Q: Is RepVine a place for reputations?
Q: Can anyone add a reference?
Q: Once I join can I start voting and commenting on anyone I feel like?
Q: Can I change what people say
Q: Someone said something that is entirely untrue and very damaging. What can I do?
Q: Someone sent me an invitation to supply a reference but I don't have good things to say. What should I do?
Q: I have a question that is not on the FAQ, what can I do?
Q: Is the site going to ever look better?

Q: Is RepVine a place for reputations?

A: At first, we wanted RepVine to focus on reputations. A reputation is perhaps the most valuable currency anyone owns. They are the equivalent of stocks for people, and our initial intent was to create the online stock market for reputations. We spent significant time and resources figuring out how we could accomplish this.

Ultimately, we decided that reputations are simply too complex to accurately capture online. A site can get close, but it requires each person to spend too much time on the process. A site should only help you save time, and in the end that is why we stay away from reputations. References on the other hand, namely the collecting and sharing of them can save you time.

References do not equal reputations, but they make up an integral piece of them. Your collective references can not only do the same thing that a reputation score could, but managing them takes but a fraction of the time of trying to create a reputation online. return to top


Q: Can anyone add a reference?

A: We hate to say "No," but No. You must first establish a connection before you can contribute. This means having an account and then either receiving a request from another person or asking them to contribute. Once that connection is established you can leave a reference and vote on challenge phrases, along with voting on other people's comments. return to top


Q: Once I join can I start voting and commenting on anyone I feel like?

A: As fun as that sounds we must again say "No." This topic actually caused many arguments here at RepVine central (a breezy 1000 sq. ft. concrete loft-like space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn). After much deliberation and research, we decided upon a closed system. You can only contribute to people with whom you have a connection. When you provide references for a job, you get them from people that know you. Similarly, you can only contribute to those that ask you to contribute or someone that gives you permission after requesting a connection. return to top


Q: Can I change what people say

A: With RepVine, you get to decide who contributes, that is, who makes up your community, but you do not get to decide or change what your community says about you. If you invite a friend or a customer to contribute, or accept a request for contribution from a friend or customer, they will most likely say good things, but they might also say something slightly neutral or perhaps something that you think is a little too honest or even negative.

None of us are perfect, and our references will reflect that. Most of us though do more good than bad and will have much more good said about us than bad. And since your community will vote on your references, if somebody says something that others haven't experienced, that statement will fall in importance. The collective input of your community is what matters most and how we designed RepVine. (Some people will of course make simple spelling mistakes, but that will be a reflection on them and not you.) If someone says something you feel does not add value or is untrue, options do exist. Please use the Dispute option and/or contact our dispute resolution team at Dispute Resolution. return to top


Q: Someone said something that is entirely untrue and very damaging. What can I do?

A: While RepVine would prefer that the community validate the references, we do realize that people are not perfect. Some will disrupt the intent of the site by stating at one end unhelpful comments and at the other potentially libelous references. If you feel such has happened to you, please use the Dispute option and/or contact our dispute resolution team at Dispute Resolution. return to top


Q: Someone sent me an invitation to supply a reference but I don't have good things to say. What should I do?

A: Most reference on RepVine are positive. By nature, references tend to focus on the positive and help validate what people or businesses say about themselves. That does not mean the site will be free from negative statements. If you find yourself invited to contribute but lacking the positive things to say, we suggest that you decline the invitation, or contact the person and let them know you do feel your thoughts will add the value they seek. If you do end up providing a more negative reference, the community will decide how valid your statement is. If they don't agree, it will reduce in weight and migrate towards the bottom. return to top


Q: I have a question that is not on the FAQ, what can I do?

A: Please email us. We value your feedback. Faq Help. return to top


Q: Is the site going to ever look better?

A: Here we can finally say unequivocally yes. Even in all of our unrefined glory, we do exactly what we say we can do -- collect and share references, and our platform does it better than any other. For those with some desire for taste and who do not want a site circa 1996, we will be upgrading both the look and feel in addition to releasing new features along with an intuitive user interface. return to top