" forum member. I can't slam him here in this case. Here is his comment from another forum:

The sad thing is that perfect '10' reviews are just as unrealistic as the '1' rating. When I have time, I'll contribute my expert opinion for the general public. (Don't worry, I'll be fair and unbiased)

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, that he won't rate it a "1". Knowing him, it will probably be a "2". ;)

Originally posted by zoom44


who's there?:)

"Sky" ;)

LOL I can't believe what an ordeal this has become. Who could really hate Mazda so much that they would devote that much time to creating false reviews. Especially long, detailed ones (like the one about the wind and nuts or whatever it was at the football game LOL) that obviously required some thinking as well. Whoever it is needs to get a frickin life.

Have you guys ever considered the possibility that some troll is out there doing this to get you guys riled up? Have you considered the possibility that he/she is watching the reaction on this forum, and your reactions are doing nothing but encouraging him/her?

---jps

Originally posted by Sputnik
Have you guys ever considered the possibility that some troll is out there doing this to get you guys riled up? Have you considered the possibility that he/she is watching the reaction on this forum, and your reactions are doing nothing but encouraging him/her?

---jps

I've actually considered that possibility, that's why i dont give a dam bout it anymore! if they wanna spam, fine by me, i dont mind having less RX-8s on the road. With less people driving RX-8s, it'll make ours unique! ;) Let's be honest, this car is already a success with its pre-order program and head turning capabilities! The only con right now that i can think of is not enough supply to meet the demand, i mean i paid deposit, but i got no phone calls, no VIN, not even an estimated build date! So Mazda Can, where's my car??

Just reported EVERY single one of those nutjob posts as "offensive" As in clicked the link for each post.

Let's see if they remove them. To be fair they should remove the old "10" reviews posted before 7/11 as well.

Total anarchy!