Do you write reviews?

[georgina]

Generally no I do not write them. It seems I get hounded for reviews anytime I buy something. Every time I stop in CVS or Target for a few things, buy something on Amazon, etc. I have bought gift cards at Staples and Best Buy recently, they want a review? I get a few things on Etsy during a year, I have left reviews there if I was happy. I try to avoid leaving negative ones, once I didn't review something and the requests kept coming, so I left a 3 star review and then the seller started bothering me, so I changed it to 4 to get them off my back. I really don't like conflict. Therefore, I do not believe reviews on Etsy generally, because the negative ones are buried.

 

[Stratman50th]

I write reviews on Amazon, but only after I've had the product for a year. I hate those, "I just got this product and haven't used it yet but it looks amazing!" reviews.
I have written a couple of Trip Advisor reviews if something was really good. My wife has written a few good and a few bad reviews if it's warranted.
I've had a product company ask for a review on such and such a site, usually Facebook. I don't belong to Facebook so opportunity lost for the company if it's good.
Finally, I read the one star reviews first to see what the problem is. I try to read between the lines and determine if the product is truly bad, or if the reviewer seems to be an entitled crybaby or expected something from the product that it wasn't designed or capable of doing.

 

[loves to dive]

I actually used to write book reviews on the website for a group I belonged to. Authors would submit the book before it was published and we would review it and also post them on Amazon and goodreads. I was always honest and think I only gave 5 stars about 3 times out of hundreds of books. I stopped when the chairman asked me to bump up a star because I didn't get the review done before it was published. I was actually on vacation at WDW but still got the review done. I did not bump it up. I also did beta reading for some authors. I had to warn them before I read the book that if they just wanted someone to check for spelling errors I wasn't their reader, I was too honest for a lot of them. I do write some reviews on Amazon for products, good and bad. Never do it on TripAdvisor.

I always read them for products and books but take them with a grain of salt and try to read between the lines. I stayed in a hotel on the river in Savannah that got a ton of bad reviews. They said things like they could hear boat horns all night, on the river go figure. Or the building smelled a little musty or the rooms were odd. Again on the river and it was a few hundred year old cotton warehouse. I loved it and have stayed a number of times.

 

[tzolkin]

the one thing I have learned is to never go by the 5-stars. The best bet to get honest reviews are the ones rated 3 & 4.

I think there is a generational difference that we are now seeing with star ratings being so common now. If the ratings were accurate, 5 stars would be the absolute best and 3 would be average. But, that's not really the case. Now a 5 star is the new "normal/satisfactory" rating and the rest are increasing levels of disappointment. Most of the younger people I know would never think of giving less than 5 stars unless there was a problem. Essentially, they think in terms of either 5 stars or 0 stars.

Could be because of different expectations, could be that being there an hour earlier or later really made all the difference, etc.

The end result is that I don't put any credence in a single review.

I always see awful reviews for products on Amazon where it's very obvious it's user error or just a lack of reading the description. For example, pretty much any duvet cover you look at will have a bunch of 1 star reviews who are shocked that "this isn't a fluffy comforter, all I received was an empty sheet/super thin blanket with no stuffing". Yes, that's what a duvet cover is. I recently saw a face shield that only had a few reviews but almost all of them were 1 star "had to return because you can't even see through it". It was clear from the photos there was nothing wrong with them. There was just a plastic protective film to prevent scratches during shipping that needed to be peeled off.

 

[fly girl]

Since you had a great experience the first time, would you give the place a third try?

Possibly. But with all of World Showcase and Flying Fish right next door it makes it all the more difficult.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I do, but only for the really great or really bad stuff. I do read them and use them to make big purchasing decisions, but I realize a lot are paid advertisements and just a way to market their stuff.

 

[BayouQueen]

Very, very rarely. Only if I think I can offer something really helpful as far as fit or color or something that would help another shopper. I get so annoyed when someone will write in a review, "fits great." I mean, how tall are you; what's your body shape? It's not going to fit everyone great. Or like I ordered an "antique white" coffee table, that was very yellow. I still like it, but it would have been helpful to know that.

I don't do travel or restaurants. I might, though, if it was an out-of-the-way kind of place where services are limited and guidance would be helpful to someone.

 

[RedAngie]

I read reviews but I’ve never written one.

My favorites are the poor and terrible reviews for hotels. I enjoy them for laughs.

Even places like the Grand Floridian at WDW have one star reviews. Occasionally some legitimate issues are raised, but the bulk seem to be a variation of Mickey and Minnie didn’t toss rose petals to herald their arrival and the staff didn’t kiss their butts.

I despise when certain companies, like car dealerships, base employee performance on customer reviews. The sales people practically beg you to give them 10’s on every factor.

 

[_19disnA]

While I have a FB account I rarely use, don't use any social media for reading/writing reviews. Most of those sites seem to attract people who like to argue with each other or post nonsense. Not even sure how you would find a review since a social media site isn't organized by product like an Amazon or Walmart.

