The Week of September 17th in Review

Posted on September 23, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

Wedding Wire was back on top of the newZ, as another flood of vendors complain about their rating and review system. The rise is linked to peak season/summer weddings that are now settling into married life and look back on their wedding day.

A statement written by Samantha Goldberg in reply to the story written by her, in her own style, also made top newZ for citing wedding industry professionals and vendors that lack passion. According to Goldberg “90%” are guilty. But an eWedNewz ongoing poll says 47% lack passion– closer to what this newZ source predicted (50%).

A trending story involving BRIDES magazine’s move in appointing the first black Editor in Chief continues to rise, as eWedNewz investigates other publications that do not have a balanced representation of all races in executive positions.

In other newZ the Tie a Yellow Bow Tie campaign to help military family victims continues to grow. FLOW Formal plans to add other items to the campaign for 2013.

 

 

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Filed Under: bridal, Bridal Magazines, eWedNewz, General News, Men's formal wear, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Poll, The Week in Review, Wedding Charities, wedding industry, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , , ,

So What Makes a Successful Wedding Business Owner? PASSION

Posted on September 19, 2012 Written by 3 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

In an ongoing eWedNewz story involving Wedding Wire responses, both public and private, say the major part lacking in the wedding website’s repertoire is passion. A growing number of complaints against Wedding Wire cite impenetrable barriers, lack of communication and a corporate approach to a very emotional business.

 

 Even Wedding Wire needs passion.

 

According to Samantha Goldberg passion is missing in 90% of wedding industry businesses;

I have worked over 2000 weddings and not including business events for 23 years…I have no idea how many honestly all I care about is for those to stay ethical. If Wedding Wire is going to allow for those scam artists to take advantage of what our customer needs; they won’t pay attention or remove my bad score, even though there is nothing that stays consistent with this, no one wants bad feedback, especially in our world..Why? We’re PASSIONATE PEOPLE WITH A PASSIONATE goal.

How many passionate people actually make it? Who works smarter not harder? 10% if we are lucky; Fact or Fiction? FACT.

Our industry has 90% dabblers. If this (the wedding business) doesn’t work, they try something else..In fact, we have specific people who have more “jobs” in a month than Sybil and her 17 personalities. Yet, no one says anything? Have you ever wondered why most don’t make it? Prob not, as most don’t care. Why? Well it starts with the service provider and then their means to get their name out there. All it takes is something like Wedding Wire to blow that in areas that leave providers– not the brides. They ARE the customer. Without us Without them? Where will you be in 2013?”

According to Goldberg wedding service providers begin with passion but soon become frustrated and fall short in the end. She cites some specific reasons why she feels this happens.

 

1. Not properly trained
2. Not properly supported by similar peers or leaders in any sense that doesn’t have a dollar amount on it.
3. Not passionate for the long haul.
4. Not innovative based on where we are now.
5. NO proper education
6. No guidelines or programs to make sure we are all on the same page.
7. Too many of those who sell how they made it, based solely on what worked for them. Everyone is different; what works for one may not work for the other and certainly not for everyone.

The last and not final reason it’s the one I dread the most. While speaking with some industry leaders, I heard for the first time,  they said “My Job”. In reality we have a career; a career that lasts. A job is just a really lifeless activity that pays for food on the table. What is missing? Passion. It’s gone for so many; I am sad.

 eWedNewz continues out investigation and coverage and welcomes your thoughts. Do you agree with Goldberg? Do you lack passion?

 

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Filed Under: General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, wedding industry, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , ,

More Complaints Against Wedding Wire Despite New Owners

Posted on September 18, 2012 Written by 5 Comments

By Paul Pannone

An explosive story that began in December, 2011 continues to leave retailers helpless against a rating system  that does not accurately portray solid businesses that have an occasional bad day. In an ongoing investigation a growing number of businesses say that the promise of a new owner, the Catalyst Group, has not lived up to expectations.

According to rising complaints Wedding Wire has not improved performance for paying advertisers under new ownership.

 

An increasing number of sources reaching out to this newZ source claim that as paying advertisers they’re not getting the value or respect they deserve. Some told eWedNewz as summer wedding couples return from their honeymoons and get settled into their new life they’re going over their wedding day and coming up with reasons to trash their vendors.

