Stray

Ranking Score Explained

Hi, thanks for your interest in how we calculate an experience's ranking score. It's at the core of Rankers so I'm pleased you're curious.

The ranking score percentage is used to compare and sort experiences in ranking tables. It is not necessarily a direct measurement of the quality of a particular experience as rated by its customers. I've found it a useful tool to allow me to find the best experiences with confidence. But I've also found it important to read the customer reviews before making any final judgements!

We calculate an experience's ranking score using a multi-factor data model instead of a raw data average (mean). This model takes into account several important questions. For instance - is there a trusted body of reviews? What is the age of a review and is the review from a credible source?

Below you'll find details around some of the important factors that went into calculating the ranking score for Stray.

If you have any questions or comments about our ranking score calculation please get in touch at info@rankers.co.nz. We don't believe this is perfect or complete so we're always interested in ways we might make improvements.

Cymen Crick

Rankers Owner

Valid Reviews

195 Valid Reviews

The Stray experience has a total of 202 reviews. There are 195 valid reviews that are included when calculating the ranking score and 7 invalid reviews that are excluded from the calculation. Reviews can be excluded only when a reviewer is not verified or after an investigation by our team determines the reviewer is not genuine.

Below is the distribution of ratings for the 195 valid reviews:

Rating	Count
10/10	62	32%
9/10	42	22%
8/10	36	18%
7/10	31	16%
6/10	9	5%
5/10	7	4%
4/10	3	2%
3/10	5	3%
2/10	0	0%
1/10	0	0%

83.03% Average

The raw data average (mean) for all the Stray valid reviews is 83.03% and is based on 195 valid reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here as a comparison to the weighted average.

Face-to-Face Reviews

101 Face-to-Face Reviews

The Rankers team meets with travellers while they’re in New Zealand and conducts face-to-face surveys. These reviews, in our opinion, are the most trusted in the industry and represent a critical control sample. To our knowledge, we are the only travel review website in the world that has gone to this extent.

More about face-to-face reviews

Within the 195 valid reviews, the experience has 101 face-to-face reviews collected during interviews by our team.

Below is the distribution of ratings for the 101 face-to-face reviews:

Rating	Count
10/10	10	10%
9/10	15	15%
8/10	30	30%
7/10	28	28%
6/10	6	6%
5/10	4	4%
4/10	3	3%
3/10	5	5%
2/10	0	0%
1/10	0	0%

74.65% Average

The raw data average (mean) for all the Stray face-to-face reviews is 74.65% and is based on 101 face-to-face reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here for comparison purposes.

Weighted Average

84.25%

Rankers calculates a weighted mean as a base average on which we can improve. Individual review's ratings are given a weight based on several factors. The weight of a review determines the overall impact it'll have on the final weighted average.

Recent reviews have more weight as they are more relevant and reflect the experience as it currently operates. Over time reviews become less relevant and loose their impact on the ranking score.

Low rating reviews carry slightly less weight. This dampens the effect of very low ratings for every experience across the board. This is especially important when the experience has few reviews overall and a single negative rating can grossly mischaracterise an experience. Consistent poor reviews will still result in the experience receiving a comparitively low ranking score.

Credible sources provide reviews that can be trusted. If we have verified a reviewer is genuine via a face-to-face meeting then the review carries additional weight.

