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The latest news from the dooyooTeam - as long as you're logged in!
New Crowns for:
Crown of the Day!
23/05/2013 - (11:51 AM)
Today’s Crown of the Day goes to kristoph23 for his hands-on look at the Hoover TCR4237 Pet Hair Cylinder. Not just any vacuum cleaner, the Hoover TCR4237 packs an impressive 2,300 watts of power to make sure that stubborn pet hair knows who’s boss, but it’s not without its faults.
1706912/ You A Sucker To Buy This is more balanced than it sounds, skillfully detailing the wide of range features the TCR4237 has to offer, along with its strengths and unfortunate weaknesses.
kristoph23’s comprehensive and useful review comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ today.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week
22/05/2013 - (11:50 AM)
It’s that time of the week, folks. We’ve handpicked five dooyooers who’ve been doing excellent things around the site and now we’re going to present them here for your viewing pleasure!
karlsm93 is first up. She first joined the site back in 2009 and has been steadily writing away ever since. If you have a mosey through her reviews you’ll find reviews on products from the Kids & Family category, as well as Beauty, Toys and other products found around and inside the home. New member spanielize makes the cut, too. We’re really impressed with how her reviews have improved since starting out and her Hamlet - 2010 (DVD) earned her Crown numero uno – congratulations!
Chippytarka, is one of the famed five today. They’re another relatively new member who already has a couple of Crowns under their belt; the latest was picked up for Fantastic and beautiful decoration for any babies cot. dooyoo regular, ladybracknell, has been on fine form over the last few weeks. While she’s known for her high-quality Book reviews, she also branches out into other categories, too and recently nabbed a Crown for, You can walk a mile in these shoes. Hers is most definitely a profile to investigate if you haven’t already. Lastly today is another longstanding member, Praskipark. This month sees her focus on Portuguese restaurants (in Portugal!) and The Iron Lady (DVD), for which she’s been awarded a Crown.
That’s a wrap!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
17/05/2013 - (01:52 PM)
Summer is coming and for many of us the annual push to shed that unwanted winter insulation is underway. Today’s Crown of the Day comes courtesy of Renza_e and is highly recommended by dooyooHQ, especially if you’re watching your waistline and looking to make healthier choices about how you snack. Graze on this! offers all you need to know about graze.com’s healthy snack delivery service. Renza_e covers a wide variety of Graze products and it’s safe to say, there are no tasteless rice cakes or boring celery sticks to be found here.
Delicious, healthy treats delivered to your door, is it all too good to be true? You’ll have to read Graze on this! to find out.
Have a happy and healthy weekend dooyooers!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Levels Update
17/05/2013 - (11:06 AM)
After a fantastic response from dooyoo’s music fans, Albums are back where they belong in Level 2. But don’t forget, you can still earn double dooyooMiles this weekend in all Level 1 categories found within Music, Audio / HiFi and Video. Check out the post below for all the details.
As always, if in doubt consult the Sitemap to find out exactly which categories are in which Level.
All the best,
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Music Albums are moving up!
16/05/2013 - (11:08 AM)
Calling all pop princesses, jazz junkies, air guitar enthusiasts and music fans in general. For the next 24 hours, Music Albums are moving up to Level 1! So dig out that vinyl/cd/cassette collection or just open iTunes and get those reviews in before 10am tomorrow, Friday 17th of May to earn 600dMs per review.
And remember, we’re also offering double dMs in all Level 1 categories found within Music, Audio / HiFi and Video. Just make sure your review is the first review of a product, over 500 words in length and written before 9am Tuesday the 21st of May. Don’t forget to drop us a dooyooMail or email so we know to give you the all-important dMs!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week!
15/05/2013 - (01:35 PM)
First up this week, cheffrey has been busy in the Music category with some top-notch album reviews. Rock gods, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones all get a look in, but you’ll have to check out the reviews to find out who wins cheffrey’s seal of approval.
Another member on our radar for all the right reasons is haybel19. Since joining the site just over a month ago, she has been steadily improving her reviews and picked up her first Crown last week for If diamonds are a girls best friend... these would be a crafter's second choice. Keep up the good work haybel19, we’re looking forward to reading your next review.
Newbie star2000 earned double dMs by taking part in our Eurovision promotion with her look at the View Quest DAB+ Retro Radio. A stylish portable radio is concise but packed full of useful information, hopefully a sign of good things to come from star2000.
Jake Speed is on a roll this week picking up yet another Crown to add to his collection. The Last Avenger examines the highly anticipated return of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. Definitely worth a read before you part with your hard earned cash at the cinema this weekend.
And finally, SoadFan has reviewed some unusual Cosmetics recently including 17 Magnetized Nail Polish and Freeze 24/7 Anti-Wrinkle Cream. Could the latter really be Botox in a jar? SoadFan’s review will reveal all.
Congratulations and thanks to our celebrated dooyooers this week, we’re looking forward to seeing what you lot come up with next!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Bonus dMs: Eurovision 2013!
13/05/2013 - (04:52 PM)
One look at Lordi, Finland’s 2006 Eurovision Song Contest entry, and their winning song Hard Rock Hallelujah will tell you instantly that this annual event has come a long way since ABBA took the top spot in 1974 - whether it’s gotten better or worse is completely up to you to decide! In honour of what is arguably Europe’s most loved song writing contest we’re offering double dMs in all Level 1 categories found within Music, Audio / HiFi and Video.
