How did we do?

Why get cross! I think it’s a good idea.
If you’re not happy, say so.
If very pleased , say so.
If neither of these, just delete.

Hithere

Businesses cannot improve without feedback

Hithere, they don’t though! Market Research is an easy gig when the customer does all the work in a preplanned questionnaire format.
It makes not an iota of difference, as anyone on any Utilities
review site prove daily.
Or banks, building societies, any large company, the bafflement of paying customers up against corporate intransigence, the sullen obstinacy of ‘customer services’ all out there in our modern world.

Occasionally, feedback from other customers, or reviews, can be most helpful, when buying clothes or shoes online, eg ‘this dress comes up large I returned it for a smaller size’ or of an appliance which breaks after first use, or recently someone helpfully reviewed kitchenware, quoting size and volume which the store had unhelpfully omitted.

Searching for a removals company, we read all reviews, mostly, the only one, glowing, so that’s obviously genuine and worthy of a slight reduction in cost.
Apparently, a clue that a review is elicited is the use of the word ‘definitely’

I have in the past begun a ‘short survey’ which is no such thing becoming increasingly personally invasive, making their market research so much easier. This MR is often a third party company. I ignore these now, b. cheek.

I do find it irritating to have reminders of appointments,
one this morning, recently made in a city an hour away,
drive to Park and Ride, bus in, ten minute walk, locate building, an expedition which needs planning, I’m not likely to forget.
I’m aware these messages are computer generated but
why do they have to be sent at 3.37am.

I’ve also realised over many years that negative feedback disappears, is not followed up, the very worst company for
this being IKEA, their Trustpilot page being lengthy, some
of the reviews/feedback so plaintive and distressed, yet, no
accountability, still they request feedback, why, who knows.

I don’t dare review the doctors’ surgery/staff/service I would
be arrested.

Unless I was delighted with the service I just delete them. If I dont intend to ever use them again I block and move on.

A request for feedback on the handling of a complaint arrived from British Gas yesterday. The email contained a link to a questionnaire. I’d love to give honest and very negative feedback. Can’t be done - the link doesn’t work. I’ve emailed and pointed this out. I doubt I’ll get a response.

I've just filled one in for a pair of shoes I bought recently.
Then I saw another 10 reviews I'd written in the past 6 years.
I had forgotten about them.

Some were good, some neutral and a couple damning. These were both for dreadful couriers.

That's really shocking B9exchange.
It makes me sad. I guess the questionnaire designer is disconnected to the recipients.

Waitrose really irritates me when I spend eg £ on a few items and then I am asked to review a litre of milk, butter, honey etc. I ignore it.

I also get cross with Santander. I am partially sighted so I cannot use their ATMs. There is a staff member allocated to help, and it is her job.

Crossstitchfan

My question exactly, but you beat me to it! In the ‘old days’ ie before the web, you would go into a shop, buy what you wanted, then go home. If it turned out to be faulty, you took it back. Whether you bought from them again depended on how they handled the return.
Feedback is pointless, because, as far as I can tell, no amount of feedback improves anything. It’s just something the businesses ask for so it looks as though they care!
My chemist is brilliant and I often have cause to praise them, as do others. They do not have a website seeking praise, and are happy just to do the job they are paid for. Other businesses woukd do well to follow suit as far as I’m concerned.

I absolutely agree.

I always give feedback - justifiably very positive - to my local Amazon pick up point as I really, really want it to stay open. It is inside a shop that has had a rocky year so I want to support it in any way I can.

What's wrong with giving feedback?

Really?

Not much point in putting it on here is it?

I give feedback on services and sometimes on products especially if they are for items for disabled. Or if someone on Amazon asks me a question as they want to know more about a product. Always give feedback on Etsy as I buy from British sellers .

I give feedback if they offer something like a prize draw for money-off coupons.
And for tradespeople usually. Not otherwise!

Common ground
Ah but how genuine is the feedback?

I live in a rural area and it's a 90 mile round trip to the closest city. The towns that are closer to me are small, with very few shops except supermarkets. Consequently, I do a lot of shopping online. I rely on feedback from previous customers.

I was asked for feedback in Bella Italia before we’d even left the restaurant!

I get feedback requests for the dentist and the vet after a visit and each EVRI and Amazon delivery and reminders from them if I don't answer. I even got a request for a review of a book I'd only just got the day before!

My question exactly, but you beat me to it! In the ‘old days’ ie before the web, you would go into a shop, buy what you wanted, then go home. If it turned out to be faulty, you took it back. Whether you bought from them again depended on how they handled the return.
Feedback is pointless, because, as far as I can tell, no amount of feedback improves anything. It’s just something the businesses ask for so it looks as though they care!
My chemist is brilliant and I often have cause to praise them, as do others. They do not have a website seeking praise, and are happy just to do the job they are paid for. Other businesses woukd do well to follow suit as far as I’m concerned.

Car salesperson asked for feedback and said that 10/10 was the only option her boss would accept. so she got no feedback, she would only have got a 5 if we had done it

Hithere

Businesses cannot improve without feedback

How did they manage before the advent of emails?

Businesses cannot improve without feedback

I do for the GP, phlebotomist, vet and dentist. As for the delivery companies, life is too short. I make a lot of internet purchases and can't be bothered to leave feedback for the couriers. I do for sales on Ebay because they keep sending emails until I do.
Another annoying thing is the numerous reminders for doctor or hospital appointments. Even the vet reminds me of boosters when I have already been, and tells me to purchase flea and worm treatment when I belong to a VIP scheme which provides me with 6 months worth in advance. Grr!

Time TO, not time you!

B9exchange

We have just been asked to review the ambulance service that took my husband to hospital after his bleed on the brain 7 months ago. The last thing I want to do is go over that again!

That is disgraceful, and deserving of a complaint in itself! So insensitive! My worry too is, if they are so busy, how come they have the time you send out these stupid requests?

I don't waste my time answering any of these except the ones for my doctor's surgery or hospital.

When I get these feedback requests, I normally reply with:-

‘You might have done quite well, had you not asked for praise. If you do your job properly, you shouldn’t need to ask. Rest assured, if I’m not happy, I will make sure you know it. Just do your job’
Then, if they also ask me to mark them out of 10, I leave a 2. Harsh, I know, but it just infuriates me. I HATE it when they ask for feedback. It’s intrusive and so annoying. Perhaps if we all left poor feedback, regardless of how good they are, they’ll stop pestering.