Am I being a miserable git!

I don't think you would get into trouble if you have the original communication to prove that you are not making it up to blacken their name. After the publicity that amazon have removed a whole lot of false reviews, I am surprised that they are risking doing this!

Mind you, whenever I buy anything online I read the reviews from other buyers, and some of them are amazingly vituperative - everything possible seems to have gone wrong with the thing, and then the buyer couldn't get any answer from the seller, blah blah blah, and they just don't ring true to me. Rent-a-review for competitors?

I suppose I worry about the legality of it. I don't want to get myself or GN into trouble. After years in a professional body I'm drilled into cautiousness!

Is there is any reason not to give full information of the company on this thread? tchhmm

Jane10 - and much respect!
Their offer was clearly bribery and deserves to be dismissed - well done.

It is bribery so publish the story of what they want on the review site.

Send this story to a UK consumer program. Try "You and Yours."

Why not accept the refund and then say in another post what happened?

I order things online a lot and am always pleased if, when the initial service has been less than satisfactory for some reason, the seller responds positively and gives me an apology and a replacement or refund. I am always happy to give another review to follow any initial negative one.

Why wouldn't I be?

I'd suggest a partial refund would go a long way to amending your experience. If this was forthcoming, without strings attached which would 'compromise your integrity' then you might be inclined to order from them in future and if the product and service was of a better standard then you would review them more favourably.

Bet they won't though.

This review is apparently on an independent site that they somehow have the ability to amend (?) They've just replied to my second email turning down their offer and are still keen to 'amend my experience with their company'. I'm not going to reply or remove my review. Wonder if they'll take out a contract on me. If I go quiet for a while you'll know what's happened to me!!

Oh! Your last post was 'over the page' and I've just spotted it.

Well done Jane

Bet they don't post your review though???

Do not accept this bribe. You bought it on the assumption that the reviews were truthful when clearly that was NOT the case and others took their deceitful offer to post false reviews.

I'd be interested to know the company's name to avoid their products myself

Sod 'em!

I don't know if its just glossy US customer care stuff. I replied saying that my review was honest and likely to be of use to others. I'd feel as lacking in integrity as their approach strikes me as being if I succumbed to their blandishments (brilliant word btw). Hence have given in to my miserable inner git and refused the dosh! Thanks for your thoughts on this everyone!

Definitely not moral if not illegal.

Play them at their own game. Get your refund write the glowing review. Then write a second review with screen shots etc . Or write your true review on other sites. Unless you actually sign a non disclosure in exchange for your refund they can't gag you .

Perhaps you could accept the bribe, write an acceptable review, whilst mentioning the fact that they are a US company, or that the items are shipped from the US. That way, you're not letting them get completely away with it!

Now you know why the reviews are glowing. Definitely a bribe. Can you take the money and then damn them with faint praise???

Give them the benefit of the doubt this time and go for the rewrite and refund.
It might be completely genuine in which case you're partially compensated for all the hassle.

No. She'd have to write the good review first, surely ?

Accept the bribe and do not write a better review. I'm a hard woman!

PS One is allowed to be a miserable git over shopping dissatisfaction

Definitely a bribe of sorts, but possibly also a company trying to respond in a positive way.

Ask them if you'll get the same compensation even if you go so far along with their demands to write a positive update of your review but with the original criticisms still intact. Depending on their answer, you'll know whether you are being manipulated more than is comfortable.

Good luck.

Bribe - and in very poor taste. If you can afford to forego the partial refund I would publish their offer on the review site.

Sounds like a bribe to me. I don't think I'd be tempted.