To be eligible for the bonus your reviews should be: the first review of a product, over 500 words and written before 9am Tuesday the 21st of May. Please drop us a quick dooyooMail or email so we know to check the review and give you the all-important dMs!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Monday's Crown of the Day!
13/05/2013 - (01:04 PM)
Our Crown of the Day today goes to a review that may just save your life and if that’s not enough to entice you to read thehonesttruth’s review of Lions Message In A Bottle Scheme, I don’t know what is. A great scheme that can make treatment in an emergency faster and safer offers informative and practical advice about the scheme which aims to aid communication between doctors, paramedics and patients in emergency situations. The scheme is free and you can pick up everything you need at your local chemist or GP’s office however, please read thehonesttruth’s review for more details about this simple yet potentially life-saving idea.
A great scheme that can make treatment in an emergency faster and safer comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ and is a must-read for everyone!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Get Connected: dooyoo on Facebook & Twitter
08/05/2013 - (05:49 PM)
No matter whether you’re a recent addition to the dooyooCommunity or a long-standing member that has almost become part of the furniture, we’d love to see your smiling faces on our official dooyoo Facebook page! You can ask us questions, share your favourite reviews and when you ‘Like’ the page you’ll be kept up-to-date with all the latest dooyoo announcements, competitions and friendly banter.
If you’re the kind of person who prefers the twittering of little electronic birds to the book of faces we’re also on Twitter. Sing out @dooyoo_uk and we’ll follow you!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week: New Members Edition
08/05/2013 - (02:10 PM)
Today we’re welcoming five new members who are doing great things around the site and all the while still proudly wearing their new member badge!
CredDeMas has already picked up a couple of Crowns since joining mid-April. Our pick of the bunch is Good Style, Good Sound...Yet Broke in 2 months, in which CredDeMas runs us through their experience with Dr Dre’s iBeats headphones. There’s other well written tech reviews in their profile, too. EmilyWrites has also been off to a flying start; her Bosch TAS2002GB Tassimo review comes highly recommended, as do the rest of her reviews. We look forward to seeing more from this member in the coming weeks.
Biskey is another one to watch. He’s contributed some interesting reviews in the ten odd days he’s been on the site. You’ll find thoughts on Household Appliances, Golf and Health, amongst others and we’re really impressed with how he’s started out. milmol7 has been dabbling in variety of areas since signing up and seems very comfortable in the Homeware, Health and Pets categories, and she also picked up her first Crown for a review in the Telecommunications category.
Lastly today we have mcfcdave12. He’s not only been writing tip-top reviews, he also walked away with the Review of the Month for his very first review - that has to be a dooyoo record!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Short & Sweet Competition Winners!
07/05/2013 - (12:42 PM)
We had a fantastic response to our Short & Sweet competition over the weekend and after much deliberation, we have our winners.
First place and 2,000 bonus dooyooMiles goes to Listerbelle for her review of the Targus 15.4 - 16 Inch Classic Backpack. Could it be Possibly the world's best laptop backpack? Listerbelle thinks so, check out her clear and concise review to find out why.
In second place, calypte picks up 1,500 bonus dMs for her review of the Designs Kindle Keyboard Cover. Keeping your gadgets safe on the go is important and calypte has crammed her review with plenty of product detail and personal experience to help other consumers find what’s right for them.
And finally, jo1976, comes in third with her look the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Hand Garden Shears. Her practical review really puts the shears to the test and according to jo1976, These Make the Cut!
A big thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to our winners!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Psst...
06/05/2013 - (05:06 PM)
If you would like to be in with the chance of winning up to 2,000 bonus dMs, make sure to get your Short & Sweet reviews in before 9am tomorrow. Full details of the competition are just a bit further down this page and the winners will be announced tomorrow afternoon.
-Hal & Emma
dooyooTeam
Bank Holiday Monday's Crown of the Day
06/05/2013 - (01:18 PM)
In his review, The alchemist of Dusk will brighten up your day, Dentolux takes a look at the next edition in the Atelier JRPG series Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk for the PS3. Improved graphics and storyline are just two of the treats waiting for potential players but check out Dentolux’s knowledgeable and honest review for the full story.
The alchemist of Dusk will brighten up your day picks up our Crown of the Day today and comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
03/05/2013 - (04:18 PM)
The Early May Bank Holiday is nearly upon us and what better way to celebrate than awarding a shiny Crown to an outstanding review. Dear Osama: a woman's experience of loss, grief, guilt and terror is an in depth and compelling look at Incendiary by Chris Cleave. Avid reader and English teacher, brokenangel gets the balance just right in this one, offering insightful observations about the style and tone of the book while managing to retain an air of mystery that makes us want to know more.
Congratulations to brokenangel, who is racking up an impressive collection of crowned reviews recently, keep up the good work!
Have a wonderful long weekend dooyooers,
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Short and Sweet Competition
03/05/2013 - (09:49 AM)
It may be a long weekend but we here at dooyooHQ would like to see some very useful short and sweet reviews. This weekend, all reviews between 300-400 words in length in any Level 1 category will be in with a chance to win some serious bonus dooyooMiles and a shiny Crown to top it all off.
