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

[Wondermoomin]

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.

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.

@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

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.

That’s rubbish. Totally betraying our trust.

Surprised MN hasn't responded on here yet.

Everyone at MNHQ right now…..

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

I've added images

Oooof.

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.

This is a news exposé waiting to happen.

Everyone calm down! It'll be the interns

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

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!’

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

Bump

Maybe they can, but they question is should they?

I'm pretty appalled at this.

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.

Wow, I genuinely trusted those reviews.

Wonder what the response will be

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.

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

Did you report the false advertising to the ASA?

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

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.

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.