Gransnet forums

Chat

Reviews- are these not being done to death?

(27 Posts)
MawB Wed 27-Nov-19 09:32:00

I am not against reviews and frequently use them when buying online. That’s what they’re for and a bad review, highlighting a quality or design issue will make me think twice.
I also appreciate that call centre/customer service staff can be under pressure and nothing less than an “excellent” review for service will do as they are constantly being appraised
But...but...but I really run out of steam when the long river company ask me to review a humble domestic purchase it seems within a day of buying it. . Or the service I have received - yes, I ordered something, yes it came, but no I haven’t used it yet.
I am given a docket to review the service I received when I bought something in Boots, or in Waitrose or M&S or......anywhere and the carrot they dangle is the chance to be entered in a £50 or something “draw”.
Enough already.

Auntieflo Thu 28-Nov-19 17:11:19

I have also only ever posted one bad review, on a holiday I won.
It was a sort of Tinsel and Turkey thing, at a type of holiday camp situated on Hayling Island.
It was awful, dreadful, dire , and anything else you can think of.
We stayed one night, couldn't stand being there any longer, and I sent them photos of the so called accommodation.
Our DGS was in the army, and it would have been an insult to say the room and bathroom we had been allocated were like barracks. At least barracks are most probably clean!

Now, I keep getting brochures through the post, offering short breaks.
I have tried unsubscribing, to no avail, and returning the wretched stuff, so now just have to ignore them and fume every time one arrives.

Sussexborn Wed 27-Nov-19 17:07:29

That’s happened to me butterfly and they stand there with you when you answer. Could be quite intimidating! My GP looked surprised when I folded the questionnaire up and put it in my bag. I didn’t have a problem with him but wanted to think about my answers.

butterfly1 Wed 27-Nov-19 16:47:21

I recently went to hospital for an operation on my knee after a fall. After an overnight stay, on discharge, a nurse arrived with an i pad asking how i enjoyed my stay and would i recommend to friends and family.

Tedber Wed 27-Nov-19 15:32:05

Totally agree! It is getting daft now. I only need to peruse my phone looking for ideas for say holiday/meal out and I get asked "Did you go to.... can you help others by reviewing."

I sent an on-line birthday card and before it was even received I got asked "How did we do?"

I have only once put up a bad review for a well known carvery which was completely justified in every sense and THAT was removed!

So yes, while some can be helpful (such as when I wanted to buy a camera and didn't have a clue about pixels etc) others are just a waste of time and effort - I ignore most t.b.h.

goose1964 Wed 27-Nov-19 15:20:23

I was asked to review a dress I bought from a. I gave it a medium rating as it was a different cut to the one in the picture. The company had it removed.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Nov-19 13:45:42

I ve never heard of doctors/hairdressers etc sending requests that has never happened to me but I ignore most of goods reviews as I ve maybe bought them for someone else or not had time to use it

JackyB Wed 27-Nov-19 13:25:15

I've given up on reviews. For every positive one, there's a negative one, so you can take your pick.

Sussexborn Wed 27-Nov-19 12:43:17

I relied on reviews a lot until this summer. DD1 booked a holiday at a reasonable price through an established company. GS1 succumbed to campylobacter which was rife in the resort. He’s fit and sporty but ended up on a drip as his condition deteriorated. Another victim was a three month old baby who is still undergoing treatment since their “holiday”.

Fortunately DD took a few contact details of others infected and they are now part of a class action because their feedback warnings kept disappearing and they were desperate to warn others of the risk. I am not sure if the ability to remove unwanted feedback is a recent development but presumably a big moneymaker and possibly a killer for the very young, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

Our latest holiday was booked by my OH and with hindsight was probably based on the low price. Probably our worst holiday to date just when I needed to rest and recuperate. He has now banned himself from making future bookings!

sodapop Wed 27-Nov-19 11:59:50

Yes I get fed up with being asked to review books I haven't had time to read yet. Conversely I do tend to look at reviews before purchasing.

Teetime Wed 27-Nov-19 11:56:06

White Stuff keep asking me to review things I have ordered but which haven't arrived yet.

