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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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
Mareleine · 02/05/2025 14:09

Toffeesgirl · 02/05/2025 13:37

It does explain alot, I have bought products purely based on recommendations from MH.

A couple have been disappointing to say the least, one of which was a mascara. Had I known that the poster recommending it had never actually tried that particular product but loved mascaras in general, I would never had bought (and subsequently) binned it!

Still I guess MN had got their commission by then so didn't give a toss.

Edited

Yes I'm quite miffed because we took the kids to an activity recently that was promoted by MN as perfect for children their age (and younger), and it turned out that actually the kids were too young to enjoy it and wanted to stop after about 10 minutes. Wouldn't be so bad but we had to drive quite far, pay for parking etc. Now I know recommendations from MNHQ are just not trustworthy.

Taytayslayslay · 02/05/2025 14:11

I just received an email apology about thus

TURNYOURCAPSLOCKOFF · 02/05/2025 14:13

FiveShelties · 02/05/2025 11:52

But surely anyone could register and post as MN something. It is the blue background which makes it believable.

Show quote history

Well, yes. I have a username that's starts MNxxxxx

MNChiefInspectorThreadPolice · 02/05/2025 14:15

MNThreadPolice · 02/05/2025 13:44

Law enforcement definitely outranks editors.

I do miss in thread name changes for threads like this.

Show quote history

I think you’ll find I’m the boss.

AccountCreateUsername · 02/05/2025 14:16

MNEditor · 02/05/2025 11:33

Hi

I'm the Mumsnet editor who produces the recommendation emails you receive, including last night's Discounts newsletter, so I'd like to explain my process.

I appreciate that the quote used to describe a pop-up gazebo last night was not directly applicable to the specific gazebo which was promoted, so firstly let me apologise if this has caused confusion or concern.

When products are selected for recommendation, our goal is always to share information which is useful to Mumsnetters and to help them find great products or bargains. We always try to use quotes that are as recent as possible and, where those are not available, ensure that a quote is still relevant. Where a quote may be used to recommend a product it is carefully selected to make sure that it is honestly describing either a specific item, or the general benefits of owning a similar item. We feel these quotes are still helpful because they describe generic merits of the product which apply to all versions. However I can see that we should be clearer when using these quotes - and should have added some explanation to the quote along the lines of "our users love the ease of using pop-up gazebos" to put it in its correct context.

To clarify, there was not, and never is, any intention of misleading readers. We also always make sure to link to the user's quote on the thread, so you can go to that conversation and make up your own mind based on what other users have said, with full transparency.

I hope this goes some way towards explaining our processes. That said, it is only ever our intention to provide honest recommendations, so going forward we will tighten up the process to clearly flag when a quote is being used to describe a similar, but not identical, product. We will also be emailing everyone who received last night's Discounts email to clarify the situation so nobody feels they have been misled.

Edited

Thank you for your explanation. What you’ve done seems to me to be the very definition of misleading. You take an unrelated quote and use it to promote a product you (mumsnet) have been paid to promote.
I understand that you’re following MN policy here but the policy needs to change so that users are not misled by fake recommendations.

TURNYOURCAPSLOCKOFF · 02/05/2025 14:17

Of course people are confused.

There's a picture of a gazebo and a quote saying "The legs are already fitted and just need extended and clicked into place. The poles for the roof are all attached and concertina in and out. The thing is to get one that doesn't need you to connect poles. It has its own carry case and is light and easy to carry about."

SO OF COURSE they think that quote relates directly to the product and is describing that product...

MNheadoffice · 02/05/2025 14:17

Just came out of long term lurking. They'll probably clean up all our user names or add a blue background to all the true MN team members but I wanted to join in.
I despise the dishonesty.

Allthegoodhorses · 02/05/2025 14:18

Mareleine · 02/05/2025 12:27

@MNEditor 's username is black with a white background to the post for me. Looks nothing like a normal MNHQ post at all, just looks like a random poster.

Show quote history

Yes that's correct. As the MNHQ clarification only the moderators have a blue background. MNEditor is not a moderator but still part of MN.

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/05/2025 14:19

MNEditor · 02/05/2025 11:33

Hi

I'm the Mumsnet editor who produces the recommendation emails you receive, including last night's Discounts newsletter, so I'd like to explain my process.

I appreciate that the quote used to describe a pop-up gazebo last night was not directly applicable to the specific gazebo which was promoted, so firstly let me apologise if this has caused confusion or concern.

When products are selected for recommendation, our goal is always to share information which is useful to Mumsnetters and to help them find great products or bargains. We always try to use quotes that are as recent as possible and, where those are not available, ensure that a quote is still relevant. Where a quote may be used to recommend a product it is carefully selected to make sure that it is honestly describing either a specific item, or the general benefits of owning a similar item. We feel these quotes are still helpful because they describe generic merits of the product which apply to all versions. However I can see that we should be clearer when using these quotes - and should have added some explanation to the quote along the lines of "our users love the ease of using pop-up gazebos" to put it in its correct context.

To clarify, there was not, and never is, any intention of misleading readers. We also always make sure to link to the user's quote on the thread, so you can go to that conversation and make up your own mind based on what other users have said, with full transparency.

I hope this goes some way towards explaining our processes. That said, it is only ever our intention to provide honest recommendations, so going forward we will tighten up the process to clearly flag when a quote is being used to describe a similar, but not identical, product. We will also be emailing everyone who received last night's Discounts email to clarify the situation so nobody feels they have been misled.

