Why You Rarely see Negative Product Reviews on our Blog
Negative Product Reviews can severely impact a company, yet as a blogger, you want to be honest with your readers and the company that wants a review. What’s a blogger to do?
Considerations in regards to a Negative Product Review:
No review should ever be done without a sample.
- I think WAAAAAYYYY to many bloggers make the error of going by a picture to say something is cute, and that you’d love to wear it/eat it/use it. But really, anything would look cute on some of those models? Any food item would look like it tastes great when a master photographer takes the pictures. You really must experience a line to comment on it, I believe. Also, don’t accept a review from a company, if you already KNOW you aren’t really that interested in the product.
It’s quite alright to dislike and EVEN HATE a product that you have been sent.
- 9 times out of 10, I like the products I get to review. Usually, that’s because I don’t accept reviews for products that I don’t think I will like. I just reject them right up front. Still…sometimes I get a product for review, that either doesn’t fit my quality standards or isn’t what I expected. If I don’t like a product, I don’t do the review. PERIOD! My policy on my blog is that I only do positive reviews. My readers know that, that means that I won’t even give blog time to those products that don’t meet my standards.
Let a company know how you handle negative product reviews.
- In my initial pitch letter, when I give my address and other particulars…I actually state this in the finer print (which I doubt is rarely read). I indicate that “samples are not returned” and that “if for any reason a review product will incur a negative review, I will contact you to determine the best approach”. In response to a company when I do not do a review, I very simply outline WHY I didn’t care for their product, tell them that I will NOT be posting a negative review (as on my blog I only do positive reviews), and seeing if we can work out anything such that their company CAN get a positive review from me. I NEVER return a sample. I never apologize. That’s what a review really means..you are looking at it to see if YOU would recommend that others buy it. If you can’t, you shouldn’t.
Here’s a perfect example. When accepting a review opportunity for clothing, I clearly specify size and preferred products. I even link them with my outfit posts such that they can see what I look like. Sometimes I’ll even highlight certain aspects like…”I’d rather not have anything too short as I am a women over 45″…”I’d rather not have sleeveless tops as my arms are not an aspect that I like to features”..etc. Well, this one company sent me a really long tunic top (even though I am 5′ 4″) which could have easily have been a short summer dress. They also sent me Capris to wear with it. Well you can imagine how silly I looked, even in the highest shoes, with that great big top, and capris cutting off my not-too-long legs . I specified a Small or size 4 top..they sent me a medium. It was just terrible. So I emailed them and said, “I can’t review or photograph myself in this top. I am swimming in it.” They were so great. They agreed and sent me another top and jacket (didn’t have to return the first) and all went well.
As a reader, is this a review Policy that you can appreciate?
As a Blogger, how do you handle negative reviews?
If this post was helpful to you, please stumble it and smack that little Like button below. Hey, a blonde needs a positive review now and then too!
I agree with earlier comments about liking blogs that do touch on the negative aspects of reviewing products. When a blog is filled with only wonderful reviews, the average reader may begin to call shenanigans. I like to see that products don’t always work for everyone, and understanding how a company resolves (or doesn’t resolve) issues is interesting and important. I know it does make your job a bit harder, but it adds depth to what you do.
Hi Karen,
That gives me an idea. I may state in my reviews that I only post about items that I liked and that items that did not receive a favorable review are not featured on my blog! At least people will know that.
The Chief Blonde
I like all the comments. I always try to find one good aspect of a product, It may just be the packaging , but that is something.
i think that’s an EXCELLENT way to deal with the less than desirable product reviews!
I think that when doing a review, if you really weren’t happy with a product you state the facts as honestly and correctly as possible and hope it gets read as positive criticism that someone else can learn from. everyone has an opinion, it doesnt always have to agree with yours.
I had read this comment when you first posted it and found it very interesting. I like it that you try and review only items you think you will like and do not do negative reviews.
I have never done a review for anything major. I am not a blogger, but I do survey sites and have a few small review items. I have been pleased with all of them so far except one. I tried to be as nice as possible when telling them I didn’t enjoy the product. luckily for me, the reviews I have done are private to the company and not for all of the internet to see 🙂
I would much prefer reading an honest review even if it includes negatives. Not everyone is going to love everything. Of course you, as bloggers, would want to review products you would more than likely like. But you still may not like the scent or they way your skin feels when it rinses off or if a fabric maybe it is itchy. You never know.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
sometimes i review products for sites and i “sandwich” the negative aspect between two good things. eg, i like x & y needs rethinking, tho z is terrific.”
Thank god I haven’t had to do a negative review yet or even email a company to let them know it’s not good!
