To think it's cheeky to ask for someone not to leave you a bad review

badreview · 2021-02-13T13:39:41+00:00

Client's unhappy with work as not completed to the standard expected. Despite this, they (the client) offer to pay a portion of the overall fee for the work that's been done (as a gesture of good will). Is it incredibly cheeky to ask/expect the client to not leave a bad review, given that they're dissatisfied? ^And will need to get someone else to finish the work^

StressedTired · 13/02/2021 13:59

I think it's reasonable to leave a bad review if the work wasn't acceptable, but the review should mention that they then only paid a portion of the fee, as this is indicative of the service provider's willingness to remedy the problem.

Belledan1 · 13/02/2021 14:06

I went on currys website to get some advice re an ipad. You actually talk to a person on video but they dont see you. He was quite helpful but did see a bit of eye rolling as I asked him to explain something again. At the end said thanks etc and he said remember to tell the survey how great I was and the most helpful assistant you have met and even though you are not very techno I explained it well!! I never filled in survey but was quite tempted to and say cocky!

TheSunshines · 13/02/2021 14:10

If that is the experience they had why would they leave a good review. Businesses hate bad reviews and complain about them, if you don't want bad reviews complete to standard and they'd be no need for any customer to leave a bad review.
I've had experiences where I have had complaints about a review I left and i was asked to take it down. A different company asked customers for reviews obviously as long as they are good they leave them on how untrustworthy is that?!

NotFabulousDarling · 13/02/2021 14:18

I think when it's a project/situation like the one you described in the OP, it's cheeky to specifically ask someone not to leave a bad review. I also don't support the idea of contacting someone and asking them to change their review, but I see small businesses doing that quite often as their response to a negative review. It just makes you look like a dick.

Ch3rish · 13/02/2021 14:21

Just leave a factual review then others who read it have information to help deciding whether to use the service. I can see why someone might ask you that but you don't have to agree.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 13/02/2021 14:36

I've been asked to change a negative review for a faulty time or bad service after it's been rectified (replaced/refunded).

I've changed it, but never give it full marks and always say that while it didn't work out, the seller/service provider was very helpful in reaching a solution and I'm satisfied with the outcome.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 13/02/2021 14:36

'Time' should be 'item'.

Createsuser · 13/02/2021 14:44

I e received a bad review for something perfectly adequate where the work was done as described but they just decided they didn’t like it. Despite the fact I had taken the time to do it they left me a really negative review. I said nothing and let it stand but was pretty upset at the time. My communication with them had also been polite and timely, I had offered to change it etc

Cocomarine · 13/02/2021 15:21

It’s never “incredibly cheeky” to ask someone not to damage your business.
It would be pretty cheeky to ask you to leave a positive review.
If someone produced a poor standard for me, and readily admitted it, was polite, didn’t take the piss asking for full payment etc - and THEN said, “look - appreciate I haven’t done well for you. However. A negative review will affect my business and I would really appreciate it if you would consider not reviewing”, then I’d consider that a perfectly sensible request.

Cocomarine · 13/02/2021 15:23

I’d then look at their reviews - other negative ones, and I’d probably leave a negative review to warn others. Mostly positive, and I’d consider it could be a one off and kindly say nothing. But as I said - would depend on their attitude throughout.

Original poster

badreview · 13/02/2021 18:41

@Cocomarine

It’s never “incredibly cheeky” to ask someone not to damage your business. It would be pretty cheeky to ask you to leave a positive review. If someone produced a poor standard for me, and readily admitted it, was polite, didn’t take the piss asking for full payment etc - and THEN said, “look - appreciate I haven’t done well for you. However. A negative review will affect my business and I would really appreciate it if you would consider not reviewing”, then I’d consider that a perfectly sensible request.

I don't understand this at all.

If you've damaged your business's reputation by producing work to a poor standard - whether you admit it/are polite or not - you've done not done the job well.

I wouldn't consider it a sensible request. When I was self-employed, I could never dream of asking for someone to not leave a bad review. If anything, that should've been spurred me on to do better next time.

OP posts:

Cocomarine · 13/02/2021 18:46

Why can’t it spur you on at the same time?

Look, my friend makes amazing cakes - really beautiful. She shared one recently in a group I’m in, as the customer had complained. She wanted opinions she could trust. Several people - including me - said it’s not an unholy mess, but, it’s not your usual standard. She offered the customer half her money back (which was a loss for her) and the customer was satisfied with that. In that situation - what’s to be gained by a bad review?

If you thinks it’s cheeky, then why are you even asking in AIBU if it’s cheeky? You’re not interested in another opinion.

