Reply to: Great Business Idea

[Churchill]

How would it be funded? How could you syphon off 500k for "web services"?

Some bloody business idea that is, eh?

[expat]

The biggest issue I see with this is that pimp's and clientco's interests and ours aren't always the same.

If clientco has an agreement with pimpco, then bad reviews won't make any difference - if you want the gig there, you have to work via badpimp.

Clients don't give a tulip. Clients' HR give a tulip but not about contractors (or clients). Agents BS incessantly but won't stand for other people's BS: so they will shut down honest critical discussion, while spamming review sites with their inflated positive self-reviews.

And TBH contractors don't give a tulip either. If the agency comes up with the contract, and pays you, you'll do it with or without a positive review of the agency. Or if you won't, I will.

The only thing that would change all that is IT contracting becoming a profession. Not only is it clearly not so at the moment, it is the most demanding job in terms of required intelligence, knowledge, and training, that I can think of that is not an organised profession. But I do not see it becoming one, sadly.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The biggest issue I see with this is that pimp's and clientco's interests and ours aren't always the same.

If clientco has an agreement with pimpco, then bad reviews won't make any difference - if you want the gig there, you have to work via badpimp.

[Spacecadet]

So, which one are you - Mitchell or Webb?

Ah! Someone with taste

[The Wikir Man]

Tell me about it!
I know this one knob of an agent, who we'll call "james". Different girl every week, although they do seem to see sense and dissappear.
He's always "going abroad" but can never say what for cause it "secret like".
Last time I saw him I was at a mates barbeque... the tosser turned up in a ******* tuxedo!

So, which one are you - Mitchell or Webb?

[The Wikir Man]

what if it is moderated or you try and keep it scientific e.g. numeric ratings rather than actual comments?

If it's moderated, and you include comments, then you are potentially opening yourself up to even more problems - you knew there was a chance that it could be libellous, but didn't do enough to stop it => legal problems.

Numeric ratings are meaningless - one particularly bad rating from one person might skew things. Plus, I would want to know exactly WHY people were giving a bad rating, rather than just their scores.

[MarillionFan]

Two of my (dubious) male friends did this.

and what was your rating Mary? 10 out of 10, or needs to try harder?

[SueEllen]

One of the reasons it wouldn't work is that on every forum or review site where companies are slagged off they either log on at Head Office with different names or get the managers in the branches you are complaining about to write comments about how wonderful they are.

If they can't generate enough comments they then sue the site for libel..........


Until the UK libel laws change a site like that isn't viable.

[MaryPoppins]

A much better idea would be to set up a site where you rate ex-lovers. You could set up your account, and then list your conquests, associating their nicknames with their email accounts!!!!

Oh hang on a second. I'm suggesting this on an IT Contracting website, which has 20,000 members with an IT bias.

WTF am I thinking!

FAIL

Two of my (dubious) male friends did this.

[MarillionFan]

A much better idea would be to set up a site where you rate ex-lovers. You could set up your account, and then list your conquests, associating their nicknames with their email accounts!!!!

Oh hang on a second. I'm suggesting this on an IT Contracting website, which has 20,000 members with an IT bias.

WTF am I thinking!

FAIL

[darmstadt]

There used to a great site like that over here but it too seems to have disappeared however Gulp do in fact have a 'whitelist' which gives you an indication of which agencies are good (a numerical rating) so you can probably take that agencies not mentioned are no good. There is a very long questionnaire you have to fill in and you can also make comments about the 'black sheep.' All in all a very detailed analysis of which agencies are any good.

[d000hg]

+1 for it being a fast track to threats of writs for libel

The web's full of review sites for products, couldn't manufacturers complain in the same way if everyone writes 'this TV is crap'?

Run the site through an off-shore company if needs be. Highlight (and exercise) a policy of moderating excessive reviews. Give agents a chance to respond to reviews. Etc. But, it's the individuals I'd say would need tracking, not the companies.

I had an idea for something along these lines but it was much more profit oriented, a tool which helps contractors (and agents) but is intended as a business. Maybe one day when I have a web-dev going spare...

[MarillionFan]

There used to be one. There are at least half a dozen posts on the previous CUK board relating to it. No, I can't be bothered to find them. No, I can't remember the name. Yes, I believe it got shut down due to libel comments on it.

Go for it though. I believe now is a great time and as long as the posters remain anonymous, then you'd be libel, not us.

Hays. Tossers!

[Spacecadet]

I got threats from an estate agency a few months ago for giving them bad press. What is it with Agents? It doesn't even matter what industry they work in, they all the same.

Tell me about it!
I know this one knob of an agent, who we'll call "james". Different girl every week, although they do seem to see sense and dissappear.
He's always "going abroad" but can never say what for cause it "secret like".
Last time I saw him I was at a mates barbeque... the tosser turned up in a ******* tuxedo!

[MaryPoppins]

what if it is moderated or you try and keep it scientific e.g. numeric ratings rather than actual comments?

It wouldn't work.

For example:

I'd give a blanket score of -1 for every agent in the known universe.