 

[AndreaDM]

I read reviews but I’ve never written one.

My favorites are the poor and terrible reviews for hotels. I enjoy them for laughs.

Even places like the Grand Floridian at WDW have one star reviews. Occasionally some legitimate issues are raised, but the bulk seem to be a variation of Mickey and Minnie didn’t toss rose petals to herald their arrival and the staff didn’t kiss their butts.

I despise when certain companies, like car dealerships, base employee performance on customer reviews. The sales people practically beg you to give them 10’s on every factor.

I have on occasion while bored, read Trip Advisor reviews on anything Disney and sorted by one star. I love the "we had to wait" rants that are due to no planning.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I have written a few (mostly positive) reviews on Amazon and also review the jigsaw puzzles that I do. I don't have time to do a lot of review writing, but I wouldn't be against doing more at some point if I had the time and inclination.

 

[antmaril]

Occasionally - mostly travel ones on Tripadvisor.

Same for me.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I don't, I should but I don't. I LOVE reading reviews though so thanks to everyone who does! I read reviews for anything from Amazon purchases, books, hotels, any travel basically, clothing stores, local services such as vets, automotive, restaurants, dentists... so I really appreciate all the folks who give their honest opinions.

Only if I feel strongly...one way or the other...about the service/product.

 

[Kirby]

I've reviewed on Tripadvisor quite a bit. I agree with a previous poster that it seemed better several years ago. When I travel I consult with the reviews there quite a bit, you can find a lot of information in their Forums if the area you are going is traveled enough. You won't find me whining about having to wait.

I don't do Yelp or Google very much, no reviews, just looking. My kids do though.

It didn't seem to be overly bad years back, but the one thing I have learned is to never go by the 5-stars. The best bet to get honest reviews are the ones rated 3 & 4.

Truth though I have been known to give a 5 star review before because it was just that good.

The end result is that I don't put any credence in a single review. You have to look at the trend for the time period you plan to visit.

Definitely!

 

[Micca]

I read them, don't write them. Having said that: I highly recommend threads posted by AndreaDM. Interesting, insightful, and always with the the casual charm we've come to expect. Threads appear as promised and packaged carefully.

 

[tvguy]

Rarely, because if I have a problem, the wrong person gets blamed.
I had a problem with CVS pharmacy when I was getting a vaccine. My prescription insurance provider refused to pay them saying they were "out of network". I went to another clinic, and the vaccine was approved. My prescription insurance provider is CVS ! I got a nice letter from the manager of the pharmacy, she apparently got dinged for my bad review.......but the problem was with CVS corporate. She could only do what they allowed her to do.
And I had an issue with Allstate, and I gave them a bad review and my agent called all upset because he got dinged for my complaint. He is an independent businessman and my complaint was against Allstate corporate.

My wife's hobby is writing reviews of the free, self published books on Kindle. And some of those authors are very defensive of remarks about spelling and grammar errors. It isn't like almost every word processing program out there these days has grammar and spell check!

 

[Cheburashka]

Yes, I've written many reviews, usually to let others know about a place, service or provider that is especially good or bad.

 

[AnnaS]

I have written a few on TripAdvisor and Yelp. Sometimes I will get one from a business - Old Navy, Macys, etc. I don't like it when they don't give you a chance to try the product - so I don't always write one for these items purchased.

I like to read reviews also. Gives me an idea for certain products - runs small/big, battery does not last, etc. etc. But - having said that, I hate to buy anything after reading some reviews. Sometimes it seems there is an issue with everything I read

 

[_19disnA]

I despise when certain companies, like car dealerships, base employee performance on customer reviews. The sales people practically beg you to give them 10’s on every factor.

For sure. I have told more then one car dealer that I don't need to be 'coached' on how to fill out their satisfaction survey. Amazing to me the corporate marketing people are clueless to the game-playing done by the dealers. Those surveys are worthless. If you fixed the problem which is the reason I brought the car in for service, I would give you a good rating. Didn't fix my problem.............then NO I am not satisfied I wasted my time to get service.

Bought a new car recently and got one of those 'new car surveys' in the mail from some well-known company (I think it was JD Power). The survey had nothing to do with my impression of the car, what I liked/didn't or the quality. It mostly focused on the various people I interacted with at the dealer and what sort of technology they used when purchasing my car. I don't remember the job titles of the various people at the dealer. Who cares? Most of these people I will see only that one time to sign various documents. I get annoyed when any survey seems to ask the same question 5 different ways or gets into way too much detail about things that seem trivial to me. I finally tossed the survey in the trash.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I do for travel on trip advisor...mostly for the hotels/resorts, occasionally for a restaurant, and sometimes for an experience if the business can be found on TA. Hardly ever write reviews for products though, but do read them, so probably should.