*** News in brief ***
 

Full text evaluations now possible

On november 7, 2009 cuge has enabled a full text evaluation feature. All users may now leave a textual information about the experiences they have made with a website. The new feauture is meant as an additional information of other users and the website owners. However, textual evaluations are not influencing the cugerank itself.

Survey results:
Significance and position of the cugerank

78% of all website customers asked in a recent survey said that the cugerank shown on a web page had positively affected their buying or other action decision. In all (100%) of these cases, the users had seen the cugeBox right on the start page or on the first ad/topic landing page.
 

The new rank-sensitive cugeBoxes:
Define a minimum value for the display

Many site owners had asked cuge for some cugerank display that shows the cugerank only, if it is of a certain value. This is now possible. All site owners who actively use cuge's free service for generating and showing customer opinions, may now define a minimum value for the cugerank to show up and some alternative displays for the contrary case (public aid links or just images). The new cugeBoxes can be selected by clicking on "cugerank on my site" in the site owner account menu.
 

Changed self evaluation consequences

cuge has changed its self evaluation consequences policy. Whereas cuge formerly decreased a proven self evaluation, it's now just deleted without negatively influencing the cugerank itself. Instead of this, a notice on the self evaluation will be visible to all users on the appropriate website's cugerank page. cuge plans to gather, if the number of abusive self evaluations changes in november 2008 and then decide about the new policy.

Current self evaluations statistics: 3.56% of all evaluations have been identified as self evaluations. Lone and sad leader in the self evaluation abuse statistics is still Germany having more abuse cases as all other countries together (52%), followed by the Netherlands (18%), Italy (11%), the United States (11%), France (7%) and others.

Increase in Number of Unemployed Seeking Loans

Though some say the recession is over the unemployment rates have not let up. Also, since banks have tightened lending requirements the unemployed have been forced to get creative with borrowing money. Personal bank loans are now giving way to payday loan companies and private lending services. 2009 has seen an unusual spike in this type of borrowing which tops previous years.

Searching real estate in Italy

It has become much easier to find real estate offers in Italy since there is "fresi". This is a powerful search robot that specializes in real estate ads in Italy. Instead of searching hundreds of Italian real estate portals that too often do not even work properly fresi makes the ads available in one very fast search index.

cuge supports the coprico project

This website is supporting the coprico project. coprico means "consumer price control" and it is a free consumer community that allows us to monitor, control and compare food and beverage prices in our local area. coprico creates a price transparance that helps all of us to be aware of our real live costs and to prevent from uncontrolled price increasings. coprico is free and anyone can join.

Tipp: Car insurance quotes

Its a tough economy and insurance is hitting everyone's pocket book. Anyone getting car insurance quotes can tell you that it can be a painful shopping experience. Comparison sites are now more popular than ever. The rising rates are not likely to let up soon.

A marvellous holiday in Italy

Recently, the English cuge-Team spent a holiday in one of the most spectacular, yet affordable holiday homes we have ever been to. The "Casa dei fiori" (house of flowers) offers a breathtaking 200 km view on the mediterranean sea. It is situated in the lovely Golfo Paradiso (Paradise Gulf) on the Italian Riviera. More information on the Golfo Paradiso and the holiday home here