The Internet has changed our outlook to the act of purchasing a product or service, period.
There’s no debate, no conjecture, no committees out doing their studies, waiting to declare the verdict. It is what it is.
And I first started purchasing books online, and the idea of a review was well, kinda redundant, as long as it wasn't a pirated copy, which obviously wouldn't be available on India's most path-breaking, started with books online, e-commerce site. So basically the purchase was based on whether I wanted to read the book or not.
When this evolved (or devolved, my verdict on that, is still not in) into purchasing clothes, I made a few mistakes at first, with sizes fabrics et all. But the return policies are great, at least the big names, make returns easy.
But what about products or services where returns are impossible, one is only wiser after the experience itself.
Something like a restaurant, or a trip package, a stay or a spa, these are experiences that one has to sometimes endure to find one that is finally satisfactory, or at least that’s what we did in the old days.
Today websites like trip advisor are revolutionising how we decide are leisure activities, reviews are added and read by the dozen.
I myself love to plan trip and research the merits and demerits of hotels, reviews on the in room amenities and the like.
Today a review isn’t even mandatory, just a rating as an indicator of our peers’ approval is enough. If you think about it, reviewers are just people like us, who use the information super highway to find what suits them best and when what they find moves them, leave markers in the form of approval ratings. And if the experience has been awesome or terrible then a worded review is in order.
This got me thinking, we do this for pleasure activities, but what do we rely on when we have more serious needs that need researching. When was the last time one was able to rate a hospital or a medical facility that was used, a review on how you were treated in your time of need, the efficiency with which diagnosis and treatment was carried out. What specialities does a hospital offer, what experiences our peers, people like us have had with specific hospitals?
I know Zywee.com now has a facility where one can rate hospitals in Bangalore, use the power you have to help fellows in their time of need, one review could help someone make a decision that could ensure the best possible treatment to them and their loved ones.