If you’re someone who likes to do extensive research on a product before purchasing, chances are you’re already familiar with the product reviews.
In today’s Internet-based world, reviews have become a way for customers to praise high-quality products and experiences and to rip apart those that do not meet their standards. The review has also become quite powerful, as details of negative experiences can often discourage potential customers from continuing a purchase.
Since reviews have such a pivotal role in drawing or discouraging customers, a recent study by Preply analyzed the reviews and their contents. In this post, we delve into some brands that share a common theme of customer dissatisfaction and some tips to keep you safe while shopping online this holiday season.
Brands That Have Consumers Fuming:
Tourism, technology, and tender are among some of the most anger-inducing industries, resulting in rage-laced reviews. Of course, with how complicated planning a trip or vacation can be, it’s no surprise that tourism is filled with a whole host of bad reviews. Whether a flight was canceled or the hotel room smelled bad, people have no issue taking their complaints to the reviews section.
A lack of understanding can also lead to frustration with the technology and financial sectors, as people may not fully understand how their new electronic device works or how stocks and bonds operate. This won’t stop them from penning paragraphs to disclose the dramatic events that have unfolded.
When it comes to name brands, Cash App, Instacart, and Yelp take the top spots for the amount of bad reviews they receive. Ironically, Yelp is a review site where people can post reviews about any sort of company or product they wish.
The right words are important in reviews because they give us clues about a product or someone’s experience. Emotional words such as “fees,” “beware,” and “lied to” are used often in reviews, but the inner wordsmith doesn’t stop there. People also get adversarial with “scam,” “fraud,” and “joke” when describing their situation. .
What Consumers Should Watch Out For:
So, how can you avoid a negative experience while shopping online? With the upcoming holiday season, more and more people will be buying and shipping online, so protecting yourself and your bank account is important. By analyzing the language of those reviews, you can see that many people feel as though they were scammed or lied to. So, below, we talk about some ways you can avoid finding yourself in a similar situation.
Review Refund & Store Credit Policies
Read the fine print! Your purchase may not be a binding contract, but it is still important to do some research on company policy. For example, some companies may have a shorter refund window than others. Companies could also require you to pay when returning an item in the mail. Knowing these policies ahead of time can help you be more aware of what encompasses your purchase, saving you the time and effort of writing a negative review.
Read Reviews
Any kind of review — be it negative or positive — can help you avoid a bad experience. Keep an eye out for what the majority of the reviews are saying. If people seem to have a positive outlook, then you’re good to go! However, if people seem upset, claiming that they’ve been lied to or deceived, then you know to avoid this company and their products.
Another key to pay attention to is how the company responds to the complaints. Are they replying to negative reviews, and if so, how? The company’s response to bad reviews can show you a lot about their customer service and how much they care about the shopper.
Keep Receipts
Generally, people don’t like to keep paper receipts. They’re useless sheets of paper that you end up throwing out anyway. However, in today’s paperless world, it only takes five seconds to get a receipt by putting in your email. This way, if you suspect a fraudulent charge of some sort, you will be able to prove it, thanks to your receipt. It is also a good idea to monitor your bank account regularly and keep an eye out for any suspicious purchases.
5 Things to Know About Hiring Fire Watch Guards(Opens in a new browser tab)
Conclusion
Be aware as you’re staying out of the cold and shopping online this holiday season. Don’t hesitate to do some extra research before you buy a product, and make sure you keep tabs on all the transactions you make. Doing this could save you some serious energy as you won’t have to waste time writing out a negative review!
Discussion about this post