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PLUGGING FOR A BETTER NEW ZEALAND

Quick Links: iplug philosophy | Benefits | What's a Plug? | Who qualifies? | Registration | Your Alias | Rewards | How to Plug | Orphans

Question...

The next time you visit a restaurant, how do think the experience would be altered if the restaurant staff mistook you for a famous food reviewer?

Or what if you went to the mall and were mistaken for a Mystery Shopper?

As a Plugger, you can be all these things. Another question...

When you were young, were you nice to the relatives who brought you presents?

We all do it. We suck up to the boss, we do favours for people in positions of importance, and we offer special deals to our
'best' customers. It's human nature; if we know that someone can be of benefit to us, we tend to treat them differently.

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The benefits of Plugging

Plugging is good for all of us. It's like a smile – it costs nothing, yet it can benefit both the giver and the receiver.

But unlike a smile, Plugging can offer the Plugger very real benefits.

If you send a letter of thanks to a business, and then go back to use them again, at the very least you will get a big smile. But in many cases you will also get preferential treatment. The last thing you will get is indifference. A Plug is a public letter of thanks

If all the customers of a great business Plugged that business, it's more likely the business will be there the next time you need it

A business with only average customer service is likely to improve itself if its operators know they can collect more Plugs as a consequence, and use those Plugs to get more customers

The knowledge that they risk a Slap for poor service is enough to spur most businesses to do great things for their customers

If all New Zealanders Plugged, then the next time you needed to find a new business, you could use iplug's unique Plug Rating to ensure that you get great service

What's a Plug?

A Plug is many things. But in this case we have chosen to use the definition below (and expand on it);

• PLUG: Informal. A favorable public mention of a commercial product, business, or performance, especially when broadcast.

• TO PLUG: Informal. To mention (something) favorably, as in a lecture, radio show, etc.: He says he will appear if he can plug his new TV series.

iplug's definition of Plug

A Plug is a positive feedback comment given to a business by a customer of that business. The Plugger (person giving the Plug) is anonymous, and identified by an ALIAS, but is registered with the site (iplug).

A Slap is a negative feedback comment.

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Who qualifies?

Any New Zealand citizen or NZ Resident over the age of 18* can register as a Plugger

A Plugger can only be a single person, not a company or organisation or family

In order to receive funds from iplug, the Plugger must have a current New Zealand bank account

*If you are under 18 and wish to Plug a business or earn Plug Points, you will need to find an adult willing to let you use their Plugger Allias and registration. We may eventually allow 15–17 year-olds to register, but currently that is not permitted.

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Registration

A common question aimed our way is "Why do we have to register?"

The answer is simple. It falls into the same category as "Why do we have to lock our cars?"

It would be completely irresponsible of us to allow any and every internet user to make unqualified comments and statements about New Zealand businesses. While 99% of the population would be honest and follow the rules of the site, we need to protect iplug users from the one percent who are not as honest and responsible as the rest of us.

Registration protects all iplug users

Registration ensures that Pluggers who Plug a business are entitled to do so

Registration also prevents businesses from abusing the system by Plugging themselves or Slapping their opposition

As an iplug user you want to know that the Plugs you read are from genuine users of that business, and should you find a Slap, it's not a malicious prank from a bored overseas student who has never been to New Zealand

Registration and validation of your email address means that people who Plug our business listers have accepted our Terms and Conditions and will abide by them.

Although Plugs posted on the site are attributed to an ALIAS, we are able to contact the person behind the ALIAS should we have to.

Receiving cash

If you decide that you want to turn your Plug Points into CASH (redeem 100 Plug Points for $25), we will also need to have your bank account number. This is not collected at registration time, but once you are a Plugger, you can register your bank account number from your personal Plugger's page.

For Registration Help, click here

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Your ALIAS

Every Plugger has a unique ALIAS. This can be your name, or something made up that's significant to you, or a random set of numbers if you like. It only has to be unique, and cannot contain profanity or a meaning which is likely to offend.

Anonymous or not?

It's up to you whether you identify yourself through your ALIAS or remain completely anonymous. Sometimes it's helpful to announce yourself, especially if you want to receive preferential treatment from the businesses you Plug.

But not everyone wants to be identified. Especially if you have some constructive criticism to offer a business, and you're a regular patron.

A common compromise is to choose something that identifies you to the people who now you, but not to strangers. John Jacob Smith, for example, might become JOHNJS.

They will check you out

Just as you can check out the Plugs given to a business, any iplug visitor will be able to see the Plugs given by a Plugger's ALIAS.

Here’s how this facility may work; Imagine that a Plugger has written in a Plug for a restaurant "The best steak I have EVER had!" A check on the Plugs given by that ALIAS could reveal a lot more information.

For example, this Plugger may say that for every restaurant he/she visits, or they may visit several restaurants a week and have never given such high praise.

 

Note: You can never see the personal details of other Pluggers, only their ALIASES, and no one can see yours. For the most part Pluggers remain anonymous. Obviously, however, if someone Plugs a business over a memorable incident, the business owner may be able to work out who you are.

Rewards

In an effort to get New Zealanders Plugging, iplug has introduced a Rewards scheme that is guaranteed to give Pluggers something for nothing. As well as the ones given above, here is another reason for Plugging!

Plug Points

In simple terms, iplug is offering Plug Points to Pluggers for doing what all New Zealanders should be doing – Plugging businesses.

Here is a quick summary of what Plug Points are about;

Every Plug made earns ONE Plug Point*

Plug Points can be spent on Stuff at the iplug Shop

Plug Points can also be GIFTED to other Pluggers

Plug Points can be GIFTED to Schools and/or Charities

Schools and Charities can redeem Plug Points for Cash

Pluggers can also redeem Plug Points for Cash

*NOTE: In order to earn a Plug Point, Plugs must adhere to certain conditions. NO Plug Points are earned for Slaps (negative Plugs).

