Feedback

we would like to have feedback enabled, but only as long as we can access it before it goes live. I also think that feedback for hosts would be good too, there's a few volunteers we had this year who were so good I would like to commend them in some way, and positive feedback would be a great opportunity. I don't know whether it's the new format of WWOOF.ie, but there's a better type of volunteer around this year. Did anyone else comment on this?

This is a great idea BUT how about extending it to the volunteers, to allow hosts to leave feedback? I have had some brilliant, hardworking fun people, and it was a privilege to host and to work with them. On the other hand I have had a very small number of people, well, to put it diplomatically, should not be wwoofing at all. If there was a feedback opportunity for hosts also then we would possibly have a much better experience as we would know who were are about to host.

Peter, I would like to have this feedback facility enabled on my profile please. Seán

In reply to #1 - Feedback comments will be checked by one of us at WWOOF Ireland before they are published. It is not possible at this stage for hosts to see feedback before it is published but we will contact you first if we think it necessary. You will receive a message when feedback has been published on you page so could contact us then if you need to. You will be able to comment on feedback provided by WWOOFers so could use that to reciprocate.

We have not decided if WWOOFers should have feedback from hosts on their own pages and would welcome more discussion on this.

Hi Peter, would welcome a feedback system for Hosts aswell as for wwoofers ie. a duel system should be in place. We've had over 40 wwoofers grace our hostel over the past 7 weeks and we have 20 a day for the next 6 weeks. We have had wonderful wwoofers but have had difficulty with a few and asked them to leave. We feel that if there is to be a feedback system it should be only fair that both parties should have the opportunity to post.

Thanks

Alison

Hi Peter,
we would like to have comments activated on our account.
I am not sure about comments on wwoofers though. There are always two in a conflict and the chemistry has to be right. If there was serious misconduct I guess it would be possible for you to expel wwoofers from using this facility?

Yes - we can always exclude users from the site but that would be a last resort. In general, the majority are perfectly respectable and disagreements can usually be resolved. My personal worry is that the trial feedback system could create a slanging match between host and WWOOFer over a simple difference of opinion.

Please remember that the current system is just a test - we will almost certainly need to revise it until it works effectively. Both Annie and myself are discussing this as widely as we can - I guess friends and family are beginning to get bored with it - but we are very keen to get it right!

Good idea. I just had my first wwoofer ever and she was magic. But I am not so naive as to believe that everyone is like that!I agree you don't want a slanging match between wwoofers and hosts. (Who's got time for that anyway?Perhaps you could put up a list of hosts who have feedback enabled and hosts could then communicate with each other regarding feedback.

May do that - but will need to check with those hosts first. Although the trial system has not had much use yet, we have already learnt some useful lessons about feedback and a revised version is in the pipeline.

In principle the feedback idea sounds like it could be good. But it is worth remembering that for the hosts we are welcoming strangers into our family, and also we sometimes depend on getting the help in the busy season, this is sometimes the host's livelyhood too.
Whilst many volunteers want to learn, are very good and are commited to the WWOOF principles, for a few others WWOOFing is sometimes a just cheap holiday or way to improve speaking English and they can allways walk away or cancel at a moments notice. Some volunteers are also young and inexperienced and may never have been away from home before. Therefore I agree that feedback should be posted about hosts only after the host has previewed the feedback and permission has been received, and that at anytime the host should be able to remove feedback if so desired.
A Host's feedback section on the website for hosts to look at any comments on volunteers would also be a useful thing too, as there is a big variation in the quality of work and attitude to the WOOFF principle out there, some people have booked confirmed with us and then cancelled with little or no notice for example.

In other contexts, such as e-bay for example, the feedback system works because there is a reciprocal relationship between the two parties. Perhaps it is best if all feedback can be openly seen so that anyone can judge its relevance. A host's reciprocal feedback relating to a WWOOFer's negative comments would be viewable on the WWOOFer's page in the system I am now investigating and all other commens by, and about both parties could also be viewed.  If there is a fair use policy in place we should be able to manage any major disagreements by editing or deleting feedback if necessary.

I guess that most members will have broadly positive feedback. A list of many negative comments would initiate approriate action. I am not sure if allowing hosts to approve feedback before it is published would work - but everything is under consideration so these are just my personal opinions for now.

