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Original poster

MN have used my quote to promote a product I’ve never bought 🤔

979 replies

Wondermoomin · 01/05/2025 20:52

AIBU to expect MN recommendations, where they quote a poster/member, to be genuine?

I like being able to rely on recommendations in MN swears by and other emails. I excitedly opened an email with the subject “Big bargains for our most loyal Mumsnetters” wondering what MN could make me buy this time (I should probably get other hobbies).

Imagine my surprise to see my own username quoted there with a recommendation! Imagine my further surprise when I realised it was a post I wrote almost 8 years ago, and it was being used directly under a specific product to give the impression I was recommending it - and I’ve never even owned that particular thing mine was more expensive.

I don’t like posts being misrepresented as a recommendation for a specific product. It makes me question the credibility of other MN recommendations.

Hoping I’ll manage to attach screenshots.

PS my gazebo broke but I’ve replaced it. Still not with the brand I supposedly recommended according to the MN email.

MN have used my quote to promote a product I’ve never bought 🤔
MN have used my quote to promote a product I’ve never bought 🤔
OP posts:
Thread gallery
63
SuperTroopers · 02/05/2025 22:40

qwertasdfg · 01/05/2025 21:13

Nothing is ever free. Especially on social media.
My guess? It is likely there is a clause in the terms and conditions that your words, the content you created belongs to MN, and you agree that they can use it or sell it as they please.

But she wasn’t writing about that gazebo. She was writing about some other gazebo.

You can’t take some words out of context, edited to fit your scenario and attribute them to someone.

Same as MN can’t take the words ‘ nothing is ever free’ from your post and then make an advert quoting you with your username saying ‘nothing is ever free’ and a picture of children not being allowed to look pit of a window at school . Or whatever.

murasaki · 02/05/2025 22:39

Sorry, it is, but way down the list. Which was surprising.

murasaki · 02/05/2025 22:37

Not when I just looked....

Sortofdontwantto · 02/05/2025 22:36

Well if we keep it current then at least it will sit in active. Won’t it…. Won’t it…

DontJumpInTheFountain · 02/05/2025 22:34

If everything was fine there would be no need to hide the thread so that no-one else could see it. Poor form.

Sortofdontwantto · 02/05/2025 22:33

Everyone make sure you’re screen grabbing these examples and MN response as they will delete imminently.

As we’ve seen it’s already been ‘disappeared’ in trending etc

Sortofdontwantto · 02/05/2025 22:30

Woah. Complaint made to ASA. And to brands advertising. This is not ok. This is borderline illegal.

Zonder · 02/05/2025 22:24

homeedmam · 02/05/2025 22:22

This is a long thread, but just to be sure I have understood...

Literally no one ever in the whole of Mumsnet history has recommended the Outsunny Gazebo or Russel Hobbs plug in fan heater.
Never even made a slightly positive post about them.

But Mumsnet for some reason needed to promote them as being recommended by Mumsnetters 🤔

So they found some quotes about completely different gazebos and heaters, edited them a bit so it wasn't obvious, and emailed out those quotes as the recommendations?

Yup. But apparently it's not a problem.

homeedmam · 02/05/2025 22:22

This is a long thread, but just to be sure I have understood...

Literally no one ever in the whole of Mumsnet history has recommended the Outsunny Gazebo or Russel Hobbs plug in fan heater.
Never even made a slightly positive post about them.

But Mumsnet for some reason needed to promote them as being recommended by Mumsnetters 🤔

So they found some quotes about completely different gazebos and heaters, edited them a bit so it wasn't obvious, and emailed out those quotes as the recommendations?

colorific · 02/05/2025 22:06

TURNYOURCAPSLOCKOFF · 02/05/2025 20:30

😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 they're consistently using fake reviews

Show quote history

It makes you wonder how many other online platforms are doing this sort of thing.

Agapornis · 02/05/2025 22:05

Removing the thread from Trending is adding to the reputational damage. It's been a top 7/top 3 thread for most of not all of today, and now it's vanished from the 25 times I pressed refreshed.

