Allow visitors to comment products in webshop

[Hippocrates]

I'm thinking of allowing the visitors in my webshop to comment on our products. I have a fashionrelated webshop.
What is your opinion about adding this feature?

Should one not be so affraid of negative comments?
Does it overall add more good than bad to have this feature?
It seems not many webshops have implemented this.
Some would say that a few negative comments about products here and there add credibility to the site?

Does the feature add an amateurish feel to the site - i.e. add more of a forum/blog-feel vs. polished storefront-feel?

Could one say the whatever dissatisfied customers one may have, they'll voice their opinion somehwere at it's better they do it on the site, than on some in some other forum.

Sites like Amazon have been doing it for years with their reviews and they seem to know what they are doing.

All things considering what do you think about this feature?

[mic089]

When purchasing clothing online, I value buyer comments because they are based on the experience of someone who has personally worn and cared for the item. Comments often include information regarding comfort, durability etc. that is not included in the information provided by the store.

[Morgenhund]

Reviews are generally acknowledged to be a good feature for e-commerce sites.

Negative reviews add trust for the positive ones; and what is negative for one customer (like "this book is for beginners only, I do not like this") might be a positive sign for another ("I am exactly beginner, I buy this!").

Just make sure you pre-moderate reviews before allow them to be posted--otherwise they will be spammed or other content can be put there, that is products-irrelevant.

P.S. I also limited number of posts per IP can be posted pro day, to avoid being spammed by any web-scripting-capable moron.

[edited by: Morgenhund at 3:59 pm (utc) on Feb. 18, 2008]

[rajivlodha]

comments are good options,but you will have to tackle:

1. spammers
2. fake people or competitors
3. kids D:

do get yourself a control panel feature where you can moderate comments, and get captcha or any other kind of verification system.