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!
Iappreciate this post. I agree that it is best to go to the company and try to find something that works for you. I also love it when a blogger gives me some pointers about the product (i.e. seemes like the sizes run big or small, or delivery takes a while so be prepared).
I like and agree with your review policy. I think it is a win win policy. The sponsor wins because you are only reviewing products that you feel good about and can give a honest positive review. We the followers can trust that your review was an honest positive
The only possible negative reviews I have ever had to deal with so far are book reviews. I have been blessed in that area. I always tell authors that I will keep an open mind, but I am open and honest. If I don’t like a book, I still point out the positives and downplay the negatives since everyone has different tastes. Thanks for posting this. Good reference!
I like to read blogs that sometimes state not so good comments about products. To me this shows they really tried them, and shares what they think.
I do think it’s a good idea to say something on your blog about only putting positive reviews on there, and that there have been items that you didn’t like.
Tammy…I love this idea. Will do it in the future and am planning on revising old reviews with this information! The Chief Blonde
i must be mean cuz i called bs on a couple bloggers that made their review so unreal each one was basically a cookie cutter review. Their circumstance just somehow always warranted the product, it was pretty funny. so my advice is to be honest, you really arent fooling anyone
jenzen69atyahoodotcom
I think some people will do anything for free stuff for instance today I read a review about a female product I don’t think the reviewer was even using the product right all I can say is ouch.
i appreciate the honesty when i’m reading reviews…i don’t like everything so i wouldn’t expect you to like everything….i will still try something just to see for myself in most cases. i would think the companies would appreciate the feedback to help improve their products!
polly~.
I’m really glad to hear this! It’s good to know you are really good at reviewing and giving your honest opinion. I love the idea of telling the companies your policies and clothing sizes. I’ll have to keep that in mind when i start doing reviews. (Which I’m hoping to do)
So, thank you!
I agree. I’d like to only review products that I think I’ll like, but honesty is also a good policy. If there is something legitimately wrong with something, and not just user error.
Well this makes a lot more sense to me now. Like posters above I wondered why I only saw positives. I appreciate the positive reviews, but as some others have stated I would like to see ones where maybe there were pros and cons listed. Idk how to explain it…I know that would make a bloggers job more difficult for a product that had not met up to ones standards, but it makes it hard on the consumer to not the the flip side of a product or company. I appreciate some of both. It’s a tough call for sure on how to handle those things. That being said, I love your reviews and your blog and really appreciate that you stated how you handle those things that don’t meet up to your standards. :)Now I don’t have to wonder anymore at the many blogs I visit why I’m not seeing many less than glowing reviews. I sure appreciate you and all the time you put into your blog and your reviews! THANK YOU SHELLEY! 😀
As always Mippy…I am not worthy! HA!
cute t’s and really in this season!
I’m glad you posted this! I have always wondered why so many blog reviews are very positive. It makes a lot of sense that you would only want to review items that you would naturally feel positive towards, but in the event that you had a somewhat difficult time with a company, even if they were able to respond and fix it, you could let your readers know, not as a negative, but as a neutral, if that makes sense. In some instances a fast company response to a negative would turn into a much bigger positive, considering how hard it is to get good customer service these days.
blue65829 at aol dot com
Like this post. Your idea about only reviewing positive items and that’s why there are no negatives is an excellent idea. Liking what you choose to review is an honest idea and I really wouldn’t want to review something I didn’t like or enjoy. Better to have the Positive surround your blog. 🙂
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I say always be honest. That way they will know the negative aspects and the positive ones….and can move forward accordingly !!!!!
Thank you for this post. I respect and appreciate the way you handle negative reviews, but I have to say, I like blogs that review all products they’re given, whether they have negative or positive things to say about the products – I think most any product has both pros and cons, and I like to see both listed. It instills more trust in the blogger for me. That said, I’m glad you put up this post, it helps me understand why there are no negative reviews.
Yay! okay, this helps me actually TRUST your reviews here at Still Blonde! Thanks for letting us know the honest truth behind product reviews.
I appreciate your post. I have run into this issue several times.. and unfortunately I have had to learn the hard way. At first I said “Yes” to every review.. ugh.. It really isn’t fun to do a review on something you hate or are not interested in. I think the way you handle your policy is great.
I always wondered why I never see any negative reviews on any of the blogs I visit. I guess this is a nicer way to go about it, and you are nice enough to explain why and maybe help the company improve the product.
I believe that “Honestly is still the best policy”
if it’s not that desirable be honest, not everyone or anything is right, and what’s good for one, is not for the other.