First place will be awarded 2,000dMs with second picking up 1,500dMs and 1,000dMS for third.
Just make sure your short and sweet reviews are exclusive to dooyoo and drop us a dooyooMail or email dooyooteam@dooyoo.co.uk before 9am on Tuesday the 7th of May to let us know you’re taking part. We’ll announce the winners later that day.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Winners for April!
02/05/2013 - (01:30 PM)
Our Monthly Competition for April focused on the Garden category. It was great to see so many of you sharing your opinions of the products that help your green fingers get the most out of your garden and it was a tough choice, but we have our winners:
In first place is northernlovely with her review about the Keter Plastic Apex Garden Shed. Following in a close second place is Vermilion with a review of the Botanico Compact 4 Tier Greenhouse. Finally our third place goes to member ryeb with her detailed and hands on look at the Proteam GH1059 Portable Water Butt.
April’s Review of the Month goes to new member mcfcdave12. He impressed us straight away with his review, Take my wee man for a ride where he details his and his son’s experience with the ELC weeride-kangaroo. He takes home a well-deserved bonus of 3,500 dooyooMiles.
Did you write a first review of a product in April? Make sure to check out the winners of our First Review Draw to see if you have been randomly selected to win 2,500 bonus dMS.
Our Monthly Competition for May is in the Household Appliances category so keep clicking and reviewing, it could be your name next month!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
May’s Suggestion Categories
02/05/2013 - (10:02 AM)
Want to suggest a product to review on dooyoo? Well now’s your chance. Household Appliances, Audio / HiFi, Music, Film, Fashion & Accessories, Kids & Family, Health, Tools and Video Games are now open for your suggestions.
So if there’s something you’ve been dying to review, go to Product Suggestions and let us know!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Crown of the Day
29/04/2013 - (12:25 PM)
Motors guide azana recently swapped her petrol powered lawn mower for the Black & Decker 1600W Edge-Max EMAX38i-GB. Find out how it compares in her thoughtful and entertaining review, A Cut Above the Rest? No, not Really, which picks up our Crown of the Day today and comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ.
azana is also in with a chance to win our Monthly Competition for April. All Crowned reviews in our Garden category are in the running to win 5,000 dooyooMiles for first place, 3,000 dooyooMiles for second and third gets an extra 1,000 dooyooMiles.
Get those garden reviews in quick and keep an eye on our Competitions page to find out what category will feature in May’s Competition.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
26/04/2013 - (11:52 AM)
For everything you ever wanted to know about cloth nappies, but were afraid to ask, take a look at InchyInchy’s well researched and comprehensive review of the Little Lamb Try Them All kit.
Cloth nappies may not be for everyone, but InchyInchy makes a great case for this cost effective and cute alternative to disposables. Still need convincing? Check out I love my cloth nappies... which picks up our Crown of the Day today and comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ.
Have a great weekend!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Sports Promotion Reminder!
25/04/2013 - (05:33 PM)
Attention dooyooers! Today is your last chance to earn double dooyooMiles for a first review over 400 words in length of any Level 1 product in our Sports category. This promotion ends tomorrow, Friday the 26th of April at 9am so get those reviews in quick and don’t forget to drop up an email so we know you’ve taken part.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Level Changes
25/04/2013 - (11:22 AM)
A quick switch-a-roo today, folks! We’ve loved seeing the swell of excellent reviews come into the Body Care, Hair Care and Perfume / Fragrance categories over the last few weeks but today it’s time for them to have a spell in Level 2. Moving up in the Beauty category is Make Up and Skin Care; they take up pole position in Level 1. Fish Accessories and Cat Accessories have made their way into Level 2, where Dolls and Electronic Toys have also taken up residency. The final changes today are Camping and Climbing which have moved up and now sit pretty in Level 2.
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Psst… Don’t forget to keep an eye on dooyoo’s Most Wanted list. These are products that are most popular with consumers right now and you could earn 1,000dMs for one review.
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week
24/04/2013 - (03:59 PM)
Books have been in Level 1 for less than 24 hours and already the response has been great! Our celebrated dooyooers this week represent a selection of the book reviews so far and are a must read for anyone looking for a good book.
First up, jeffjen thoroughly enjoyed anti-Twilight vampire tome, The Passage by Justin Cronin, but advises to Keep the lights on! You’ll have to read it to find out why.
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, then dawnymarie’s take on Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (of The Notebook fame) is well worth a read. Safe Haven.... details the compelling characters and hints the mysterious backstory that drives the novel forward and kept dawnymarie hooked.
xmum2threex has been reviewing with younger readers in mind with three new reviews in Junior Books. Thomas and Friends Little Music Note and Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose passed the xmum2threex test, but as the title of her review implies, Who are you going to bore today Charley bear? fell short.
Anyone with a reluctant young reader at home should check out dooyooGuide broxi3781’s look at Unsolved Mysteries by Keith West. As a home educator, broxi3781 knows her stuff and Excellent book for delayed or reluctant readers is highly recommended for any parent looking to encourage their child to read.
Last but not least, cerys82 has written some great Cookbook reviews recently. Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours and Rachel Allen’s Home Cooking both impressed cerys82, while she found Popcorn treats by Hannah Miles to be a A fun but frivolous cookbook solely about popcorn.