Edited

Come ON!

So basically, you have a product you want to advertise (and therefore earn commission on), you need some great looking quotes so people pay you buy it but you don't have any, so you pick and choose some vaguely appropriate ones, despite them not being for this product and call it a day.

So essentially, your reviews, top tips, must buys etc, cannot be trusted?

Shynapple · 02/05/2025 14:22

Here's another one. A recommendation from xmasdealhunter for a childrens camera but they are actually talking about an item on Amazon that has great reviews. Who is to say what the quality is like on the former? (Images added)

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 🤔
AccountCreateUsername · 02/05/2025 14:23

Basically yes @IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece recommendations cannot be trusted at all. This seems really unprofessional
to me. Surely it’s counterproductive to produce recommendations that lack any credibility. Some integrity please Mumsnet HQ 🙏🏽

BiTheBridge · 02/05/2025 14:25

Crikey - I’m genuinely really shocked. That is so misleading. I suppose it just means you can’t trust Mumsnet as a company, and certainly not any of the Mumsnet recommends stuff. What a waste of goodwill! So much user-generated content here and this is what they do with it.

the response made it worse, IMO. “I’m sorry if you found it confusing that we put a quote reviewing a gazebo directly with a sales post for a different gazebo and you assumed it was talking about the same thing”

SomethingStranger · 02/05/2025 14:28

SwanOfThoseThings · 02/05/2025 12:18

I do find it hard to accept MNEditor's assertion that readers were not intended to take that quote as referring to the specific gazebo being pictured rather than pop-up gazebos on the whole.

Basically the reality is that it was a quote from so long ago they were just hoping nobody noticed !

SomethingStranger · 02/05/2025 14:29

Shynapple · 02/05/2025 14:22

Here's another one. A recommendation from xmasdealhunter for a childrens camera but they are actually talking about an item on Amazon that has great reviews. Who is to say what the quality is like on the former? (Images added)

And do MN get paid to do glowing reviews of these products with quotes about different products ?

MNEditorReturns · 02/05/2025 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Kalikaa · 02/05/2025 14:34

JoMumsnet · 02/05/2025 11:48

Just confirming that @MNEditor is a genuine MN Editor - it's only MNHQ moderators who have the blue usernames.

Show quote history

They should have a colour to identify them

MNEditorReturns - is this one?

MNEditorReturns · 02/05/2025 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 02/05/2025 14:37

Gosh this really has turned into quite a messy affair.

Nebulosity · 02/05/2025 14:38

Shynapple · 02/05/2025 14:22

Here's another one. A recommendation from xmasdealhunter for a childrens camera but they are actually talking about an item on Amazon that has great reviews. Who is to say what the quality is like on the former? (Images added)

Oh wow, I bought that camera because of that review. Didn’t occur to me that the quote wasn’t for that exact item.

MNOP · 02/05/2025 14:38

MNChiefInspectorThreadPolice · 02/05/2025 14:15

I think you’ll find I’m the boss.

Show quote history

I’ve now assumed ownership of the thread. Do I win?

BruceAndNosh · 02/05/2025 14:39

MNEditor · 02/05/2025 11:33

Hi

I'm the Mumsnet editor who produces the recommendation emails you receive, including last night's Discounts newsletter, so I'd like to explain my process.

I appreciate that the quote used to describe a pop-up gazebo last night was not directly applicable to the specific gazebo which was promoted, so firstly let me apologise if this has caused confusion or concern.

When products are selected for recommendation, our goal is always to share information which is useful to Mumsnetters and to help them find great products or bargains. We always try to use quotes that are as recent as possible and, where those are not available, ensure that a quote is still relevant. Where a quote may be used to recommend a product it is carefully selected to make sure that it is honestly describing either a specific item, or the general benefits of owning a similar item. We feel these quotes are still helpful because they describe generic merits of the product which apply to all versions. However I can see that we should be clearer when using these quotes - and should have added some explanation to the quote along the lines of "our users love the ease of using pop-up gazebos" to put it in its correct context.

To clarify, there was not, and never is, any intention of misleading readers. We also always make sure to link to the user's quote on the thread, so you can go to that conversation and make up your own mind based on what other users have said, with full transparency.

I hope this goes some way towards explaining our processes. That said, it is only ever our intention to provide honest recommendations, so going forward we will tighten up the process to clearly flag when a quote is being used to describe a similar, but not identical, product. We will also be emailing everyone who received last night's Discounts email to clarify the situation so nobody feels they have been misled.

Edited

Not good enough.
Quoting a poster review of a different brand of item is downright dishonest and misleading, and your lame explanation does not make it OK.

SomethingStranger · 02/05/2025 14:40

Have to say I’m glad that @Wondermoomin has highlighted this.

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/05/2025 14:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Seems Legit tbh

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 02/05/2025 14:40

FredoandToto · 02/05/2025 13:29

Every time they fuck up, they do a horrible "sorry, not sorry, and actually it's you who are wrong," thing and it's infuriating.

Edited
Show quote history

Mumsnet HQ has always been a depressing blend of abject amateurism and outright greed.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 02/05/2025 14:41

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 02/05/2025 14:37

Gosh this really has turned into quite a messy affair.

To clarify when I say ‘messy affair’ I’m not promoting a new romantic novel where the protagonist gets caught up in a steamy clinch with her boss nor am I advocating for people having an affair 9 1/2 weeks style with food being smeared around OR a cleaning product that might clean up that food expertly 😎