Davidhs Wed 27-Nov-19 11:54:03

It’s your choice to review or not if you don’t want to just press delete.
I take notice of reviews when I buy anything of significance, I often leave comments and try to be fair. There are plenty of poor value services and products out there and I want to know which to buy.
You do have to watch out for fake reviews, they often have repetitive descriptions and obscure names I can usually see them

MawB Wed 27-Nov-19 11:33:37

What can i say about 2 bags Burns dog food ?
Well you could comment on the texture and flavour Anniebach ! gringrin

ananimous Wed 27-Nov-19 11:20:08

You don't realise it's your name address and personal data they sell on? - Where the real money is - the survey/prize draw/review is secondary in their business. Just ignore the lure.

janipat Wed 27-Nov-19 10:44:51

I will occasionally complete a survey/review when requested but I'm getting ever more resistant because of the silly questions. Having rated eg the product/service as 8 out of 10 I'm then asked why I gave that score. Really? The answer they get nowadays (if I can be bothered) is 7 seemed too low and 9 was too high. Do they really expect a two paragraph analysis of every moment of my experience?
I do like to read other people's reviews of products/services but I tend to take them with a pinch of salt when they are too fulsome or too critical on tiny points.
I like to review hotel stays as just a line or two can be enough to give a fair account.

MiniMoon Wed 27-Nov-19 10:35:59

My daughter and her family live opposite a B&B establishment. When I have visited her house, my phone asks me to review my stay at the B&B. I have never been inside!
As for other purchases and services, unless they have been outstandingly good or outstandingly awfull, I ignore the requests for a review.

M0nica Wed 27-Nov-19 10:33:39

The Would I recommend friends and family question after visiting the doctor always baffles me.

Since none of my family live near me and all local friends use the same local practice and I have no experience of any other medical practice in the area, how on earth can I tell?

Even between different GPs, it is horses for courses. I usually try to see the GP in my practice that I get on very well with. DH avoids her at all costs, but gets on very well with another one who really irritates me.

henetha Wed 27-Nov-19 10:28:09

Yes, there is too much reviewing. I get asked to review books on Kindle when I haven't had a chance to read them yet.
And I refuse to reply when anyone asks for my opinion about something I purchased on Amazon, - they could be scammers.
And I don't like reviewing packaging... it's so annoying.
And it's impossible to go near a shop here these days without my phone wanting to know how I would rate it etc.
And can we believe all the reviews anyway?

Parsley3 Wed 27-Nov-19 10:22:17

I totally agree. I always give my hairdresser a five ⭐️ review as it is a small business and reviews matter. However, I am asked by text and email to do this. Once would suffice.
I am currently annoyed with myself at not being asked to review the service I received in my local Laura Ashley store. The sales assistant was so rude I had to walk away from her. I swithered about placing a Google review but as the other staff in the store are so nice, I haven’t. It still rankles though.

NannyJan53 Wed 27-Nov-19 10:07:04

After every visit to my Doctors, I receive a text asking me to review my experience. Would I recommend friends and family etc! Even after the flu jab!

Charleygirl5 Wed 27-Nov-19 10:04:52

That I would find very irritating glammanana - you have hardly had time to close the door after his departure.

Thankfully my gas engineer is a one man band.

glammanana Wed 27-Nov-19 10:00:08

We had a new central heating system fitted last week the engineer left at 3.30pm all completed,about 6pm we received a phone call to complete an over the phone report on the completed work marking his work from 1-5 on a points system we hadn't even had time to switch it on for the first time.

Anniebach Wed 27-Nov-19 09:59:42

What can i say about 2 bags Burns dog food ?

sunseeker Wed 27-Nov-19 09:54:31

Unless I have received outstanding service (or really bad service) I never give a review. Like others I get annoyed at being asked to comment on my "experience" when I have visited a certain shop!

Septimia Wed 27-Nov-19 09:48:42

I agree. I do use reviews when buying so can understand that my opinions might help someone else.

However, I'm often asked for a review when I haven't had a chance to use the purchase or when it's a gift so don't know yet if it's OK. I do tend to ignore the requests.

I'd be more inclined to respond if I could just tick a few boxes and writing an essay about the item was voluntary, not obligatory. Trying to think of something to say when the item was neither stunning nor awful is a real pain - like trying to write school reports!

Charleygirl5 Wed 27-Nov-19 09:37:10

I could not agree more- what is there to say about ink for my printer? It arrived, no problems and I did not have to contact the seller.

I bought a new alarm clock recently and everything was fine until somebody who read my review got in touch asking me how long the battery lasted! What planet are these idiots on?