Thanks to all our celebrated dooyooers this week. Happy reading!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
World Book Night
23/04/2013 - (04:32 PM)
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis
Whether on the daily commute, snuggled up in bed or in a comfy chair with a C.S. Lewis sized cup of tea, there’s something about a good book that makes you think, oh go on then, just one more chapter.
Today marks the 397th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and tonight, 20,000 volunteers will spread their love of reading by distributing free books in communities across the UK and Ireland. The reason for this outpouring of literary love is to celebrate the third annual World Book Night and here at dooyooHQ we’re having our own little celebration.
All Books will be moved up to Level 1 from 5pm today until 5pm tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th of April. We know we have some voracious readers in the community so we’re looking forwards to reading your reviews.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Crown of the Day!
22/04/2013 - (04:15 PM)
Whether on your tablet, e-reader or an old-fashioned paperback, nothing beats a good book. Jumping to the top of our must-read list today is Doug Johnstone’s Hit and Run, all thanks to fizzywizzy. Her well written and entertaining review had us hooked from the first line and craving more, as any good review or book should. It may not be the typical light-hearted pool-side read but if you’re searching for a good book this summer, A Hefty Slab of Scottish Noir may have just what you’re looking for.
A Hefty Slab of Scottish Noir earns fizzywizzy our Crown of the Day today and comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
19/04/2013 - (02:16 PM)
Do you feel the need for speed when you weed? Then definitely check out scooch12’s take on the Chaselink Speedy Weeder. Speedy Weedy Speedy highlights the plus points and pitfalls of this clever little product that can save time and backache in the garden. This top notch review comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ and is a must-read for anyone getting their garden ready for summer.
If you’ve got a Garden gadget you just can’t live without, make sure to take part in our Monthly Competition for a chance to earn 5,000 bonus dooyooMiles.
Have a lovely weekend dooyooers!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Sports Promotion
19/04/2013 - (08:59 AM)
In anticipation of the London Marathon this Sunday, we’re lacing up our trainers and donning some unflattering lycra for a sports promotion! From 9am today until 9am on Friday the 26th of April you can pick up double dooyooMiles for a first review over 400 words in length of any Level 1 product in our Sports category. That’s a total of 1,200dMs for one review!
As always you’ll find all the current Levels on the Sitemap, and please drop us a quick email with the URL so we know you've taken part.
On your marks, get set, go!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Crown of the Day!
18/04/2013 - (11:03 AM)
Many home users tend to lean towards buying All-in-one Printers which are able to scan and photocopy as well as straight up print. And in a way it makes a lot of sense because it seems there’s more bang for your buck. However the first two functions often go underused and depending on your needs sometimes it’s better to purchase a more specialised machine dedicated to just the one task.
That’s what carl_lazarevic has found and discussed in today’s Crown of the Day, A budget printer that does the job you want it to! He’s managed to cram a lot of information about HP’s Deskjet 1000 Inkjet Printer into a nice concise review and we think it’s well worth checking out.
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week
17/04/2013 - (01:52 PM)
It’s clear that diving equipment has been at the top of chrisheels’ reviewing list lately. Octopuses, otters and led zeppelins all make an appearance, which makes for an interesting collection of reviews. This is specialist gear and the reviews come highly recommended by dooyoo HQ.
hlb2009 has a lot to offer in the Kids / Family category, as well as Beauty and Toys. She also has the occasional foray into writing about local restaurants and books, all of them well worth checking out. sas87 picked up a Crown this week for her Polti Vaporetto 950 vacuum cleaner review, as well as that she’s recently run us through her experiences with several prams and pushchairs; some of which were worthwhile purchases, others not so much. They’re especially useful for new parents or those looking to upgrade from an existing model and want to avoid making an expensive mistake. We’d also like to mention k2705 today; she’s recently celebrated her third year on dooyoo! That’s a darn good effort and we like her reviews, too. Read them if you like reading about beauty products or things for young kids.
Wrapping up the list is video games Guide and general dooyoo all-rounder, SWSt. He tends to focus on Books, DVDs, and of course Video Games, and we always appreciate his clear writing style and unique turn of phrase.
That’s all for now, we’ll be back at the same time next week!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Put the kettle on, it’s time for a dooyooCommunity Tea Break!
16/04/2013 - (01:35 PM)
Today we’re catching up with established dooyooCommunity member, missrarr. This beauty buff is an avid writer and is saving up her hard earned dooyooMiles for something extra special. She was kind enough to answer a few questions for us for today's dooyooCommunity Tea Break.
If you’re interested in taking part in a dooyooCommunity Tea Break, just drop us a dooyooMail, or email dooyooteam@dooyoo.co.uk and we’ll be in touch!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
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dooyooTeam: What was it that brought you to dooyoo?
missrarr: Originally, like a lot of people, I was scouting out for ways to make a small bit of extra money through the internet. Yes survey sites are handy for an odd treat now and then but the thing that attracted me to dooyoo was the opportunity to write - something that I used to do prolifically - fiction, comedy, sports - but that sadly dropped off my radar for a few years. But being on dooyoo has allowed me to keep my creative mind ticking over when I don't have the time - or plot! - to write. On top of that I have come to love offering advice and hopefully pointing people in the direction of something they were previously unaware of, and equally, warning people of purchases they might regret just by being honest and as open as possible about my experiences.