Reviewer	Rating	Age	Relative Weight
Atte	6/10	2634 days	100%
Tom C	10/10	3425 days	63%
Jodie	10/10	3425 days	63%
Paul	10/10	3425 days	63%
Christin Ossege	10/10	3547 days	55%
Theodore Trozinski	9/10	3607 days	51%
Phil Hartmann	10/10	3760 days	41%
dana forrest	10/10	3852 days	35%
Abbi Smith	10/10	3913 days	31%
Nicko Wong	10/10	3944 days	28%
Jodine	10/10	3972 days	27%
Samuel Berwick	10/10	3972 days	27%
Amy Jellings	10/10	4064 days	20%
Anna Elden	9/10	4064 days	20%
Andrea Leichtl	10/10	4278 days	6%
Johanna Molenaar	7/10	4278 days	6%
Claudia Bauch	3/10	4307 days	2%
Charlotte Wilson	10/10	4309 days	4%
Chris Luebbi	8/10	4309 days	4%
jason beinstein	9/10	4337 days	2%
discoveringaway	9/10	4337 days	2%
ieva m	8/10	4368 days	0%
Sonia	10/10	4368 days	0%
Zsolt	10/10	4368 days	0%
Victoria Wander	10/10	4368 days	0%
TtotheT13	9/10	4399 days	33%
Kim O'Neill	10/10	4429 days	33%
Maia Kazaks	8/10	4429 days	33%
Colette Keely	10/10	4460 days	33%
Jen Hards	10/10	4490 days	33%
Thomas Jones	10/10	4521 days	33%
Raj Singh	10/10	4521 days	33%
Sohie	9/10	4679 days	33%
Robin Andersson	9/10	4702 days	33%
Megan Gallagher	10/10	4733 days	33%
Andy Brown	10/10	4733 days	33%
Vinnie K	10/10	4794 days	33%
Heather_Oz	9/10	4855 days	33%
luciasolda	10/10	4917 days	33%
jennyj	10/10	4947 days	33%
dwehrtmann	9/10	4978 days	33%
Evaislief	10/10	5008 days	33%
Malena	10/10	5039 days	33%
navilink	10/10	5039 days	33%
meganb04	10/10	5039 days	33%
MaryG	10/10	5039 days	33%
JoPycroft	10/10	5039 days	33%
lovebyname	9/10	5039 days	33%
Sonia Sennane	7/10	5040 days	31%
Tamara McVey	7/10	5051 days	31%
Rachel	7/10	5053 days	31%
Danielle & Jobbe	8/10	5053 days	33%
Andy Bridgman	8/10	5053 days	33%
Fiona Finke	6/10	5059 days	29%
Miron & Hendrik	8/10	5063 days	33%
marielou	10/10	5068 days	33%
iainmcgin	10/10	5068 days	33%
redkeels	10/10	5068 days	33%
lulu	6/10	5099 days	29%
Boogie	5/10	5130 days	25%
isha	9/10	5130 days	33%
pepper	9/10	5160 days	33%
Kez	10/10	5191 days	33%
Brilly01	8/10	5191 days	33%
yens123	9/10	5191 days	33%
louiset	9/10	5191 days	33%
siek09	9/10	5221 days	33%
rosey	10/10	5252 days	33%
Cadz	10/10	5252 days	33%
natalietrueman84	10/10	5283 days	33%
Josie	10/10	5283 days	33%
Scott_and_Stephanie	9/10	5374 days	33%
Samantha	10/10	5374 days	33%
Tracey Airiscough	9/10	5396 days	33%
Vanessa Hanzen	4/10	5397 days	22%
Lauren McKeone	7/10	5403 days	31%
Faye Cox	7/10	5403 days	31%
pudddddin	9/10	5405 days	33%
alicevarren	9/10	5405 days	33%
irisheyes	7/10	5405 days	31%
Steff	7/10	5425 days	31%
Forestal Youri	7/10	5425 days	31%
Amanda Craig	8/10	5427 days	33%
Olle Beide	8/10	5433 days	33%
JonathanMills	8/10	5433 days	33%
lisa	9/10	5464 days	33%
phydough	6/10	5495 days	29%
zippy	10/10	5586 days	33%
TerriH	10/10	5617 days	33%
ciara	10/10	5648 days	33%
mel1407	10/10	5648 days	33%
Claram	9/10	5678 days	33%
joycevanb	7/10	5709 days	31%
JohnG	10/10	5709 days	33%
nicolejr413	9/10	5739 days	33%
Antoine Migault	8/10	5760 days	33%
Christine T	7/10	5764 days	31%
Kay Beaumont	8/10	5772 days	33%
Johan	7/10	5772 days	31%
S Millet	9/10	5776 days	33%
Jens van Evp	9/10	5794 days	33%
Max Van der Zalm	9/10	5794 days	33%
Emily Walters	7/10	5796 days	31%
Brett Oz	9/10	5829 days	33%
greenbex	9/10	5829 days	33%
simonbo	3/10	5844 days	18%
katesc	9/10	5849 days	33%
martint	6/10	5853 days	29%
richelle	7/10	5853 days	31%
rosalindm	8/10	5854 days	33%
katepat	8/10	5860 days	33%
Beau	5/10	5860 days	25%
Debbie Rathbone	10/10	5867 days	33%
Ricarda	3/10	5870 days	18%
Malinka Nuefeld	4/10	5870 days	22%
Martin	9/10	5870 days	33%
Thomas Willi	8/10	5870 days	33%
Jess Pasos	9/10	5879 days	33%
stettim	10/10	5921 days	33%
Philipp	9/10	5921 days	33%
Holly Mrowiec	10/10	5951 days	33%
Sophie Keate	10/10	5988 days	33%
Sam Lightfoot	10/10	5988 days	33%
Jenny Lee	7/10	6010 days	31%
Cat Payne	9/10	6017 days	33%
Catherine Smiles	10/10	6018 days	33%
Nikki Turner	9/10	6025 days	33%
TaraD	10/10	6102 days	33%
BiancaA	9/10	6102 days	33%
hibbler	10/10	6104 days	33%
ferdinande	7/10	6106 days	31%
mariea	8/10	6116 days	33%
JennekeK	6/10	6116 days	29%
Ross	5/10	6118 days	25%
MarielR	7/10	6122 days	31%
NikW	8/10	6122 days	33%
Anna Skeer	9/10	6145 days	33%
EmmaB1	8/10	6150 days	33%
BethanD	9/10	6151 days	33%
renanf	8/10	6155 days	33%
Laura Muser	9/10	6163 days	33%
Alan Gallagher	7/10	6163 days	31%
Ellen Perrin	9/10	6163 days	33%
Julia	7/10	6166 days	31%
Philipp	10/10	6169 days	33%
Marieke	3/10	6170 days	18%
Katie	10/10	6173 days	33%
Ann-Kathren	7/10	6177 days	31%
Sonja	8/10	6209 days	33%
Claudia Schmidt	9/10	6221 days	33%
sylvia	8/10	6226 days	33%
Amy Newton	10/10	6229 days	33%
debsnz	10/10	6242 days	33%
Nicole	3/10	6251 days	18%
Spike	7/10	6311 days	31%
Sam Prior	8/10	6320 days	33%
Marco	7/10	6344 days	31%
Meike Biel	8/10	6454 days	33%
Helen	8/10	6454 days	33%
Mark	7/10	6474 days	31%
Julie	5/10	6484 days	25%
Marlo	7/10	6491 days	31%
Simon Mills	8/10	6501 days	33%
Sayaka	4/10	6516 days	22%
Camille	10/10	6517 days	33%
Anders	9/10	6517 days	33%
Laura	8/10	6540 days	33%
Ian	7/10	6544 days	31%
Carole Roccia	6/10	6545 days	29%
Thierry Berdah	8/10	6547 days	33%
Helena	8/10	6547 days	33%
Peter Katafey	6/10	6547 days	29%
Lindsey Woosnam	5/10	6547 days	25%
Katherine	7/10	6550 days	31%
Fred	6/10	6551 days	29%
Rob	5/10	6551 days	25%
Gav	10/10	6551 days	33%
Tom Anson	8/10	6552 days	33%
Paul Cowie	10/10	6579 days	33%
Jim	8/10	6588 days	33%
Willemien	7/10	6596 days	31%
Helen	8/10	6822 days	33%
David	5/10	6825 days	25%
Stefan	7/10	6825 days	31%
Gwen	8/10	6828 days	33%
Hanneke	8/10	6832 days	33%
Matt	7/10	6832 days	31%
Alex	8/10	6832 days	33%
Johnny	8/10	6832 days	33%
Aaron	9/10	6832 days	33%
Hilary	10/10	6841 days	33%
Nina	8/10	6876 days	33%
Italy	9/10	6876 days	33%
Helle	7/10	6876 days	31%
KikiNelissen	7/10	6882 days	31%

