Reviews

I was pleased to get my letter criticising a scathing review of Graham Smith’s book ( he’s the man who runs Republic and was arrested outside King Charles’ coronation). The reviewer was smug and elitist. I was surprised The Literary Review published my letter, shows they are even handed, unlike some other publications.

I now read reviews for restaurants we haven’t tried before. We’d fancied a beautiful Italian in Portugal, but it seemed to be closed a lot whenever we were on holiday, which was intriguing. Then we went straight in when we saw it open once. The WORST meal ever. Inedible even. The chef kept walking into the restaurant to fill up his wine glass, he looked sozzled. I checked reviews after we left (I know 🙄) the first one said ‘just don’t’. This fit that place perfectly.

Both Holland and Barrett and the app Tennis TV would not accept my reviews which were critical! I removed the word ‘disappointed’ on the Tennis TV and it was accepted. So now I realise reviews are often rigged.

This sounds like ‘I bought a washing machine, but I’m marking it down because I really wanted a television’! I’m sure there is a route for making product suggestions, but this wasn’t it.

I get very irritated by the 5* reviews which then say things like "I haven't read the book yet but I'm sure it will be good" or "I bought this as a present for someone, it looks fine"

Louella thanks for your suggestion - best ever reviews

I do read reviews, but only the negative ones. After all, no-one is going to pay for negative reviews :-) I think they are most likely to be honest. I might still buy the product, though. It's not the seller's fault if the shoes you ordered are too strappy, too blue or your OH doesn't like them! It is their fault, though, if the stitching is coming undone, the straps fall off or if the dye is patchy.

NotSpaghetti

louella I've popped over to look at your suggestion via the link and just wanted to share this review found there;

Sorely Disappointed
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 19 December 2013
^As an individual plagued with chronic constipation and bowel distress for most of my adult life, I felt that my prayers had finally been answered by Captain Trimmer's bold and succinct title. You can imagine my disappointment when I realised that, once again, my dyslexia had let me down.^

Hilarious!

I always read reviews and they have helped me select goods. If the majority are good and just a few are critical then I tend to abide by the majority. I also read around the product so if there are other review sources then I will look at them as well. The more important the item the more time I take. Because I use them I also write them when asked as I feel that is only fair.

ExaltedWombat

This sounds like ‘I bought a washing machine, but I’m marking it down because I really wanted a television’! I’m sure there is a route for making product suggestions, but this wasn’t it.

No it’s more like “I bought this washing machine but it’s really hard to access the filter” , or “the soap dispenser drawer does not come out to wash.”
Things you would not necessarily be aware of until you tried to use it.
Or in the case of a garment, tried it on.

I've left negative reviews on Amazon France and they are NEVER published. They fall out of review guidelines. Eh?? But why are my positive ones published?! Seems Amazon France does not like negative reviews.

I've never not had a review published, good or bad. I try to be objective and fair to help other buyers make an informed choice and, as a left hander, if the article is particularly hard or easy to use for a leftie I'd point it out.

After all, no-one is going to pay for negative reviews :-)

Yes they do, on a rival’s site. I watch a TV Programme about a shop that was put out of business by a rival doing this and they couldn’t do anything about it.

I'm super cautious about buying clothes from Amazon :
After reading glowing reports , I bought some yoga pants .
They looked lovely when they arrived .
Not only did the seams rip the first time I wore them , but great deal of colour came out each time I washed them .
I couldn't put them in the washing machine .
If unhappy , I could send them back to Thailand for a replacement .

I have bought swimsuits with success - the reviews were honest .

I do both.. On some sites you can tap on the ie 3* and see what they say at that star rating. You can definitely do this on Amazon and JL.

I often write reviews, bad as well as good and never had any not published. I find reviews very helpful, especially the 4* ones. Latest was 1* and that was published

Tizliz

After all, no-one is going to pay for negative reviews :-)

Yes they do, on a rival’s site. I watch a TV Programme about a shop that was put out of business by a rival doing this and they couldn’t do anything about it.

I don’t think anyone can review anonymously any more (books) but some years ago I certainly heard of a fairly well known author writing a bad review for a rival’s novel - and actually admitting that she did such things!

An author friend of mine was once terribly upset by a scathing Amazon review of her novel. However, I knew at once who’d written it - a less successful author who’d once belonged to the same writing group as I did, and had written me (an aspiring author at the time) two positively poisonous letters that had me in tears. Her style of writing almost screamed from the page.

So I was able to tell my friend that it was all down to the horrible old bag’s jealousy.