Reporters not reporting?

[TheCheat]

As if OFB didn't have enough annoyances, right? 

So, I found the Reporter on my first business lot that I've opened, writing away on his clipboard. I think, "Okay, the Prima guide claims that the Reporter only needs to gain 100 Customer Loyalty points (enough for the first Star)." So, I go over and Dazzle said Reporter, he gains a Star, and immediately decides he wants to check out. After checking out, he leaves. End of story. No Good Review, no Bad Review; he just leaves.

This is really frustrating me, as my business owner keeps rolling the want to win a "Best of the Best Award." Plus, I want to plant a few of those awards around the store because, according to the Prima guide, Sims who view them will gain a jump-start to their Buy bar on the next item they browse.

[Motoki]

Supposedly, he will stay for 5 hours and if in that time he doesn't get +100 or -100 then he'll leave without writing a review. If he left in less than 5 hours without writing a review something is definitely wrong though

[TheCheat]

Well, the Prima guide mentions an invisible "Shopping" want that all Sims now possess and the goal of a business owner is to not complete satisfy that want. Apparently a Sim whose Shopping want is nowhere near filled will get larger starting bonuses to their Buy bars than one whose Shopping want is almost satisfied. Perhaps the Reporter I had didn't have much of a Shopping want in the first place? I dunno.

I had another Reporter on another lot earlier today who gained three Customer Loyalty Stars within 3 hours, stayed for the other 2, and still left without giving a review.

[Myth]

I have played my home business lot to a full 10 stars and have yet to see the reporter.  I thought it had to do with it being a home business, then my son downloaded my house lot for the exact home and made abusiness on it.  Bingo! Reporter! 

Oh well, at least he didn't have a sim spontaneuosly combust and have to have the Hydrobot put him out.

[Darkstormyeve]

Glad someone mentioned this. In my first ever shop in downtown I got the reviewer twice. First time good, second time bad. Next, I open a shop which I build myself in Pleasantview and no reviewer until star 10! A guy comes in writing on his clipboard and I dazzle him etc etc. He leaves happy but no report! Frustrating.

I will try again with my real estate business in Blue Water.

[Motoki]

You may have seen him and not known it. I think everyone has the same Bluewater npcs and if so he has red hair and that weird pony tail with the sides shaved hairdo. He'll be scribbling on a pad and paper.

[Simlover]

I had one just after my shop opened and I didn't know who she was and I got a bad review.  I mean gimme a break my poor sim was still trying to learn how to work the cash register.

[straycat]

I had one just after my shop opened and I didn't know who she was and I got a bad review.  I mean gimme a break my poor sim was still trying to learn how to work the cash register.

Same here! It's terrible. My Sim was simply too busy with so many customers in the newly opened shop. The business is doing so well now. I wonder if there is a way to get rid of a bad review. Will another reporter come by or are we stuck with that initial bad review for all eternity? *weeps*

[sanmonroe]

I haven't ever gotten any report, but I have gotten several Best of the Best awards from my reporter.

wait!!! Maxis would never mes up something so vital!!! YOU BASTARDS HAS HAXX!!!

...

sorry...

channelling the BBS.

[TheCheat]

Question: Where is this "star 10" crap coming from? Last time I checked, customers only had 5 slots for positive Customer Loyalty stars...

And, although I appreciate the input that people have been having regarding the Reporter working in their game, that doesn't really help me now, does it? 

EDIT: D'oah...you meant Business Level 10... 

[Ancient Sim]

First reporter I had gave my Diva's home-based business a bad review, even though the lot was absolutely full of entertainment, entire floor devoted to refreshments, extremely comfortable seating ... then I'm playing my newly-graduated Fortune female who immediately wants to buy a community lot.  She buys the cheapest one available, hires a townie with a Silver Badge in flower-arranging and while he's furiously making bouquets, she pops a few cheapie vases and plants onto the stands from the catalogue, while this builder person adds a little shack with a toilet, plus a cheapy picnic table, a barbeque, a swingset and a bubble-blower.  The reporter is going around with positive signs all over the place, stops to have a quick swing, then tells my Sim he thinks her business is top-notch and he's giving her a great review.  No stars, though.  I reckon the whole thing is totally random.

[terrakosmos]

TheCheat, I've had this problem too. Actually, I've only ever gotten one review (home business, positive). Other than that the reporter shows up, scribbles, racks up 2-3 loyalty pts, scribbles, makes a purchase, then leaves without giving a review. I know I've met the criteria to receive reviews, dammit.

[ThyGuy]

I've had that sneak bastard reviewer spy through a window outside of the building on numerous occassions, completely out of sight, then come into view and give a bad reveiw.

[Lythdan]

I had a reporter the very first time I tried to do a business... it was that florist lady.

[aussieone]

I've had two reviews...

The first one I had, the business had only been open a couple of days and my sim was still trying to find his feet. Needless to say the review was a bad one! 

The second review was when the business reached a 10 ranking and had been open for a few weeks. This time the review was a glowing one 

[Scotty]

My first review was a great one. I got that award and placed it on my wall. Sims seem to like seeing it, and it helps my rating too.

[Pegasys]

My first business, first day, got a Best of the Best Award without even knowing what she was doing. I think it was because the environment score was so high (surrounded by masterpieces).

[J. M. Pescado]

If the reporter leaves and you get do not get a good or bad review, it meant you got a "meh" review that was neither good nor bad.

[Darkstormyeve]

So what do you have to do to get a good report? I dazzled the reporter sucessfully and talked to him socially. Appreciated him. I made sure he got personal service from my sim at the register (she's a gold medal check out chick) and did everything but kiss his butt.

[sanmonroe]

Pucker up next time.

[Darkstormyeve]

Yep, pucker buttercup.

[aussieone]

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but the second review I got, which was a glowing one BTW, I didn't even realise the reporter was on the business lot until I got the pop up that told me about the good review!

So, I don't think puckering up works (unless one of my other non controllable sales staff kissed arse big time while I wasn't looking? 

[ZiggyDoodle]

He was the second customer on the opening night of my home bakery.  Micha Eliza joked with him for a while then tended another customer.  She worked on her sales skills with him so he wound up buying a few things, hung around for a long time (always getting in the way since the bakery is small), then gave her a great review.

I had no idea who he was until he pulled out his clipboard.

Maybe he liked the jokes she told him...

[TheCheat]

If the reporter leaves and you get do not get a good or bad review, it meant you got a "meh" review that was neither good nor bad.

So we're to assume that the Prima guide's info concerning the Reporter and how many Customer Loyalty points he/she needs to gain is BS?

[Darkstormyeve]

I have been hassling the Electronic Boutique guys about the Prima guide and 'James' just told me that boxes have arrived, he hasn't had a chance to open them but to call back in 2 hrs. So hopefully in 2 hrs time I'll be in my car driving to the store to get a copy of my guide. I hope it explains all.