Do customer reviews affect your purchasing decisions?

[Ara Ann]

Hi all.


I am currently looking for an every day set of dishes/cups/bowls....not too fancy, but not plain either. So I''ve checked all the usual websites and stores, but am getting discouraged after reading so many unsatisfactory customer reviews! Not sure if I should take a chance and get one of the sets I like, and disregard the negative reviews...or if I should keep looking. I don''t want to spend a lot, but should be able to find something decent with acceptable reviews!

So do negative reviews keep you from buying something? How do you decide when to just go with it, or keep looking, based on customer reviews?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

For the most part. If I am buying something I can try, feel, see in person I go with my gut. If it is something from a website where I buy something sight unseen than I do rely on reviews. They are usually spot on in my experience.

 

[FancyDiamond]

Date: 11/6/2009 10:15:11 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
For the most part. If I am buying something I can try, feel, see in person I go with my gut. If it is something from a website where I buy something sight unseen than I do rely on reviews. They are usually spot on in my experience.

ditto. I count on the reviews heacily, especially for electronics (gps, camera, memory devices, and etc.).

For everyday dishes, cups, and bowls, I use only Corningware and Corelle products. I like them because they do not chip easily, so are worry-free.

I usually go to the Corningware outlet to buy lots of dishes, bowls, and cups. Sometimes it helps to google search for coupons for the outlet. Last time I shopped at an outlet store in Maryland, I found a "Buy more, save more" coupon. Needless to say, I stocked up quite a bit to maximize my savings, 25% off the entire order on top of discounted and clearance items.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

My everyday dishes are from pier one and world market. I have had them for 5-6 years and have had no issues.

 

[D&T]

Date: 11/6/2009 10:15:11 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
For the most part. If I am buying something I can try, feel, see in person I go with my gut. If it is something from a website where I buy something sight unseen than I do rely on reviews. They are usually spot on in my experience.

thritto.

 

[Callisto]

Yeah, I always look at them. I mean I take them with a grain of salt as some people are just so hard to please and will write bad reviews about the silliest thing. But if there is an issue that comes up in multiple reviews I DEFINITELY take note of it. I will often look around to other websites that sell the same thing to read as many reviews as I can find. I like to be a very educated shopper.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I''m curious about which dish set you were looking at Ara Ann - and what the reviews said was bad about them!

I only use reviews when I am buying online and can''t look at it in stores at all. Or if the item is really expensive.

 

[radiantquest]

I usually get reviews for things from friends and family. You never know about the reviews that you find online. I was curious and bored one day and read the reviews for a product that I love and had I went by what the reviewers said I would have never bought it and missed out.

 

[Elmorton]

I absolutely read reviews - in fact, I hate buying things WITHOUT reviews - hence being on PS! But I think after awhile, you figure out which reviews to ignore and which to really listen to - this is really easy on things like travel, sometimes a bit harder typical consumer products like furniture, towels, or electronics. One trick I do is find the same item on multiple sites and compare the difference in reviews.

 

[Ara Ann]

Wow! Surprised to see this older post pop up today, guess I missed the earlier replies!

Thanks for the input ladies...I really wondered how much stock the average shopper put into reviews! Happy I''m not the only one to rely on them!

I was looking at various sets that had an ''old world/traditional'' feel to them. I checked every store I could think of (Target, JC Penney''s, Macy''s, even Wal-Mart, LOL!) plus all the search engines and most of the sets I liked had poor reviews on quality and daily wear, so I was very wary to try any.


I actually ended up ordering a set I never thought I''d choose! it can be used for every day, got excellent reviews by someone who''s used it daily for 10 years, but it can also be dressed up for special dinners as well. it''s very traditional and made by "Johnson Brothers" - their ''British Castle'' pattern in the red.

Part of the set will be a Christmas gift, so I don''t have it yet, but am excited to know I''ll have it soon!

 

[Ara Ann]

Well, so much for my dish order from Macy''s!

Turns out the dish sets are sold out and they canceled the order, over 3 weeks after it was placed. We just found out TODAY that they could not ship the order...nice customer service?

Thankfully I found the same set on sale on another website and they offered free shipping so it''s only a few bucks more than the Macy''s sale price, with their shipping charges.


Ugh. I hope this order goes through!