Rebecca Smith of A Bride’s Best Friend in Florida complains how a single bad review drags down her score;

“It’s bringing my score down to a 4.9 and I can’t argue or take it down,” she said on Twitter.

Under Wedding Wire’s rating system a perfect score gets shattered forever once a vendor receives less than a perfect score. That’s what set off a war between Wedding Wire and Samantha Goldberg in 2011 that brought the flaws to national attention. Wedding Wire eventually dismissed Goldberg but in an interview this week the fight is far from over, according to the feisty Celebrity event planner.

“I’m gathering more information and statements from unhappy vendors and will have much more to say in the very near future,” according to Goldberg.

Goldberg is getting help from other wedding planners in her fight including Bitchless Bride. The fuschia-wigged, potty-mouthed morph of Lady GaGa talked to eWedNewz recently and gives reasons why the wedding business must rid itself of these types of safe harbors for bitching brides if it wants to heal itself. Bitchless told eWedNewz she has a bead on scams and scam artists that take people’s money and give all vendors and wedding experts a bad name.

“I love that lady; she says what all of us think and would love to say. For people like me that really want to help the bride I hope that I can always communicate and reason with them. With websites like Wedding Wire it’s a rip-cord and incentive not to and just another way for brides to go and rant and really hurt a vendor’s reputation in a momentary fit of rage,” says Rebecca Smith.

 An ongoing poll shows and even split of how wedding websites will become in the future. What do you think?

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Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Social Media, The Internet, Top Stories for the Year, wedding industry, Wedding planners, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , ,

David’s Story passes Martha Stewart dump of Wedding Wire stock and Still Rising

Posted on June 14, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

By Paul Pannone

 

Martha move over, here comes David’s Bridal. In less than four days the eWedNewz David’s Bridal story overtook Martha Stewart’s dump of shares in Wedding Wire, that released six-months ago. The story is still rising, as discussions fill chat rooms and members post eWNz coverage to give fellow-members information about what’s happening.

 

 

Martha smiled after her company stock rose 4% after announcing they were getting rid of Wedding Wire.  The story was big newZ in late 2011 but The David’s Bridal story blew past Martha in less than a week.

 

 

eWedNewz story coverage ranks high in internet searches, as brides hear of Leonard Green, owner of David’s Bridal, decision to shop the largest US dress retailer. So far, apart from some tire kickers,  no serious takers are reported.

Privately vendors that who worked with David’s Back in the Day say they were awful to deal with. One vendor said he was constantly chastised, belittled and threatened.

“They always told me they could do it better, faster and cheaper in China. One day, I called their bluff and walked away,” according to one vendor.

Sources say they find it ironic how David’s is under pressure by the Chinese, competing over price and sale of goods over the internet.

“David’s– and all other American Dress manufacturers– taught them how to build factories, make merchandise and how to do business. When the American companies could no longer give them the orders they needed to fill their factories and keep workers employed, they put up websites and went direct to consumers.

Because David’s service is so bad in the stores, there’s no wonder brides would rather take their chances and buy online,” say sources following the coverage.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, Economic news, eWedNewz, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Top Stories for the Year, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, Wedding Industry Events, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Week of June 4th in Review

Posted on June 9, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

 

 

By Paul Pannone

 

A victim of Wedding Wire was the most-read eWedNewz story this week. Pat Kelly, a gown retailer in Oklahoma, was tossed from the website after collaborating with them about an appointment idea. The reason given by Wedding Wire said there is a conflict of interest.

Because of the incident, advocate, Samantha Goldberg, issued a statement against Wedding Wire and related people to the website. Goldberg continues to fight for the rights of vendors and brides who are getting hurt by inaccurate information that appears on the review site.

An addition to the story from people communicating with Wedding Wire say they’re getting responses like,

“wedding wire is an innovative community  and a market place and that they are not a service and therefore cannot be held responsible for the actions of others.”