dooyooTeam: It’s really nice to hear that dooyoo helps you stay creative! What's your favourite category to write in?
missrarr: I write a lot of cosmetic and beauty reviews and I really do enjoy them - having lost the shopping gene, they seem to be my only proof of "being a girl" these days! I do enjoy music reviews although I sometimes struggle for the appropriate wording to convey my interpretation, so they are a fun challenge. Books and films are always enjoyable, and I like the mutual benefit of advising the house-proud members of the dooyoo world about cleaning products. To be honest I just love writing about anything that inspires me, be that in a positive way or in a teeth-gnashingly furiously disappointed way. And of course, everyone loves a Yankee candle.
dooyooTeam: Quite a variety! What do you think is the best review that you’ve written?
missrarr: Tough one - I tend to put my own work down a lot. I was proud that a few reviews I deliberately waited to write so I could give due care and attention to a product I really rate did achieve crown status - so my Provocative Woman perfume review, and The 2nd Law album by Muse are ones I'm proud of.
On a more negative front, whilst it wasn't an enjoyable topic, my review of The Mitre hotel in London was completely honest and it was a helpful way to vent some anger whilst hopefully helping someone else avoid having a really unfortunate customer service experience - the issue was never resolved by the company, and if the rest of our city break hadn't been so enjoyable it would have really cast a shadow over the weekend we had planned for months. In this day and age, money is tight and people deserve good service when they do buy into a luxury experience. So if I can help someone avoid sharing the same misfortune then at least some good has come of it - even the bad experiences can have something to offer.
dooyooTeam: Unfortunately they can’t all get 5 stars, but honesty is always the best policy on dooyoo. What will you be reviewing next?
missrarr: Anyone who read my "Modern Life Is Rubbish" lounge rant will know I aspire to own a smallholding so I have a lot of product suggestions upcoming that I need to crack on with - mostly River Cottage DVDs! But I also intend to start taking the time to review products I use in cookery where possible, rather than just cooking and eating them before it is too late! Including the plants themselves - I no longer have an allotment but I do share a veg plot with my mother at her house so hopefully will have advice to offer in that sense this summer.
dooyooTeam: We look forward to reading them! Besides buying River Cottage DVDs, how do you normally spend your dMs rewards?
missrarr: My main motivation in a lot of things in life at the moment is putting money away for "the dream" - that smallholding. Chances are it will never happen, but I think it is healthy to have a dream in life! So I always try to reach the magical £50 moment and now I always try to add these to the pot. It's unlikely to reach fruition but at the moment its keeping me sane! As I noted in that write up, for now they'll be put into Premium Bonds, as there is so little point in having minimal savings at present.
dooyooTeam: An admirable dream indeed and we’re glad dooyoo can help get you that little bit closer to fulfilling it. Do you think being a member of dooyoo changed your shopping habits, or changed the way you make your purchases?
missrarr: I have certainly had more faith in products that I have seen based on the reading of other dooyooers' reviews. Particularly when products are low budget and on offer in terms of household products - its only natural to suspect their quality if the price looks too good to be true so the previous information is valuable. For cosmetics I love the reviews I see here and if I want to treat myself and have seen something on here that I like the look of then it will simmer to the top of my thoughts more quickly when I'm perusing the shelves.
Also my mind is now naturally more open to brands I wouldn’t have really thought to consider before, which can only be a good thing.
dooyooTeam: What is it that you enjoy most about dooyoo?
missrarr: Its got to be the combination of positives that the site offers - community, first of all. Shared interests, support and humour. Then the opportunity to be yourself - in a funny way, my work on dooyoo (if you can call it that) is a way of having a bit of "me time". If I'm off work I like to be productive as possible so I don't like sitting around doing nothing or being a couch potato, but I can often be really exhausted, so I can sit and have background noise on the TV or iPod and catch up with everyone on here at the same time and still feel I am doing something useful as opposed to sitting around on my ever-expanding backside wasting time!
As I alluded to earlier it also allows me to keep writing, keep my style and I hope, now and then, raise a smile elsewhere amongst the community here. There are plenty of people on here that I would be happy to see down the local pub and have a drink with, and its nice to have a mutually beneficial social circle on here. In all, there's no downside to writers, there's a lot of support on here and I think we should all be proud to be part of that.
Level Changes
15/04/2013 - (04:21 PM)
Maybe if we pretend spring is already here it will eventually decide to show up! With that in mind we’ve moved a bunch of garden equipment categories up into Level 1 today; Garden Furniture, Lighting / Heating, Irrigation, Chemicals and Sheds have moved up, along with many of the others. The Site Map will of course show you exactly what is where.
Garden is also the category in which we’re holding the Monthly Competition. The top reviews will take home 5,000dMs, 3,000dMs, and 1,000dMs for first, second and third place respectively. We’ll be on the lookout for reviews that focus on the product and give plenty of personal opinion - think you can hack it? Put your best foot forward to be in with a chance to win one of the prizes!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Crown of the Day
15/04/2013 - (12:59 PM)
Today we’re diving straight into a Crown of the Day: a review that has caught our eye from the weekend’s writing that we want to highlight for the dooyooCommunity at large.
Mrb84 is still donning his new member badge but nonetheless he’s put together a cracking review of Maxi-Cosi’s Tobi Child’s Car Seat. Safe and secure covers all the necessary bases with some useful insight thrown in for good measure. Just what we like to see on the site; nice work!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Friday Food Shakeup!
