Celebrity Planner Speaks Out Against Wedding Wire and other Wedding Directory websites

Posted on December 17, 2011 Written by 21 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

 

An eWedNewz look at how wedding directory companies manage their business shows a precarious balance between servicing the consumer that looks for information and the hand that feeds them. Vendors that advertise with websites say they expect a certain amount of respect and loyalty in return for their advertising dollars. But a deeper look shows many websites are a guide and message board setup, not a definitive way of mediating problems.

Some vendors embrace the fact wedding directories exist and learned to embrace them for what they are and the purpose they serve. But most vendors we’ve spoken with say they’re disenchanted by the service that favors the bride and offers little or no chance of being heard and makes it very difficult to take down negative posts left by disgruntled brides.

One scenario we’re watching involves Celebrity wedding expert, Samantha Goldberg. According to Goldberg, she’s been wrongfully trashed by a bride on Wedding Wire. For weeks Goldberg says she’s tried every way possible to contact the people at Wedding Wire to discuss the public review but has so far been unsuccessful.

 

Samantha Goldberg says she is ready to speak out and fight against websites that won’t take down improper posts.

 

 

Goldberg’s frustration spilled out to over 1,000 of her friends on Face Book this weekend. Some are influential people in the wedding industry;

“Quick question for my wedding “peers”…Have you ever had an unpleasant experience with any of the lead sites such as “Wedding Wire” or Project Wedding etc? What has been your experience with purchasing leads, or just being listed?..Nothing specific” Legit? Worth your investment? I have not worked with either..If you wish to respond not so publically..PM me…What about the reviews? Have you noticed being a member allows for them to protect you..esp when a client was not happy with your services? We all have complaints..nature of the biz..any info would be greatly appreciated…”

Goldberg’s question returned replies from wedding sources that conclude there will always be an angry review but in a relatively small percentage compared to satisfied customers.

On Wedding Wire’s Terms of Use it clearly states they are not Judge Judy; 

WeddingWire is a Neutral Venue. WeddingWire is an innovative community and marketplace for the wedding industry. WeddingWire is not a wedding product or service provider, wedding vendor or an agent representative. WeddingWire members (“Members”) include prospective brides and grooms, newlyweds and their Wedding guests (collectively, Wedding Members”) and companies and other third parties offering products and services related to Weddings (“Vendor Members”). We and the Site function solely as a neutral venue and digital clearinghouse where Wedding Members and Vendor Members may connect for a particular type of service or product. We are not involved in or a party to the real transaction between Members. As a result, We have no control over the quality, accuracy, safety, or legality of the transactions that take place on our Website, the accuracy of listings, or the ability of Wedding Vendors to provide items or services and we are not responsible for the actions or inactions of Wedding Members or Vendor Members.

Repeated attempts to speak with Sonny Ganguly of Wedding wire – for any reason– are met with pleasant replies but nothing of substance. Wedding Wire is often cited as a leading resource for brides and of interest to the wedding business. Ganguly and a growing number of high-profile wedding personalities shy away from being interviewed, fearing difficult questions.

Goldberg says is wrongfully portrayed in the Wedding Wire review. In an eWedNewz exclusive interview she says she plans to fight for all vendors that are unable to defend themselves from such improper practices and is considering all her options.

 

 

eWedNewz

All Rights Reserved

2011

Filed Under: Breaking Newz, Celebrity, eWedNewz, General News, Social Media, Uncategorized, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , ,
  • http://www.favorsbydorinda.com/ FavorsbyDorinda

    Several of us have been discussing these issues since it happened to another colleague not long ago.  Samantha is not alone in this, as she already knows.  I’ve always questioned Wedding Wire’s ethics.  Anyone can leave a review as long as they say they contracted with you.  It’s very easy for me to go in, as someone else,  and leave a review for any vendor, positive or negative.  Wedding Wire will not aide in the removal of false reviews.  Instead they tell you, if you can get a hold of them, that they will look into it….never to hear from them again (unless you get your attorney involved).  They have no trouble asking you to renew your contract or sending numerous emails reminding you it’s time to get “new reviews” to get Wedding Wire Rated.  But what exactly does that mean??  Thanks for bringing this out to the public.  Interested in seeing what else you can “dig up”.

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  • http://twitter.com/STDOnexus AngelaBauter

    Someone left SG a bad review.  Whether it was justified or not, I don’t know.  But bad reviews that aren’t fully true or justified, they happen.  To any business.  At some point in time, somewhere, someone is probably going to leave a bad review that isn’t necessarily deserved.  If this review had been left at other locations- such as Yelp- it probably wouldn’t have been taken down either.  At least on WW, one can ask them to verify that were was actually a contract for services, so that a competitor cannot just fake a review. 

    As a business owner, it’s best to be aware that this kind of thing can happen, and to respond shortly and professionally.  I don’t feel that this review warrants the kind of attention and response that it has been given.

  • Guest

    I agree with Angela 100%.  I am thankful for the fact that WW takes it one step further to validate that business was conducted before allowing the review at all.  It is better than other sites like Yelp or Google, who let anyone post anything. I don’t see any ethical issues with their policy.  

    • Anonymous

      Thanks mystery person; you probably are Angela.

      • not angela

        seriously?? so people here can’t have opinions? isn’t that the point of a discussion / comments section? 

      • me

        well guess what, i agree with angela also and am not her. the way the situation was handled was unprofessional,  and whomever wrote it seems to be purposely trying to mislead people into thinking the response was written by wedding wire themselves.

