We don’t often like to complain, but when we do, we really do. This Irish city is one of the most likely to give a bad review, according to recent research.
In the age of mass consumerism, there is very little room for anything other than stellar service, quality products, and a pristine image. Fair enough – when parting with your hard-earned cash, you expect the best.
But do you ever give negative feedback for a poor transactional experience? If so, chances are you could come from this Irish city, which has been named the most likely city to give a bad review.
The survey – carried out by Capital on Tap
Capital on Tap carried out a survey to discover why people leave bad reviews and the impact those bad reviews have on businesses.
The study revealed that a whopping 87% of 16–24-year-olds would leave a bad review. Meanwhile, a smaller number (67%) of over-55s would pass on negative feedback to a business.
Among the most common reasons cited for leaving a review were products or services differing from the original description, overall negative service, and, above all, inferior quality of a service or product.
City most likely to give a bad review – Belfast
Capital on Tap focused their survey on UK cities, including Belfast. But sure, it wouldn’t be the first time the British claimed the Irish as their own.
In fact, Belfast came out on top as the most likely city to give a bad review. According to Capital on Tap, 90% of people in Belfast are happy to leave negative feedback. The Northern Irish capital was closely followed by Bristol (88%), Brighton, and Manchester (84% each).
Thankfully, the study also revealed that the people of Belfast were just as likely to leave a positive review, meaning we aren’t all horrible.
Chief among the reasons for leaving a positive review was value for money. Other reasons cited included good customer service and referential bonuses, as well as a generally positive overall experience.
How reviews affect businesses – the adverse effects
The aim of the study was to find the adverse effects of negative reviews on businesses.
While diminishing sales may seem self-evident, Capital on Tap claims that its research “has explored this further to better understand what types of bad reviews would put people off purchasing a product the most”.
Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) claimed they wouldn’t buy something if they’d read a poor review. Moreover, 41% said they would be deterred by word-of-mouth reviews from trusted friends and family.
Many (37%) also went as far as saying they wouldn’t purchase something – regardless of quality – from a company with a poor reputation for customer service.