12/04/2013 - (03:59 PM)
For some reason I can’t get the “I’m so excited” song from the mid-90s Cadbury’s Crunchie advert out of my head today. I must have that Friday feeling!
It could have something to do with our new Food and Drink items which have been reorganised to include Chocolate and Sweets as well as Breakfast, Cheese, Condiments, Dessert / Yoghurts, Meat / Fish, Oil / Vinegar, Pasta / Noodles, Ready Meals, Sauces / Soups, Snacks, Spread, Baking Ingredients and Spices & Seasoning.
All new items are in Level 3 at the moment but they may be on the move soon so keep an eye on the Sitemap for changes.
Happy Friday dooyooers!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Holiday At Home Winners
12/04/2013 - (01:33 PM)
Whether you’re planning to holiday at home this summer or just looking for a fun day out with the family, there is an abundance of attractions and events around the country just waiting for you to discover them. Our competition this week hoped to highlight some of these and although it was a tough choice, we have our winners.
Representing the South West, cornishchic picks up first prize of 1,500 bonus dMs for her review, An (almost) free day out in Cornwall. Once an old tin mine, Heartlands (Cornwall) has been transformed into 19 acres of gardens with activities and events that should keep the whole family happy, and the best thing is, it’s (almost) free!
In second place is cha97mw, who takes home 1,000 bonus dMs for her review, An Air Adventure, Without ever leaving the ground. The Aeroventure Museum (Doncaster) is much more than just a dusty old museum but you’ll have to check out cha97mw’s review to find out why.
AbsintheFairy put her National Trust membership to good use while visiting the Bembridge Windmill (Isle of Wight). It may not be on the top of everyone must-see list but AbsintheFairy was pleasantly surprised by this little gem on the Isle of Wight and picks up 500dMs for telling us all about it.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the competition and make sure to check out our UK / Ireland Guide for more holidaying at home ideas.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Strike A Pose!
12/04/2013 - (09:51 AM)
As you may or may not have noticed, the dooyooTeam has a new profile photo. The lovely Simon is gone and my ugly mug is up there, proudly displayed beside Hal. Now, we want to see your lovely faces! If you don’t have a photo of yourself on your profile just yet, now is the perfect time to upload one.
Having a profile photo really boosts your reviews as other consumers know the advice and opinions they’re reading come from a genuine person. It’s not that we don’t trust your cat or adorable toddler, but when they start reviewing power tools or hard spirits it gets a bit weird. We’re a community here at dooyoo and the brilliant thing about that is the chance to share trustworthy, balanced opinions from real consumers, just like you. So get out that smartphone, digital camera or webcam, pick your best side and get snapping.
Looking forward to seeing some new profile photos soon.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Travel Competition Reminder: Ends Friday 9am
11/04/2013 - (09:59 AM)
Attention please! Don’t forget we’re on the lookout for excellent reviews in the UK / Ireland Guide category. British Travel Week just finished up and we’re going to choose three of the best reviews written between Monday and 9am this Friday morning to pick up 1,500dMs, 1,000dMs and 500dMs for first, second and third place respectively. There’s a myriad of interesting sites and attractions right on our doorstep; it’s just finding out where they are that can be the difficult part!
Reviews need to be the first review of an item and they need to be between 500 and 1,000 words. Please also be sure to drop us a dooyooMail to make sure we catch your entry.
Good luck!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week!
10/04/2013 - (04:53 PM)
Leading the pack this week is scooch12 who picked up two Crowns yesterday and has been steadily improving her reviewing skills since joining dooyoo only a month ago! Her experiences with Mothercare Corner Cushions may make it the Worst baby item she’s ever purchased! but the review is top-notch and a must read for any soon to be new mums and dads. Thankfully, the Ice-Watch Classic Solid performed a tad better in scooch12’s opinion. Check out Ice? Red hot! to find out why.
Also on our radar this week is ryeb, who debates a question plaguing the conscientious vegan for years, Should veg really be kept in cages? Getting into the spirit of our Monthly Competition, ryeb’s look at the Proteam GH160 Ready Steady Grow Your Own Cage is jammed with practical knowledge and tips, if you’re thinking of growing your own, this one is for you.
A big congratulations to paulshorse who was awarded his first Crown this week. Read what he has to say about the Logitech Ultra-Flat Keyboard in A Lot of Keys in a Little Package. It is a well-structured, comprehensive review and paulshorse has the headwear to prove it.
sparkleychel also picked up a crown this week for her review of the sturdy and space-saving, Lalaloopsy Carry Along Play House. A Cracking Carry Along is a great review of a great product and is well worth a read.
Last, but by no means least, sparkle1004’s review of Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic is far from catastrophic and the title, Have I Got a Blueberry On My Face?? certainly caught our eye.
Well done and thanks to all our Celebrated dooyooers this week, keep up the good work folks!
-Emma
dooyooteam
Holiday At Home Competition
08/04/2013 - (04:10 PM)
Last week, British Travel Week implored us to forget the Ryanair flights and look a little closer to home for our next holiday. From hiking the West Highland Way to surfing in Cornwall, the Great British Isles have something for everyone and we want you to tell us what must-see sights and attractions your area has to offer.