  • http://www.spencerweddings.com Jason Spencer

    Most normal people can see through brides that seem prone to fly off the handle.  I’ve experienced this on Yelp, who is worse IMO.  My bigger issue with WeddingWire is that I’ve actually received more inquiries from their site in the two months I’ve not been an advertiser than I did in two years paying them about $100 per month.

  • Hippydog

    I just read Samantha Goldbergs response to the review in question..
    it makes her look like a crazy person.

  • http://www.facebook.com/PerfectReceptions Ed Spencer

    Wedding Wire doesn’t actively check the reviews.  They allow the vendor to review their own reviews and validate them.  If you disagree with the review you can flag the critique for review and it’s pulled.  If you can prove the review isn’t accurate it’s pulled permanently.

    On the flip side, if a review is posted and they can’t contact the bride for any reason, the review is still pulled.  Yes, even if the review is POSITIVE.  This happened to me.  I accept that… it’s unfortunate, and I said the review is good, but hey, it is what it is.

    But let’s be honest, if someone can’t leave a ‘bad’ review then the site is of no use.  If you don’t like what someone has to say, tough.  If you have an issue with a review on wedding wire, flag it for review and tell them why it’s an issue.  They’re not the fastest in the world but they will review it – and if the facts aren’t right or it’s a fake review it comes down.
    Anyone can paint a pretty picture when things are going well, but it’s when the fit hits the shan that differentiates vendors.  And on occasion when things do go poorly, how you respond to them shows your true character.  However, in this case, I find the behavior completely and totally unprofessional.  Flying off the handle and complaining isn’t going to help not matter how large your following.  I’ll be completely honest – if I was considering hiring a vendor that flew off the handle this much over a single poor review I wouldn’t hire them.  I wouldn’t even consider them.  And the attacks on wedding wire in general aren’t doing her any favors when it comes to brides actually believing the reviews that are posted.In this case, if the response was simply, ‘There seems to be some serious miscommunication with this former client.  They’re critiquing us for services which were were not contracted to perform and we’ve contacted them to determine where the miscommunication may have occurred.’  I’d think it was a well written and professional reply and I’d think how professional they’re taking this.  But a diatribe against the client blaming them for everything isn’t a sign of a true professional IMO.  It’s not a sign of anyone I’d EVER want to deal with.As for wedding wire, it’s a tool to share and communicate.  Be your review good, bad or indifferent, as long as they were your customer and the review is an accurate representation of their opinion and the general facts – the review stands – AS IT SHOULD.  If you get negative reviews look for what you can fix to prevent that issue in the future – be it change your internal procedures, your communication or perhaps your client’s expectations.  And if you really think it’s not you – then fire the client.  There is nothing that says you have to work for anyone with a checkbook.  Michael Port 101.

  • Tweak70

    I understand what you are saying Angela. But I have to side with SC on going after the”client” mentioning illness is uncalled. I also agree that there is no avenue for a vendor to “prove” incorrect comments and have them taken down OR given the ability to respond. For example there was one entry on Wedding Wire where a client reviewed that her flowers were ALL WILTED and brown. However the vendor posted pictures (along with a statement from photographer validating the photographs) showing the flowers were just fine. Wedding Wire response was (paraphrasing) to her maybe the flowers looked wilted AND we cant verify the pictures were authentic – even with the photographer.  

    HOWEVER with that said  I dont agree with the response SG posed on Wedding Wire. I think she should have stated “Our attorney is currently filing charges against this client for slanderous remarks and will be addressed in court”.

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  • Sarah

    I agree with both Angela and “Guest” that this is been blown out of proportion completely by Samantha Goldberg, which only serves to bring more attention to the negative review.

    SG has further made herself look bad, by posting a rambling, misleading response to the original poor review, in which she basically tries to make herself out to be writing on behalf on Wedding Wire (which she clearly is not, and they have marked the post as such).

    She refers to herself in the third person, uses the term “we” when referring to Wedding Wire etc., quite obviously with the intent of misleading readers into thinking they are reading official information from Wedding Wire about her dispute.

    This sort of response is in fact far worse than the actual original review, and a blueprint for how NOT to respond to a negative review online.

    While I’m personally not a fan of review sites, as they absolute favour the bride over the vendor, Wedding Wire does much more than any other review site out there, in actually verifying that it is a client of the vendor posting.

    It would be impossible or Wedding Wire to investigate every review that was posted that a vendor disagreed with, that’s fairly obvious – I would like to hear what Ms. Goldberg think is the process that SHOULD occur, and who is going to foot the bill for it, as it would take enormous resources to investigate every claim, not even taking into consideration the ethical quandary of Wedding Wire making a determination of what actually occurred, when they are not an unbiased party.

    Accept the review and move on pleasing 99.9% of the rest of your clients – a good vendor doesn’t need to worry about one bad review.

  • Mel

    I agree with angela too… and no… my name isn’t angela- or angie or even angelo.

    bad reviews happen, sometimes because they are deserved, sometimes they aren’t. More time than not, you can take both sides of the story, split it down the center and there’s the truth.

  • Sillygirl

    Are you kidding me, DO you really believe that they ask for a contract to verify? Wrong my fellow wedding folks,,They do not!!! trust me on this one, I know for a fact short of an “Threat of Law Suit ” It will not be done, unless the person can’t get a response back from the ” Hack ” who put it up, Just so you know anyone I mean anyone can review a person, on that site, It has been done to prove a point. but this has been going of a few years.

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