Yesterday I posted a less than glowing review of an eye shadow Primer by Too Faced Cosmetics. This morning I received a comment disagreeing with my impression, which is utterly fine. Not every product works the same way for everyone and I'm always happy to hear from readers about their own experience with items I write about. But something about that comment smelled fishy to me. I've been doing this blogging thing since 2006 and have learned a thing or two in the process. So I went to my visitor counter and found the information you see in the screen shot above.
That's a screen capture from my visitor log. You can verify its authenticity since my Site Meter statistics are public and viewable if you click the link on the right . Look for the 9:58:45 am visit, which is when the comment in question was left.
Dear Too Faced Cosmetics PR and marketing department, is that how you reach out to bloggers and communicate with your customers? Seriously? Did you think I wouldn't notice? Do you also post fake reviews on Sephora's site?
I've been through similar crap before. Next thing I usually get an apologetic email telling me the person who did it is new or an intern or the owner's niece and hasn't been briefed yet on netiquette, because the company has the utmost respect for bloggers and never does these things.
Whatever.
Gaia, I'm so tech-unsavvy that I'm really impressed, and also glad that you tracked this down. Honestly, the gall. Funny too, that the "comment from a reader" blamed the problem on you, your eye cream, or the humidity.
ReplyDeletelol, love it! I'm glad you shared your research.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! They're BUSTED! That is too funny.
ReplyDelete(On another note: I am finally sampling the most beautiful Midini perfume oils! You wrote about them quite awhile back, and got me interested. I am really enjoying them, and had to say thanks for putting them on my radar.)
old crone
I just let out a laugh that was probably heard down the hall. You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Gaia!!! I'm glad you tracked it down. That's terrible a company thinks they can get away with it. I'm going to write a comment about the primer in that article in a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it when you bust them like that. It's always so very apparent to me as well when someone comments just to shill. There must be someone on the payroll someplace doing this kind of work. Pathetic...
ReplyDeleteThat's HYSTERICAL!
ReplyDeleteGood on you for publishing it though. And you should be flattered to know that they're watching your site.
Very funny.
Shame on them and hurray for you for exposing their tactics. We've all encountered those fake reviewers who dis the competition while extolling the virtues of their own products. They don't get called out for their crass and dishonest tactics nearly often enough. Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us look to reviews for information and honest opinions. We realize that products will work differently for different people. And, we respect the fact that we don't all share the same aesthetic. As Mark Twain said, "It is not best that we all should think alike, it is differences of opinion that make horse races." Or, in this case, lots of cosmetic brands from which to choose.
Wow - it's like the fake reviews production houses write up for their movies that are crappy to stir up an audience!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this happened to you - also, I am very happy that you tracked it down. In your face, Two Faced! hahaha
Bwahahaha... good for you! You rock.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many fake reviews are on MUA? You are right, TFSI is not a good product. It changes the color of the shadow and leaves a grey cast. With the effort they spend looking for bad reviews on the net, they should spend time listening to their customers and improving the product. Too bad, Too faced!
ReplyDeleteYou are my hero. That was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWell played, Gaia.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for calling them out! This sneaky commenting practice seems to be common among beauty companies on review blogs - at least two other instances within the past few months on other blogs I read. This case really disappoints me because I do really like the Too Faced eye shadow primer and haven't tried the UD primer because I'd heard such bum reviews about the packaging - and now I have another reason (besides glowing reviews) to give the UD a try.
ReplyDeleteBusted!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! You go girl!!
ReplyDeletethat's too funny. especially because it wasn't THAT bad a review. why they felt the need to pounce like that would be interesting to know.
ReplyDeletei get some of these comments, too... usually it's a pitch for their own product wrapped up in a "compliment." something about the way they write them gives them away.
good job calling them out.
minette/scentsignals
Haha... this amused me. I need to figure out how to track these things down! I have a blog but it's not impressive or famous or anything, but if anyone ever did this on my blog I would be annoyed/satisfied to catch them.
ReplyDeleteI love Too Faced. Who cares if they're standing up for their own product? Anyone would. Isn't the comment box a place to voice your own opinions?
ReplyDeleteLove this! I read that comment and thought it looked a little too PR..
ReplyDeleteAnd you reminded me that I haven't had a sitemeter on my blog forever. I put one on. Now I can see exactly how few people read my blog!
Wow! But not surprised. You see this quite a bit on the Sephora site. I'm a fan of this blog because I know you will provide negative reviews. We all know that most of the products we test are just ok, and it is more rare when we find something unique or great. I always question those bloggers who have love for everything, as well notice when suddenly, a group of bloggers promote a certain brand or product.
ReplyDeleteLike my dad says, 'They really showed their a**'. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteBloggers who love everything and do not differentiate between shades of gray, just want free products from PR companies, I am glad your blog is not one of them.
ReplyDeleteIt is also common practise for cosmetic companies to buy their own products by the bucketload from high traffic retailers, i.e. places like sephora and beauty.com just so they can write reviews about them, after all, it is a tax deductible expense. This is more effective than the push strategy marketing programs since potential buyers always value a previous buyers opinion more. In product segments which are maturing like that for eye primers, pull strategies are always more effective. Hence, leaving fake comments on blogs and shopping sites. I find this to be highly unethical and a betrayal of consumers’ trust. Good on you for pointing this out.
awesome! Is there a way to use / install SiteMeter on my own blog? I would love to know exactly where people are coming from.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the Shadow Insurance and many of the Too Faced little cute face palettes. This behaviour from them, however, makes me so disappointed that I'm so over buying their products. I feel this somewhat childish urge to punish them, for having such low thoughts of me as a consumer. Thanks for letting us know about their dishonest behaviour!
ReplyDelete