The Wedding Wire story spills out beyond the wedding industry, as vendors take on other review formats, including YELP. A Philadelphia DJ company, Cutting Edge DJs, called out YELP after trying to enhance their listing.

eWedNewz watches new websites like Bitchless Bride anonymously fighting consumers that are never satisfied, no matter ho hard vendors try. This week she featured another unidentified blogger, the Tuxedo Mask, who ripped abusive consumers not respecting tuxedo rentals.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: General News, The Week in Review, tuxedos, wedding industry, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Samantha Slaps Sonny; Mentions Martha and Calls out Catalyst

Posted on June 5, 2012 Written by 2 Comments

By Paul Pannone

In yet another War & Peace type statement, Samantha Goldberg continued her relentless rant against Wedding Wire and their practices this week that have come under fire by the wedding industry. In an ongoing eWedNewz poll 44% of respondents so far feel the review website is horrible or flawed; 34% say Wedding Wire is great. But only 2% say they’re trying to improve.

 

Would Wedding Wire list and rate itself? If they did, what would their score be?

 

In a protracted response to Wedding Wire’s decision of  expunging a solid business in Oklahoma, Goldberg mercilessly recaps months of information involving the website, the name synonymous with the website and now, the new owners. In the prepared statement Goldberg speaks directly to Sonny Ganguly throughout her writing but calls out the new owners, the Catalyst Group, wondering if they are aware of what’s happening.

“Sonny, I know you must be reading this…Catalyst, they may not have, and I am sure they will question the many unethical things you have caused. Why they bought the 40% of Martha’s shares, I’ve no idea) There’s a great reason why Martha did. She is an amazing woman and certainly was a BIG percentage of why people stayed longer than they should. That despite her business decisions, she is right back up there being successful and changing as she needs to… She’s an “icon” of our world…and more. http://www.examiner.com/article/martha-stewart-sells-wedding-wire-for-5-million-dollars.”

Goldberg’s latest statement was released to the Wedding Water Cooler group. Members of the group recently stopped following the discussion, turning off alert emails. Others requested a more clear, concise type of response from Goldberg– but none will say her campaign is completely unwarranted.

In WWC discussions, David Fuhrer, suggested Wedding Wire add itself as a vendor to their listing service;

“Why doesn’t Wedding Wire list itself under the “Wedding Planning” category upon its website? It could then be reviewed in a likewise manner as its listing-population-base (I don’t refer to them as clients…we don’t know who paid, who paid more, who didn’t pay, who paid less, etc).

Heck they could start today & upload a WW listing in this category, and they could be be tested for how legit & “hands off they are” ’cause Samantha would be among the first reviewers. WW could perhaps learn some stuff from the listing-population-base that would better WW & the industries online efforts overall. Who loses w/ this suggestion? Win-win, no?” according to Fuhrer.

Other members of the group called Führer’s suggestion brilliant and see no reason Wedding Wires shouldn’t be listed and subjected to the same scrutiny they’ve created for other wedding industry organizations.

A copy of Samantha Goldberg’s statement was sent to Ganguly/Wedding Wire/Catalyst for comment. No response came by the time of this story’s release.

Download a copy of Goldberg’s release in its entirety.

 

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Filed Under: Celebrity, eWedNewz, General News, Martha Stewart, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, The Groom, wedding industry, Wedding planners, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , ,

Poll Adds Insult to Wedding Wire Victim’s Injury

Posted on June 3, 2012 Written by 1 Comment

By Paul Pannone

What’s being called a naïve move on the part of a victim of corporate greed reflects in an ongoing eWedNewz poll where 64% of respondents so far say Wedding Wire did nothing wrong. Only 21% side with victim, Pat Kelly, and 14% say they need to know more before deciding.

 

Good-nature business people beware; play with corporate-minded industry members and expect to get burned.

 

Kelly gave the following statement after getting tossed from the website;

“When we spoke in Vegas Sonny never stated Wedding Wire had the ability to book appointments online  to me in 2010.  After explaining my idea to him, he did not say, “hey, we have that too” or ”Wedding Wire has that capability already” or “we have been tracking open table since 2007 that sounds similar” etc.. When Sonny told me Wedding Wire was not big deal till Martha Stewart got involved with them, my reply was “idoappointments.com would like Wedding Wire to be its Martha Stewart, he did not say “we would not need your service, we already have something in place”

The BIG thing is, why was my free account with Wedding Wire deleted only recently? I had an account for two years (since 2010). Plus, when you google search for my positive reviews, Wedding Wire DELETED the proper name of my account to just I Do, which I have recorded for my records.  I should have Never been allowed to have an account if idoappointments.com was a “conflict of interest.”  Sorry, but this does not smell right to me.  ”Having the ability” sounds dubious at best.  We all have the ability to do something, few have the courage to invest their years of time and personal treasure to make it a reality.”