Every first review of an item in the UK / Ireland Guide category will be in with the chance of picking up 1,500 bonus dMs for first place, 1,000dMs for second and 500dMs for third. Just make sure your reviews are between 500 -1000 words in length and drop us a dooyooMail when you’re done so we can be sure your entry is counted.
With your local knowledge and insider tips hopefully we can highlight some hidden gems around the country and get a few more people to consider holidaying at home this summer.
The competition is open until 9am Friday the 12th of April and winners will be announced later that day.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Shiny, Pointy Hat for Monday
08/04/2013 - (12:54 PM)
Tablets aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. In fact, some are predicting a 70% increase in tablet sales for 2013, when compared to 2012, as well as a significant decline in desktop PC sales. With the growing number of tablet options out there it’s becoming all the more important to do your research and get the machine that suits your lifestyle the best.
One review that will no doubt help to point you in the right direction is MsTricia’s, Ooh I do love my Sam(uel) Tab! It covers her experiences using the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 with WiFi, and no prizes for guessing that she’s a big fan. Find out exactly how, where, what and why by reading today’s Crown of the Day.
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
05/04/2013 - (12:41 PM)
Drewster_Rooster takes home our Crown of the Day today for his review of the Bosch Tassimo T20. Tassimo? Bellissimo! covers all the bases and is a great consumer resource for anyone on the lookout for a stylish home coffee machine that makes a café-worthy cup of coffee without taking up all your counter space. A great review that comes highly recommended by dooyooHQ, thanks Drewster_Rooster!
Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
March's Competition Winners!
04/04/2013 - (02:10 PM)
Telecommunications was the name of the game for our Competition in March, the standard was high and it wasn’t easy but after much deliberation we have our winners.
First place and those coveted 5,000dMs go to krumlovian1 for his look at the BlackBerry Z10. Coming in a close second and picking up 3,000dMs was Seven17 who deemed the Samsung GT S5570 Perfect, except for several things. Finally, 1,000dMs goes to miwa for Hanging On The Telephone. miwa also picked up our Review of the Month for February, well done miwa, you must be on a roll!
Thanks to everyone who took part in March. April’s competition is all about getting out in the Garden, for full details check out our Competitions Page and we look forward to reading your reviews.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Easter Competition Winners!
03/04/2013 - (01:32 PM)
The Hoff would be proud to be name-checked in the Easter Competition entries that came in over the weekend. If you didn’t catch the details: we asked dooyooers to include one of our tricky sentences in a review and one of the sentences was featuring none other than David Hasselhoff himself! We’ve had smiles on our faces all morning thanks to the ingenious ways that the sentences have been woven into your reviews - some even taking the time out to include more than one.
So who takes home the 3,000dMs bonuses? We’re pleased to announce that new member scooch12 is one of the winners and it’s for her review, Super Second Stroller. She covers Chicco’s Echo Pushchair by including lots of useful personal experience using the product, while also keeping focused on the product throughout the review. Almost indestructible, not Captain Scarlett but your child's first taste of freedom nabs one of the top spots, too. darren55 has shoehorned a lot of useful information and opinion into a concise and tidy five hundred and fifty words - which means consumers can quickly find out all they need to know. Last but not least is rosebud2001 and her review, That "5" Stands for "Five Stars", which looks at the 5th Generation Apple iPod Touch. This is clearly an excellent review that tells you everything you’d want to know before making a purchase.
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who took part! If you missed out this time be sure to keep an eye on the dooyooCommunity Homepage and ‘Like’ us on Facebook to be kept up-to-date with everything dooyoo.
-Hal
dooyooTeam
April's Suggestion Categories
02/04/2013 - (02:16 PM)
Long weekends are lovely and we hope you all had a great one! We certainly did; well written reviews have been flooding in left, right and centre for our Easter Competition. The 3 winners will be announced tomorrow morning, so watch this space...
In the meantime we have April’s open suggestion categories for you: Banking & Finance, Beauty, Books & Magazines, Computers, Cosmetics, Garden, Services, Sports, UK / Ireland Guide and Video.
We look forward to receiving your suggestions!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
dooyooCommunity Tea Break: lak11
28/03/2013 - (02:13 PM)
Today we’re chatting with lak11 who joined dooyoo at the beginning of 2010 and has recently just picked up her 100th Crown! That’s really a great effort and an excellent time to sit down for a dooyooCommunity Tea Break.
If you’d also like to take part in a Tea break, drop the dooyooTeam a message to express your interest and we’ll be in touch. But in the meantime, grab yourself a cuppa and read on…
-Hal
dooyooTeam
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dooyooTeam: What was it that initially brought you to dooyoo?
lak11: My son was at university, looking for ways to earn a few pounds when he heard about dooyoo. As I've always enjoyed writing he thought I might like to join. I found it hard to believe I could be paid for something enjoyable so told him he must have got it wrong! But being the curious type I joined and started, very nervously, to review. I'm still here more than three years later.
dooyooTeam: Well we’re pleased you gave it a go! You were awarded your 100th Crown recently, what do you think is the best review you’ve written?
lak11: Hmm! That’s difficult. I've written quite a few now so have to think back…I suppose I get really involved in Travel and Theatre reviews. One I enjoyed writing was I've seen the Starlight my review of the 2012 UK tour of the musical Starlight Express.