I think that many people will have positive feedback as you would expect from a group of people who obviously care a lot about what they do. But when there is a negative comment or something that the host thinks is unfair then what? I am seriously begining to doubt the wisdom of the feedback idea here now. I can invisage a situation where we will all be looking at comments back and forth, or people commenting about anything trivial just because they can, and I for one have no time for that kind of thing. It will reflect badly on us all. I dont think that having comments on the voluteers page is really worth while either; as nearly everyone we have had is going back at the end of the season and will probably not be WWOOFing anymore, or not for years anyway. Since we are offering an complete alternative to the hotel or package holiday trade maybe we should not try to be like them, by rating our hosts using "customer feedback". We are in need of voluteers who wish to join in and learn not customers.
Maybe we could have a small photo gallery of higher resolution pics instead, for our hosts listing, as a picture is worth a thousand words. And for the voluteers, a mandatory section for age, food requirements and maybe reasons or objectives for the trip.

A photo gallery would be useful, but it won't provide the element of feedback where comments may help to create a better WWOOFing experience for everyone. For example, if there is something in a host's page that could be improved to provide a better description of the experience a WWOOFer may expect, feedback comments could do that. Whatever system we choose will be carefully managed and a fair use policy will be essential. We would not want unfair negative comments, but there is no purpose in only having positive feedback. We have not yet decided how the system will handle genuine complaints, but that will be an essential element too.

Thanks for your input on this - with regard to the photo gallery idea, it is not possible at the moment for technical reasons, but it may be something for the future.

Thanks for taking the trouble to try and get this sort of thing right. We (Monica and I) certainly appreciate the vast improvment in the Quality of the web site and also the wider range, and increased numbers of applicants that we have been getting this year.

Hello , I think this would be a great idea, also that feedbacks could be left for wwoofers too. I am wondering if it would not make it easier on both sides if only positive feedbacks would be left? As in, if the impression in negative, then no feedback would be left. This leaves no room for grief or conflict, which should be dealt with off line maybe. Thank you very much for the web site, we are having only great experience with wwoofers so far!
Clothilde

we'd like feedback enabled
thnx

A revised feedback system has now been enabled on all host pages. You shoud see a new button under your information to 'View feedback'. WWOOFers will also have a 'Leave feedback' button. Hosts will receive an email message when new feedback is published for their site.

All members should have received a message with a link to a newsletter which contains information about the feedback policy and how the system operates. A link to the newsletter is also available from the 'Information' menu in the left sidebar.

We welcome further discussion of the revised system as it comes into wider use.

Is it possible to make a "feedback form?"
WWOOFers are able to give their opinion maybe in a rating; it might enhance the more objective feedback, so the WWOOFers looking for a place have an idea what to expect.

That is exactly what we have done but there is no rating - we tried that in the test version and decided not to use it. WWOOFers can leave a short public feedback comment and/or they can report a problem or make a complaint privately to us. There are categories for any issues corresponding to the commitments that all hosts sign up to. At the moment hosts cannot access the form, but maybe I can find a way for you to be able to view it.

Hi Annie and else,
I don't know what the heck is going on , but Wwoofers can't contact me on my E-mail number,because it doesn't seem to exist.
I don't understand the way you lined your wwoof information,but it seemed much easier last year.
Is it at all possible to adjust the Irish WEbsite like the English one was working.I'm a Farmer,not a computer specialist.
We seem to get much less people now since this new " system " was brought inn.
Your's sincerely

Elona Ambrey

Brian and Elona - I have sent you a message from the contact link on your page.

The reason that email addresses are not openly displayed on WWOOF Ireland is that if they were, anyone could copy them. This has happened with other WWOOF organisations - all the addresses were taken illegally and used for other purposes. Unless there is a problem with your email service, you can be contacted from the 'contact' link on your page.

Please note that you will not see a contact link on your own page! This is to stop you sending a message to yourself that could possibly cause a never-ending loop. Go to any other host's page and you will see the link.

at kilkilleen organics,church cross,skibbereen,co cork is happy to have visitors feedback put on a website for anyone to view.

Feedback is now automatically enabled for every host. WWOOFers will see a 'Leave feedback' link on every host page. Hosts will only see a 'View feedback' link.

We also feel that a dual system would be better - more equitable.
As with other hosts, both this year and last we have enjoyed some tremendous wwoofers - but we too have had our share of rotten apples. Indeed we left Woofing last year due top very bad experiences with wwoofers.
Nonetheless, we rejoined and been overjoyed with most of our wwoofers this year.
SO do let's get the chance ot post up feedback on the wwoofers.