Flash in the Pan

In a previous post I mentioned that I'd be requiring registration for comments because one post sounded suspiciously like PR chum, carefully placed to help reduce the effect of my ambivalent reaction to a product. Today another comment on a different product appeared - one that I had just reviewed in the last week. In this case, the comment was about QuickSeals, and the remark from a person apparently with only a first name said, "Since my foods stay fresher much longer, QuickSeals more than pay for themselves. " Sorry to the poster if I'm wrong, but I just don't believe a consumer would write this - particularly as a sealed top won't keep food better than, say, a reusable storage container. (Though a ziped seal is certainly better than leaving a bag or box completely open in the fridge.) It's another post that sounds like an intern trying to sound like a real marketing person.

I really don't want to moderate posts, and I don't want to try and guess whether a comment came from a legitimate consumer or was a bit of spin control from a PR firm. So I've decided to eliminate comments. I wouldn't mind so much if the PR people directly contacted me and wanted to try rebutting - but that would require reasoning that I thought held up, and not something along the order of, "But that's not good for my client."

Unfortunately, anonymity makes it tough to know whether you're hearing a real opinion or so much shill. However, here's what I am willing to do. If someone outside of a vendor or PR firm really wants to comment, I'll post something for the person.