Walruse · 13/02/2021 19:08

Absolutely nothing wrong with leaving a factual review. It is the responsibility of the business to provide an acceptable service if they expect a good review.

hibbledibble · 13/02/2021 19:11

I wouldn't see the client paying for work done as a 'gesture of goodwill'. Surely this is just their legal and contractual obligation?

Since you, the client, are only paying a portion of the fee, it would show goodwill to not damage the business's reputation by leaving a poor review.

Original poster

badreview · 13/02/2021 19:13

@Cocomarine

Why can’t it spur you on at the same time?

Look, my friend makes amazing cakes - really beautiful. She shared one recently in a group I’m in, as the customer had complained. She wanted opinions she could trust. Several people - including me - said it’s not an unholy mess, but, it’s not your usual standard. She offered the customer half her money back (which was a loss for her) and the customer was satisfied with that. In that situation - what’s to be gained by a bad review?

If you thinks it’s cheeky, then why are you even asking in AIBU if it’s cheeky? You’re not interested in another opinion.

How nice of your friend to seek wise counsel from a trusted group of friends. Glad it worked out for her.

I do feel like it's cheeky but wanted to see what other people thought as I'm not above getting things wrong from time to time.

OP posts:

CharlieParley · 13/02/2021 19:34

Not cheeky to ask, but would be cheeky to expect it.

Reviews can do real damage to businesses, especially service providers. They can also help advertise a business. So of course I would not want a negative review. I wouldn't make that request, but I would ask the client if they would consider mentioning that we resolved the issue. If I've not delivered work to my clients' specification then I think it's fair to get a negative review, but sometimes it's not shoddy workmanship but miscommunication, the client having expectations I didn't know about etc.

I would always try to resolve the issue and I believe that is part of good business practice, too, so I would want that to be mentioned in any review. And that's what I would ask my clients to reflect in their review.

waitingforadulthood · 13/02/2021 22:09

I don't think it's cheeky if they have accepted their wrong and accepted token payment gracefully. Sometimes stuff goes wrong and if it cannot be fixed and it trust between client and business has been lost then the only resolution is to step back and apologise and take reduced fee at a loss. I'm self employed and in ten years only twice has it happened to me and I he first I took no payment and lost three weeks pay plus materials cost. The second I lost a week work but the client paid materials. If either client had then left a bad review id have been devasted. It wasn't good work, I accepted that ,did all I could to resolve it, but there was no more I could do, but a bad review would devastate my business.

I've also had three people threaten a bad review in order to get discount. Or rather "I'll give you a good review for money off" and when told that any review they leave will be work dependant they say "well I'd like the job more if I had to pay less". Thankfully that gives me warning to be fastidious in evidencing work before I leave, to the point when a bad review is left (only once the others were chancers) I can challenge them to provide photos/ evidence and it got taken down easily.

Whammyyammy · 13/02/2021 23:17

Surely you mean an 'honest' review?

StormzyInaDCup · 14/02/2021 01:43

I think in this situation, perhaps they are treating as a negotiation? You weren't satisfied with the work and requested a discount. They provided one and requested you don't leave a negative review? If they had requested a positive one, that would be cheeky.

They have provided you remediation. As with the cakeseller story, unless there are prior negative reviews. There's nothing to gain from leaving such a review.

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 14/02/2021 21:33

@waitingforadulthood

I don't think it's cheeky if they have accepted their wrong and accepted token payment gracefully. Sometimes stuff goes wrong and if it cannot be fixed and it trust between client and business has been lost then the only resolution is to step back and apologise and take reduced fee at a loss. I'm self employed and in ten years only twice has it happened to me and I he first I took no payment and lost three weeks pay plus materials cost. The second I lost a week work but the client paid materials. If either client had then left a bad review id have been devasted. It wasn't good work, I accepted that ,did all I could to resolve it, but there was no more I could do, but a bad review would devastate my business.

I've also had three people threaten a bad review in order to get discount. Or rather "I'll give you a good review for money off" and when told that any review they leave will be work dependant they say "well I'd like the job more if I had to pay less". Thankfully that gives me warning to be fastidious in evidencing work before I leave, to the point when a bad review is left (only once the others were chancers) I can challenge them to provide photos/ evidence and it got taken down easily.

Really? One bad review would devastate your business when all the others are good reviews? 🙄

Also, I didn’t think you could get google reviews taken down, especially if they just say such and such a person was rude, unreliable, tricky with money etc.....as long as nothing offensive is written and no threats are made.

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 14/02/2021 22:20

@StormzyInaDCup

I think in this situation, perhaps they are treating as a negotiation? You weren't satisfied with the work and requested a discount. They provided one and requested you don't leave a negative review? If they had requested a positive one, that would be cheeky.

They have provided you remediation. As with the cakeseller story, unless there are prior negative reviews. There's nothing to gain from leaving such a review.

Where was the cakeseller review?