Wedding Wire issued a statement after eWedNewz contacted them about the allegations. Since, Wedding Wire remains quiet, as a relentless onslaught of  non-ending questions from Samantha Goldberg continue. The Celebrity planner was shot down by Wedding Wire in 2011 and continues her attempts to rally other unhappy Wedding Wire advertisers to change the way the website handles its review system.

eWedNewz learned Wedding Wire has partnered with other industry personalities who share in the same corporate mentality and prey on the good-nature, trusting approach of most wedding business people.

 

eWedNewz continues our investigation into this story and welcomes your thoughts.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, eWedNewz, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, The Internet, wedding industry, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , ,

The Week of May 14th in Review

Posted on May 20, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

The Week of May 14th saw Wedding Wire finally acknowledge the mounting pressure and bad press generated by its review system.  After months of silence Sonny Ganguly of Wedding Wire responded to a relentless assault from Celebrity Event Planner, Samantha Goldberg, citing the policies of Wedding Wire.

Goldberg interceded for a bride who used a vendor listed on Wedding Wire and lost money from the unscrupulous  planner.

Goldberg is not the only critic of Wedding Wire; more advertisers come forward to tell their story pointing out the flaws of the website’s review and rating system.

The challenges and difficulties facing all directory listing wedding website formats were listed by theKnot in their latest filing.

 

 

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Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Ongoing Story Coverage, The Knot, The Week in Review, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,

Wedding Wire losing Support and Dollars

Posted on May 17, 2012 Written by 2 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Ongoing coverage of the battle between Samantha Goldberg and Wedding Wire has attracted national attention to the issues surrounding what many say is a flawed rating and review system of vendors. Goldberg has been very vocal and delivered four-letter descriptors towards Wedding Wire that would make the most seasoned hooker blush. But not everyone is cringing, in fact, Goldberg’s use of the F-bomb assault enhances the passionate feelings surrounding scammed brides that trusted the services of Wedding Wire and find themselves  victims of unscrupulous people using the website as a cover for their practices.

In response, Wedding Wire’s Sonny Ganguly was forced to deliver a canned, corporate response, infuriating eWedNewz readers and paying, featured participants of the website.

 

Reverend Will Mercer has ended a long-standing relationship with Wedding Wire, feeling their rating system is difficult to understand.

 

Reverend Will Mercer is one long-time supporter of Wedding Wire that came forward to denounce their current rating system. He  issued the following statement to eWedNewz:

“I just read the (eWedNewz) post on Google + regarding the Wedding Wire rating system. I’ve just told WW that I will end all of my advertising with them at the earliest possible date because their review system has allowed 5 imperfect reviews to destroy my work in obtaining 82 perfect reviews.

I had one crazy couple right after I had surgery for gall bladder last summer that decided to take me to task for nothing other than their lousy attitude. My work has never warranted a “1.7″. I replied to the review but had to live with it. In addition to that one I have 4 other reviews in the 4.2 to 4.8 category — in some measure due to the mistakes made by reviewers in marking the form. Nonetheless, I hung in with a 5.0 average for publication purposes until April when I had a well-meaning lesbian couple give me a 4.2 (even though their comments warranted a higher score). That shot my entire average to a 4.9.

I have since garnered another six perfect scores and still cannot reactive that average I have held ever since I began with WW more than 2.5 years ago. They keep telling me to get more reviews and have now told me I will need 7 more perfect scores to overcome the situation I am in.

I spend a lot on WW. I am their highest ranking officiant in Manhattan from the number of reviews I have. I pay to be a featured vendor and a spotlight vendor as well, and for this they let me swing in the wind because of one unbalanced couple that decided they could take a totally unfair shot at me and make it stick.

I’m done with them. If you want to talk about this at any point, I’d be happy to do so. Other systems in businesses far more important than WW allow the vendor at least the benefit of the doubt in one situation here or there. I offered to sacrifice three of my perfect scores to have them remove my lowest single score. No willingness to even discuss the matter.