Click here to find out more about Rewards and Plug Points

Click here to read the Terms and Conditions

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How to make a Plug

Step 1 – Register

You need to register before you can place a Plug. If you have not yet registered, please click here.

Step 2 – Login

• Whenever you wish to offer a Plug, you will need to Login with your own personal iplug registration (a user name and a password).

• iplug allows you to remain logged in on this computer, meaning this step can be automated.

• When you give Plugs, your public face will be your iplug ALIAS. Your name and other personal details will not be visible anywhere on the site.

Step 3 – Search for a business

The business you want to Plug may already be on iplug, or it may not. Either way, the first step is to Search for it. Click here to learn how to search. Click here to return to the home page and perform a Search now.

• If the business is already listed on iplug, you just click on the Plug (or Slap) symbol next to that businesses listing and then follow the simple instructions.

• If the business is NOT listed on iplug, you are able to list it yourself. This is an Orphan Listing. Once the business is listed (a simple process) you can Plug it as if it were listed. Please just follow the on screen instructions, they will guide you through.

Step 4 – Enter your Plug

iplug will guide you through the simple process of entering your Plug.

A Plug can only be placed by a customer of the business. The Plugger should stick to the facts and, to the best of their ability, should try to be honest and fair in their description of an event.

A good Plug lets other people know clearly and simply what actually happened. It gives them information they can use to help them make a decision on whether or not to deal with this business. It also gives the business itself information so they can recognise what they are doing right, or perhaps fix what they are doing wrong.

Examples of good Plugs:

“Joe’s Plumbing was really great. Very easy to book on the phone, they turned up ON time (other plumbers never have) and the plumber was so polite and fixed the problem very quickly - without leaving a mess! We’d highly recommend them!”

“Jane Smiley from Exceptional Real Estate was wonderful. I was looking for a place quickly, but it had to be the right place. She was a delight to be with and just seemed to go the extra mile for me, and cottoned on really quickly to what we wanted. I’d deal with her again any day”.

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Before you Slap

If you ever consider giving a business a Slap (a negative feedback Plug), please pause before you do so and ask yourself the following questions;

Was it really their fault? Many businesses cop the blame for problems that are beyond their control; for example supermarkets are often in the gun when a powercut takes out their tills and long queues form, and all manner of businesses can suffer when parts take longer than expected to arrive by courier.

Have you given them time to remedy the problem? Sometimes it's easy to be quick off the mark with criticism, when the business owner or employee is rapidly sorting the issue to the best of their ability. Maybe they were only short-staffed through illness?

Have you got the right business? A problem with a third-party coffee vendor outside a car dealership is not necessarily the dealer's fault.

Have you tried negotiating with the business? The threat of a Slap can sometimes cause a business to reconsider its position.

Have you calmed down? Sometimes we do things in the heat of the moment that we may not have done if given more time to cool off. The rude waiter may have just been hassled, or the non-appearance of the plumber might not be the disaster it seemed to be at the time.

Slaps can have far more effect on a business than Plugs, and an ill-considered Slap that was probably not deserved cannot be removed. The Slap also remains on your own Plugger's page forever.

How would you feel if you Slapped a plumber for failing to show at a pre-appointed time, and then read in his explanation that his father had died suddenly and he had tried to ring your cellphone, but you had given him the wrong number...

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Plugging a business that's not listed (Orphans)

The first step in Plugging a business is SEARCHING for it. If it comes up in the Search Results, give them a Plug. Easy.

But not all businesses are listed on iplug (yet). Here is what to do if you want to Plug your hairdresser (or your real Estate Agent or your Electrician or the cafe down the road...) and the owners have not yet listed with iplug.

List an Orphan Business

On the Search Results page is a link to 'List an Orphan Business'. Click this link and follow the instructions.

What you are in effect doing is listing the business on iplug ON BEHALF of its owner. Once you have done so, you can make your Plug and move on to the next business.

What happens next?

iplug will attempt to contact the business and inform them of your Plug. That is why you need to provide a minimum level of details for each Orphan Business that you Plug.

What about Plug Points?

You earn Plug Points for Orphan Plugs, just as you do for businesses already listed on iplug. However, in order to earn your Plug Point, there is a minimum amount of contact information required.

For more about listing Orphans, click here

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Rules for Pluggers

To Plug a business, you must first register with iplug. This is a quick and easy process that costs nothing and you only ever need to do it once. By registering with iplug, you are agreeing to abide by our Terms and Conditions (Click here to see them) which are fair and easy. In a nutshell, you are agreeing to:

• Be honest and fair.

• Only Plug a business if you are a genuine customer of that business.

• Give the facts of your experience as you recall them.

• Plug the same business no more often than once a month

Please note:

Breaches of the Terms and Conditions will not be tolerated. iplug has processes in place to help us tell when people are not being honest.

Pluggers who tell lies or who make Plugs that they are not entitled to make will have the offending Plug(s) removed, and/or their Plugger Registration revoked. Pluggers making eroneous Plugs will also lose any Plug Points allocated for those Plugs.

All Plug Points earned by a revoked Plugger will be lost, and there is a chance that ALL Plugs made by that Plugger could be removed from the site.

Businesses who Plug themselves may have their Listing removed and be barred from the site. Likewise businesses who cause mischief with their rivals and/or opposition companies may be barred from iplug.

 

Click here to register now.

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For information on Finding businesses, the benefits of Listing Your Business, Getting Rewards or Fundraising with iplug, click on one of the following links...

 

 

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