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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:
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63
ARichtGoodDram · 01/05/2025 23:27

EmeraldLily · 01/05/2025 22:59

Everyone at MNHQ right now…..

Except it's nighttime so there's likely nobody around and it'll be ignored until morning (unless enough people report for it to be auto hidden)

Notatallanamechange · 01/05/2025 23:26

It’ll be an LLM ‘hallucinating’ basically. Not minimising the issue, but redirecting to the real issue:

Is MN providing internally created AI content to external companies for their advertising, without checking the AI output?

Is it mumsnet allowing external companies access to whole chunks of data, which they are then filtering through AI, without checking output?

Either way it’s a balls up. And one which should not be happening by a big company, who should have an AI director/lead/panel.

MakeYourOwnMusicStartYourOwnDance · 01/05/2025 23:24

Also maybe repost this in a new thread on Site Stuff?
They're more likely to see and respond on there.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/05/2025 23:23

Looking forward to the response.

MakeYourOwnMusicStartYourOwnDance · 01/05/2025 23:23

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.

I was all ready to say yes, YABU as by posting on here, you agree to MN owning your content, by which they can repost/advertise stuff for example.
This, though?!
YANBU, that's total cheeky fuckery, very misleading!
That screenshot totally reads like you're referring to that product, and you say you haven't got that one in the first place.
Not on, and very misleading for someone wanting recommendations and to know what the product is like.

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 01/05/2025 23:21

I'd have fiven the benefit of the doubt until the robotic mower "recommendation" was posted too.

Bloody hell HQ.

I hope I've not inadvertently recommended anything under and past usernames. Urgh.

buckeejit · 01/05/2025 23:21

That’s very deceptive and I don’t like it one iota.

Rollercoaster1920 · 01/05/2025 23:20

Did you report the false advertising to the ASA?

murasaki · 01/05/2025 23:19

If I saw a poster's name that I recognised, I'd totally think it was them approving the product.

Donewiththisshit · 01/05/2025 23:18

This is really shit, and those terms and conditions make me never want to post again. I have actually had one of my threads end up in the mail and it was genuinely horrible. Although I wasn’t identified there was a torrent of online comments on the mail website and my story got shared and it was so upsetting. I think this will be my last post.

DrPrunesqualer · 01/05/2025 23:18

Wonder what the response will be

Steve Martin Idk GIF
gottakeeponmoving · 01/05/2025 23:16

Wow, I genuinely trusted those reviews.

Blackdow · 01/05/2025 23:10

ZoeCM · 01/05/2025 23:07

I've never trusted MN recommendations. I'm surprised anyone does! It's a business.

I don’t trust paid for promos but I would sometimes read what real posters have said about a product as I really thought they were more trustworthy than some Amazon reviews or similar. I thought they were taking what actual posters had said about the product they were putting in the promo. Turns out they’re taking what real posters have said about something completely different! That’s not on.

ICantPretend · 01/05/2025 23:09

gamerchick · 01/05/2025 22:37

We're the product. They can take what we post and use it how they want.

Maybe they can, but they question is should they?

I'm pretty appalled at this.

Lifeisapeach · 01/05/2025 23:09

Bump

ElleBelleLou · 01/05/2025 23:09

That’s such a shame, I genuinely trusted those!!

RinkyDinkDrink · 01/05/2025 23:08

UndermyShoeJoe · 01/05/2025 22:25

Just getting cosy.

Is that you advertising a camping chair in four years time @UndermyShoeJoe ?

’I love my self-extending legs plus built in popcorn holder camping chair for getting comfy when shit goes down!’

ZoeCM · 01/05/2025 23:07

I've never trusted MN recommendations. I'm surprised anyone does! It's a business.

AlwaysFreezing · 01/05/2025 23:04

Everyone calm down! It'll be the interns
Halo

Stravaig · 01/05/2025 23:04

This is a news exposé waiting to happen.

WeAllHaveWings · 01/05/2025 23:01

I would report your own post and ask for it to be moved to Site Stuff. They tend to reply to posts in there .

it really does cast doubt on mumsnet swears by which is disappointing.

Hekett · 01/05/2025 23:01

Oooof.

Shynapple · 01/05/2025 23:00

27th April 2025 Swears By email for a specific lawnmower brand with a non brand quote from 2022

I've added images

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 🤔
EmeraldLily · 01/05/2025 22:59

Everyone at MNHQ right now…..

Awkward Season 4 GIF by The Office
Zonder · 01/05/2025 22:59

Surprised MN hasn't responded on here yet.

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