I don’t need to pay them in excess of $2,000 per year to be held in such contempt by them as a business partner,” according to Rev. Will.

 

A current offer from Wedding Wire, seen as an attempt to replace some of the revenue they’re losing to unhappy customers, expires at the end of the month.

eWedNewz continues our investigation and coverage of this story and welcomes your thoughts.

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2012

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, General News, Officiants, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Social Media, The Internet, wedding industry, Wedding planners, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Existence of Flawed Wedding Websites Questioned

Posted on May 17, 2012 Written by 2 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

The wedding world was rocked by an exchange between Samantha Goldberg and Wedding Wire talking about brides who were scammed out of money by listed vendors on the website. The topic of culpability is being discussed among Wedding Water Cooler members after Wedding Wire’s Sonny Ganguly gave a corporate statement citing the rules, regulations, restrictions and the zero downside or legal liability for what’s being called a flawed format.

 

Sonny Ganguly and many other website owners look at the business side of the business, leaving the emotional part to automated systems.

 

Goldberg has become the voice speaking out against all wedding websites that run under algorithms, sans the human and emotional touch that governs every other aspect of wedding planning. Wedding Wire has suddenly become the latest website called out for fostering the emotional exchange of opinions without (adequate) human intervention , according to opposing sources.

Goldberg and other members of the Water Cooler group are currently discussing the business part of the Wedding wire business. It’s widely known that the product and service the website provides is personal, emotional and highly subjective. That’s where Wedding Wire gets caught between a rock and hard-place.

In a shared email to Ganguly, Samantha Goldberg points the finger of blame claiming the company’s slow reaction to take off a listing makes them an accomplice to criminal activity.

“Just so that we are clear, you have been given documented proof currently on your site, by a legitimate and ethical company that you are supporting a criminal offense. You would be considered an accomplice to a federal offense for allowing this to continue. This is a very serious matter which could cost Wedding Wire a substantial amount of money should some of the families come together and file a civil lawsuit against the entire WW brand and sister sites such as Wedding Bee, Project Wedding, E Harmony and various others. You’re now allowing for this continuation of a crime which can also bring other issues in which it would be improper to suggest the outcome,” according to Goldberg.

An ongoing eWedNewz investigation dating back to 2010 that includes major websites headed by corporate-minded leaders suggests they’re out of touch with small businesses and brides. Most dismiss the idea saying they employ “experts” that can relate with both. If that’s the case why are there so many problems?

Discussions in the Water Cooler say successful websites of the past including theKnot and Wedding Wire were the forerunners of today’s Social Networking systems. They were a place where brides could share ideas before and leading up to the wedding. But with the rising impact of Social networking– namely Facebook– the increasing use of Social media and ability to connect so easily to information, goods and service has rendered community websites less powerful.

“People connect only to friends and family they trust on Facebook. There is little or no risk that the information they get will hurt them, as was the case with exchange between Samantha and Wedding Wire.

Wedding Wire is an indirect competitor.  Regardless,  I’m objective enough to be realistic about an evaluation of the way in which it operates.  Initially, I thought (like everyone else) that review sites offered a brilliant concept — until it was proved that they had no reasonable control of listings or reviews.  On one hand, there’s only so much that any media can do to protect the public against fraud.  In the case of paid listings, most media demand advance payment from first time advertisers.  Depending upon the amount of money involved, the media company may even require credit references.  This helps to eliminate some of the problem.

On the other hand, it appears that Wedding Wire and other review sites cut corners to turn a profit.   I don’t know how these sites generate/obtain their free listing information.  However, there’s little question that they should be a lot more careful in their selection process.  There’s also no question that review sites should be held accountable for fabricated reviews — both good and bad.

It has been argued that controls to confirm the validity of a listing and review veracity — both good and bad — would make sites like Wedding Wire far less profitable.  Some have stated that review sites couldn’t exist if they were forced to comply with strict compliance codes.  If that’s case, maybe these sites shouldn’t exist,” according to Jim Duhe.

 

What do you think?

Poll results will be given on all eWedNewz channels. Feel free to re-distribute this information.

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, Celebrity, eWedNewz, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Poll, Social Media, The Internet, The Knot, wedding industry, Wedding planners, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,
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