Pathetic really. I expect a removal message soon.

LynetteScavo · 02/05/2025 22:04

MN Recommendation used to be decent items that were value for money and things people probably need in their lives. But I’ve long suspected MN recommended products are actually promotions that someone once said might be good and MN have dig up a few quotes. I bought an absolute bag of shite fake Oodie that I don’t think anyone ever would recommend. After that I saw the recommendations for what they are; Products that aren’t selling well, and MN is paid to promote.

JohnTheRevelator · 02/05/2025 21:59

I had an email from Mumsnet today apologising about the mistake that they'd made!

HansHolbein · 02/05/2025 21:52

JaneJeffer · 02/05/2025 21:00

.

Mmmm oh my god, stop fuckin lyin!

WouldYouEverCOMEON · 02/05/2025 21:45

The failure to be transparent at this stage is really misguided. The apparently disingenuous attempt at damage limitation has just obliterated any remaining trust on this issue.

I've been guided by the Mumsnet Loves stuff for years. It was literally one of the few buying guides on the internet that I thought was worth reading. I won't trust it again.

Removing the thread from Trending so that people don't see it is poor form as well.

I've been on MN for 17 years. I honestly thought there was a bit more integrity than this.

AuntyAgony · 02/05/2025 21:41

Jeez it really doesn't look good, does it? Luckily I've never purchased anything that "Mumsnet swears by', but I have certainly considered it because I use the site and feel that their recommendations would be decent. Can't trust anyone these days eh? 😆

Anon517 · 02/05/2025 21:27

I’ve been following this today and it’s pretty astounding the people who just don’t get the point of the thread. It’s deception in order to promote something which I would assume will make them money.
My dd is older now but makes me wonder all those times I purchased baby products and saw the mumsnet approval badge on it and thought oh that good. I wonder whether this was factual or a money making thing.

JaneJeffer · 02/05/2025 21:00

.

why you always lying noragami aragoto GIF
Philthefridge · 02/05/2025 20:59

These are just egregious. No grey areas at all.

Chewygummy · 02/05/2025 20:46

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

kittensinthekitchen · 02/05/2025 20:45

Toffeesgirl · 02/05/2025 19:38

Just received my MN Daily Trending email, guess which thread is noticeable by it's absence 😂

Disappeared from the Trending box too Wink

Shynapple · 02/05/2025 20:44

Wondermoomin · 02/05/2025 20:33

That flosser one is particularly bad, with the heading they’ve put above it “Hansung water flosser which is as reliable a piece of kit as
we’ve ever seen recommended”. Wow Mumsnet.

And here is the linked post where the "recommendation" came from
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4920222-have-you-got-a-water-flosser-are-they-good?reply=129950594&utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=Prime%20Day%20Swears%20By%20Tuesday%20081024&utm_medium=email

Not one mention of Hangsun 🤔

Have you got a water flosser? Are they good? | Mumsnet

My teeth are really really close together. I can only just work regular floss into the gaps. Would a water flosser work for me do you think?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4920222-have-you-got-a-water-flosser-are-they-good?reply=129950594

Chewygummy · 02/05/2025 20:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

FullOfLemons · 02/05/2025 20:39

Toffeesgirl · 02/05/2025 19:38

Just received my MN Daily Trending email, guess which thread is noticeable by it's absence 😂

Indeed

It appears to have been dropped from the Trending section of website too.

Given the volume of posts it looks like MN have done this deliberately. So clearly embarrassed.

I think they are expecting everybody will forget / get bored … return to complaining about dogs or Meghan.

Stravaig · 02/05/2025 20:39

If the media don't pick this up and run with it, I'll assume it's because they're up to their necks in the same fraudulent practices.

What a despicable way to exploit Mumsnetters. I don't just mean those who read and trust the fake recommendations. If my username and words were exploited and twisted to deceive others I would be livid. Maybe they have been, I have no way of knowing.

Swipe left for the next trending thread