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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
olympicsrock · 01/05/2025 22:55

That’s rubbish. Totally betraying our trust.

Shynapple · 01/05/2025 22:53

JustSawJohnny · 01/05/2025 22:43

Bet they pin it on an intern and claim it was an honest accident.

They have a problem now though, because we'll all be searching for the user comment to see if it's ligit!

Show quote history

I've looked back at a couple of Swears By emails and run a Google search on the quotes and you are completely right... this is common practice.

PickAChew · 01/05/2025 22:53

@justinemumsnet might be a better tag. The MNHQ one does nothing.

This is what the ASA has to say.
https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/privacy-implied-endorsements.html

Privacy: Implied endorsements

https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/privacy-implied-endorsements.html

ClareBlue · 01/05/2025 22:50

If you are going to do this surely you can have a filter system that ensures you don't send the manipulated posts falsly endorsing something to the person who posted them in the first place. That's a basic error. Or do they assume everyone can't think that far back.
It's obviously a credibility issue for them now, but also showing they don't do proper IT systems, yet again.

FullOfLemons · 01/05/2025 22:49

gamerchick · 01/05/2025 22:37

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

No, not really

They still need to comply with the law

Publishing misleading reviews was banned last month in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act

In theory MN can be fined a spectacular amount. In practice MN is low low down on the list of people to tackle.

Kattekittt · 01/05/2025 22:49

I’ve always thought these recommendations were genuine, not anymore. Such a shame

CheesyLeek · 01/05/2025 22:47

Ooh this is disappointing.
Surprised MN have not yet commented. Bet this thread will magically go poof.

can’t trust anything anymore can you?

Sunflowerhelp · 01/05/2025 22:46

I'm going to give mumsnet the benefit of the doubt that this was done in error for now, I do hope they respond and clarify how this happened.

Iegolass · 01/05/2025 22:45

MoominMai · 01/05/2025 21:49

Lol they even copied across the grammatical error in their haste (‘extended’ instead of ‘extending’)! 😅

I saw that too!

Philthefridge · 01/05/2025 22:45

Oh, this is quite poor.

JustSawJohnny · 01/05/2025 22:45

noodlezoodle · 01/05/2025 22:43

I like the Swears By emails and naively thought that they were real recommendations from real mumsnetters. Feel quite stupid now.

Sad, isn't it?

Advertisers might see a real drop off due to this.

I certainly won't ever trust them again.

Acc0untant · 01/05/2025 22:45

Eek.

MN have used my quote to promote a product I’ve never bought 🤔
noodlezoodle · 01/05/2025 22:43

I like the Swears By emails and naively thought that they were real recommendations from real mumsnetters. Feel quite stupid now.

JustSawJohnny · 01/05/2025 22:43

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 01/05/2025 22:41

I’m just impressed that someone has managed to get the search function to work. Hasn’t that thing been knackered on here forever? My guess would be some bright spark has stuck ‘gazebo’ into search and lifted the first positive quote that was applicable.

Bet they pin it on an intern and claim it was an honest accident.

They have a problem now though, because we'll all be searching for the user comment to see if it's ligit!

UndermyShoeJoe · 01/05/2025 22:42

It will be the algorithms fault that was implemented by a new member of staff. But don’t worry we have fired them and are ever so sorry.

Dailymail on speed dial anyone? 🫣🤣

Foreheadthing · 01/05/2025 22:42

Oh this is so disappointing to read. Mumsnet is the main site I search for decent product recommendations. I hope they will respond soon.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 01/05/2025 22:41

I’m just impressed that someone has managed to get the search function to work. Hasn’t that thing been knackered on here forever? My guess would be some bright spark has stuck ‘gazebo’ into search and lifted the first positive quote that was applicable.

SecondVerseSameAsThe1st · 01/05/2025 22:40

MolluscMonday · 01/05/2025 22:28

Wow. New low, MNHQ.

Yeah, the bar is below ground now.

NorthernLoon · 01/05/2025 22:40

MartinAynuss · 01/05/2025 22:38

"they wouldn't cock that up with a stupid mistake."

And I never thought i'd see CSA images on MN, but you live and learn

Show quote history

Good point, good point.

35965a · 01/05/2025 22:40

👀

JaneJeffer · 01/05/2025 22:39

gamerchick · 01/05/2025 22:37

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

False advertising not included

MartinAynuss · 01/05/2025 22:38

NorthernLoon · 01/05/2025 22:35

I wonder if the rules around false advertising, using someone's words out of context to promote a product etc still apply when the person is anonymous.

I don't think it's a mistake; I think it's something they probably do regularly, and they've looked into it and know they're in the clear. All their revenue comes from advertising - they wouldn't cock that up with a stupid mistake.

"they wouldn't cock that up with a stupid mistake."

And I never thought i'd see CSA images on MN, but you live and learn

gamerchick · 01/05/2025 22:37

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

NormaMajors1992coat · 01/05/2025 22:37

So gazebo company pays MN, MN finds a post that’s vaguely positive and gazebo-related and then uses bits of it to fake a positive review of the client’s gazebo? Wtf?

NorthernLoon · 01/05/2025 22:35

I wonder if the rules around false advertising, using someone's words out of context to promote a product etc still apply when the person is anonymous.

I don't think it's a mistake; I think it's something they probably do regularly, and they've looked into it and know they're in the clear. All their revenue comes from advertising - they wouldn't cock that up with a stupid mistake.