Adjustments

Several adjustments to the weighted average are added to improve relevancy and credibility. These adjustments apply equally to all experiences that meet the criteria.

Sample Size Adjustment

No Adjustment

A reasonable number of reviews are necessary in order for the average to be credible and for an experience to take a prime position within the ranking tables. As such, experiences with only a few reviews have a moderated score. This does not mean that the experience or the reviews can't be trusted. The Stray experience has plenty of reviews and does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.

Recent Reviews Adjustment

-4.05% Adjustment

There may be an adjustment if this experience hasn't received any reviews within the last 42 days. However the Stray experience does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.

In addition, an experience's ranking score may be adjusted for each day there is no new ranking. After 1 day the adjustment comes into effect. The maximum number of days that can be adjusted for is 200 days. Due to the seasonal nature of many businesses, this adjustment is applied dynamically throughout the year.

The Stray experience has been adjusted for 200 days. Adjustments are according to the following table.

Days	Adjustment
…	…
197	-3.99%
198	-4.01%
199	-4.03%
200	-4.05%
201	-4.07%
202	-4.09%
203	-4.11%
…	…

Balancing Adjustment

2.95% Adjustment

Every experience's review score is adjusted to balance out the disproportional number of negative reviews that are contributed.

You won't be surprised to learn that disgruntled customers are more likely to leave a review than happy ones. They are motivated to share their experience and warn others. We consider this a good thing and it's why reading the reviews is important. However we've learned it can misrepresent the experience in a more overall sense.

We apply a balancing adjustment to counteract this effect and ensure the ranking score is a more fair representation of the experience. This adjustment is applied equally to all experiences.

Final Ranking Score

83%

The final ranking score once any adjustments, ratings, and rounding has been applied. This value is recalculated each day and a short rolling average is applied. Therefore it may not be precisely accurate based on the other values presented.