dooyooTeam: It sounds like a really fun show and it was interesting to get the perspective from someone who has seen both the 1984 and 2012 productions. So what is it that you normally do with your dMs rewards?
lak11: I used to use dMs for the family, helping out with university and courses. If no-one needed anything I spent it on theatre trips. Now I'm saving them to help with accommodation and outfits for my son’s wedding next year. Thanks dooyoo for helping my family to look smart and hopefully not letting the side down!
dooyooTeam: You’re welcome and we look forward to receiving the invitation to the wedding! Do you think being a member of dooyoo changed your shopping habits, or changed the way you make your product purchases?
lak11: Yes, definitely. Now when I shop I look at things I wouldn't have thought about before. I certainly think more about healthier foods. When food shopping, reviews I've read are at the back of my mind and when I see something new I think “Oh! I read about this; it’s supposed to be good so I’ll give it a try!” I think, appliance wise I can often explain a product's features to sales assistants!
dooyooTeam: That’s great! What is it that you love most about dooyoo!?
lak11: I love having something to write about as well as getting to know other reviewers. I've ‘met’ mostly, lovely, supportive and interesting people through this site, several whom I chat to on-line and email. I really appreciate my reviewing friends and I'm glad to be a dooyoo member.
Monthly Competition Reminder!
27/03/2013 - (04:08 PM)
Listen up folks! There are only a few days left to take part in our March Competition, so before you dig into your Easter eggs this Sunday the 31st make sure to take a look in the Telecommunications category and get reviewing.
Three lucky winners will be chosen early next week with 5,000 dMs awarded for 1st place, 3,000 dMs for 2nd place and 1,000 bonus dMs for 3rd.
Good luck and we look forward to reading your reviews.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Celebrated dooyooers of the Week!
27/03/2013 - (11:42 AM)
We have five top-notch reviewers for you today and this week we thought we’d let their reviews speak for themselves, be sure to check ‘em out.
garymarsh6 is still going strong after four years on the site and he’s joined by dooyoo regular SusanLesley, who wrote her first review back in 2003! Both of these guys come highly recommended. Holland1 also makes the list; she’s consistently putting out excellent reviews and grabbed a couple of Crowns this week. Wrapping thing up today is arleek, who recently returned to the site after a small break away, and newcomer spiritwood who has just picked up their very first Crown, congratulations!
-Hal
dooyooTeam
Win dooyooMiles: dooyoo's Easter Competition!
26/03/2013 - (01:04 PM)
We had so much fun during last year’s Easter Competition that we’re doing it all again in 2013. We’ve chosen three categories and next week we’ll select our favourite three reviews written in them between now and midnight on Easter Monday to go home with 3,000dMs each.
All reviews must be the first review of a product and at least 500 words. They also need to be in any of the Level 1 categories found within Audio / HiFi, Kids / Family, or Health. We’ve bumped a few more Kids / Family categories up into Level 1 for the duration of the competition, too, so refer to the Site Map to see which categories are eligible.
Sound easy? Well it is - a little too easy! And since we know you’re all such competent reviewers, this time we’re including an extra challenge – one we’re sure you’re up to. To be eligible to win the competition your review must include (and finish) one of the following sentences:
I love David Hasselhoff as much as the next person, but…
It was then I realised I’d rather eat a fistful of wild bees than…
And then out of nowhere came this enormous…
Once you’ve submitted your review please be sure to drop us a quick dooyooMail or email to let us know that you’ve taken part.
Keep the consumer in mind but have fun!
-Hal & Emma
dooyooTeam
Crown of the Day
25/03/2013 - (12:38 PM)
Morning all, hope you had a lovely weekend. It’s Crown of the Day time and today, Jojobourne picks up the shiny headwear for his wonderful review of Shane Meadows’ This is England '86.
In It was still England in '86, Jojobourne not only makes a case for Meadows’ small screen follow up to This is England but for the British film industry as a whole, hailing Meadows as one of its true gems. He describes the series as British drama at its best and details how Meadows and his cast of relative unknowns tackle the often harsh reality of 1980’s Britain to a cracking soundtrack of ska classics. A great review of an impressive series and well deserving of today’s Crown.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Friday's Crown of the Day!
22/03/2013 - (12:15 PM)
In a follow up to his previous crowned review, Nar2 takes a look at another quality product from the Sennheiser range in Sensational Sounds From Sennheiser Part 2!. Blending everyday practicality with some sound-engineering know how, Nar2’s take on the Sennheiser HD 202 headphone set picks up our Crown of the Day today and comes highly recommended by the dooyooTeam. Anyone looking to ditch their flimsy earbuds for a quality sound experience that won’t break the bank should definitely check it out.
Have a great weekend dooyooers!
-Emma
dooyooTeam
Community News
20/03/2013 - (05:33 PM)
Dear dooyooers,
We wish to express our sincere condolences on the death of long time member Vialdana (Suki Bryson), who passed away on 17/03/13. Vialdana was an active dooyoo member for over a decade and she will be greatly missed.
Your dooyooTeam
Levels on the move
20/03/2013 - (04:01 PM)
Just a quick note to say as of today, Homeware and Household Products are moving into Level 2. For further reference, the Sitemap is the place to go to find out exactly which categories are in which Level.
-Emma
dooyooTeam