Excellent post! I completely agree with you. As a blogger who reviews quite often, I only review something that I have at least one nice thing to say about it (besides a nice bottle! LOL). If there are a few negatives that my readers should be aware of I let them know but the overall tone of the review is positive. I sometimes give suggestions that would make me love the product as opposed to just liking it. Companies that are worth working with will respect your honesty. 🙂
I typically do the same as you – if I really dislike something, I don’t want to waste my time writing about it. I have been much more particular lately with what I review, and it has to be something I really am interested in.
I won’t lie about a product. If I do run into an item that I mostly like, I will also mention what I don’t like (or give the company the option for me not to post at all). That seems fair…
It IS a fine line though!
Great post and I love that picture! I have actually had this issue a few times lately. Either not really liking the product, or with the company sending a teeny tiny sample. I am getting to the point where I really do not want to spend any time reviewing a fleck of soap!
Hi Jennifer, I put in my pitch letter that I require Full size products, no sample size. I stopped reviewing most Beauty products.
The Chief Blonde
I remember agreeing to review a book that was just AWFUL. I mean AWFUL. I got some feedback about how to approach the author because I couldn’t even finish the book. The author responded with a bit of hostility even though I told him I wasn’t writing a review and why. I wasn’t mean but I made the mistake of thinking he wanted honest feedback.
Yeah authors are particularly touchy right Jayne. The Chief Blonde
As a reader, I love the blogs that include negative aspects of a product. This gives me a realistic review that deals with the big picture rather than finetuning the writeup down to aspects that the blogger feels comfortable saying positive things about.
THanks Betty, That makes sense. The Chief Blonde
I’m a reader. I don’t have a blog. Here’s my opinion, for whatever it’s worth.
I appreciate two facts:
a blogger is going to ask to review only things s/he believes s/he’ll like. Why waste time with things y’all think are icky? and
a blogger doesn’t want to post a negative review out of fear that it’ll eliminate other possibilities. Why would someone send you stuff if there was a risk you’d say negative things about it?
As a reader…that makes me view bloggers as promoters, not reviewers. I believe that most (but not all) bloggers are honest in what they do say, but I don’t believe that most bloggers tell the whole story.
There are a select few who express balanced views on products and their blogs are the ones I go to when I want opinions.
Thanks for your honest input Deborah!
I think it is important to really examine what you don’t like about a product. For instance, I once got a costume that was just put together sloppily. I emailed and the company told me that it was fine for me to note that in my review (hint, hint — the right answer would have been more along the lines of we’ll make it right — like you would for any customer who complained). This told me what I needed to know. They were in love with my Google Juice and didn’t care how their company was written about online. I didn’t mind noting the deficiency then since they were quite ok with that kind of press.
Another time, I didn’t like a product and felt that I’d be very negative in a review. I emailed them back with my concerns and they actually spent the time explaining some background things to me, which, in the end, turned that negative review into a positive one once I fully understood how the product was supposed to work. Sometimes you just have to reach back out. Good companies appreciate hearing your concerns and care that you are happy with a product or not.
As a reader, I’d actually want to read some of the negative reviews so I know what to expect from the company.
As a giveaway blogger, even if I don’t love the product, I’ll try to find some positive aspects of it that other people may appreciate so I can present a balanced opinion and still do the review.
It’s a careful balance, isn’t it Rachel?
That picture is awesome. I have never had an issue with a negative review, luckily. But these are good guidelines.
Kristin 🙂
You are always so positive (unless someone pisses you off legally) that I am not surprised that you can find good in everything.
The CHief BLonde!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaa…that is hilarious! You are a doll. Whew. I can’t wait to read that to my husband, because he says I immediately pick out what’s wrong with everything. LOL.
I do the same thing Ellen does. I only email companies I am genuinely interested, but sometimes the product review don’t go as planned. I just dealt with a company that didn’t like my blunt approach to the negative issue regarding their product, even with a positive in the paragraph.
Sometimes it gives me anxiety. While I may feel the product was not something I could see myself using (for instance, because it relates to waxing & was more painful that I expected)… I KNOW there are people out there who would really enjoy it. It makes me worry that they won’t supply a prize over the review, & as a giver, I want my readers to win the most stand out products.
I agree on the anxiety Angel. I don’t think women are that great at criticizing others than our family!
The Chief Blonde
I don’t accept items for review that I’m not fairly certain I would like. If I do receive an item that I’m not overly impressed with, I try to find something positive to say about it along with what I didn’t really like. So I may say… “While it didn’t leave my hands as soft as I would have liked, the scent was amazing.” or something like that. I have only twice received products that I disliked so much that I couldn’t find anything positive to say about them. In those cases, I emailed the company and told them there was no way I could review the item on my blog.
Thanks Ellen. I reject probably 1 out of 50 things, so I guess I even need to get more picky!
The Chief Blonde