Do you do your research?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
April 19, 2013 7:58am CST
There have been times that I've used a company or service, and later after having a problem I look it up online and see that there are tons of negative reviews about that company.
For instance, Direct TV. Hubby decided to order this, and soon after I wanted to cancel it but they wouldn't let me. I looked up online how to cancel it without a fee, and saw a ton of bad reviews about this company because other people had the same problem, or other problems. Then I wished I had researched them before ordering their service!
Same thing happened with Aspen Dental.
So, when hubby started talking about trying to get a loan through some place he heard about, I decided to research this place, and saw a ton of negative reviews. That changed our mind quickly!
Do you research companies, products, and services before you buy them?
Have you ever been in a situation like mine where you wish you had researched a company before purchasing their service?
3 people like this
17 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Apr 13
I have really suffered at the hands of my Health Insurance provider. I did research them and they seemed okay but then we have so few on the Island and this company was bought out by an overseas company. They everythting went pear shaped
They were terrible during my illness and literally diddled me out of US$10,000 which would have helped to pay for the first surgery. The sad thing is that I cannot change as no other Health Insurance wouls accept me due my to surgery. So I am stuck with them
They were terrible during my illness and literally diddled me out of US$10,000 which would have helped to pay for the first surgery. The sad thing is that I cannot change as no other Health Insurance wouls accept me due my to surgery. So I am stuck with them@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Apr 13
That's terrible!
Yes that can happen a lot where problems start later down the line for a good company.
We have Medicare here for those over 65.. it's not great, but it helps. Do you have anything like that you can get there?
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Apr 13
Awful! Seems insurance companies are just in it for the money, not to help people. It's terrible!
@Pegasus72 (1898)
•
28 Apr 13
I think no matter which way you decide to go you will always see bad reviews, but taking them into account is a smart way to do business. So many places make promises they don't want to uphold.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
28 Apr 13
Oh yeah, every company has a few unhappy customers. Can't please everyone! But the # of bad reviews should be an indicator, and how often they're getting those bad reviews. A few here and there aren't anything to worry about, but getting a few a day is probably bad!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Apr 13
Good idea.. I seem to have joined a ton that went under right after I joined them.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
22 Apr 13
Oh yeah!
I've been burned a few times. The two major ones for me is a car dealership, and a wireless provider. Both had issues of returning my deposit when I cancelled my service (or changed my mind about the car, with the dealership).
After a little research I found out that a lot of people had problems with them already. Only after a letter to the president of the dealership, and to a VP of marketing with the wireless provider did I get my deposits back.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
20 Apr 13
yes I do.. and do some price hunting too. getting lowest price ever I had two bad experiences about on line shopping
1. when I bought a second hand phone and met the person somewhere...(I brought my BF with me, I am scared, too) but the regret, the item was so regrettable. not what is shown in the net.
2. when I bought software for jailbreaking my iphone. It was not totally functioning I wasted money there...
From then on I did not go on line shopping.. but instead I search first of what item is then buy personally in a shop.
at least getting the idea and having some specifications.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Apr 13
It's very hard to tell with 2nd hand items sometimes. Did you still buy it?
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
20 Apr 13
hahaha yes, and pretended that it was an OK item, though I haggled for a lower price with his insistence and with my BF's temper? I don't think it will be a good idea to speak of dismay. but in my head .. "ewwww such a wrong deal I made here"
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
20 Apr 13
My wife makes sure that I always do the research before deciding to have any business deal with any company or service provider. I guess that's a good thing to do. It minimizes the possibility of being scammed.
@GardenGerty (160998)
• United States
19 Apr 13
I am not sure I remember any details, but I am sure I have. Even with online sites it is a good idea. The fact is, people are more likely to report negative experiences, so if a place is bad, it will be posted somewhere. That is part of how Angie's list is making such a good reputation, they offer real reviews of everything. It sounds as if you have learned you lesson about things like that.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Apr 13
That's forsure.. all it takes it typing in the name of the company to see how many bad reviews there are. Sure every company is going to have a few unhappy customers.. but too many is a big red flag!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Apr 13
I don't either.. but from now on we'll be doing research whenever we do buy something new!
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
20 Apr 13
I rarely go for companies that I hear or see on television, I'd rather have to see the physical company with my own eyes. There are too many scamming companies these days that I wouldn't want to be put in that situation.
But yeah, sometimes I fall prey to these things, but since I don't really have money, they won't get anything from me.. hehe.. But yeah, we should research first prior to ordering or doing something we would regret in the end.
Have a great mylot experience ahead!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
20 Apr 13
Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I did not research before I got my last cell phone and I wish I had. I went into the store to buy a different one, but I did not like the feel of it once I got in there and bought a different one. It has started re-booting all on its own. I looked up reviews and sure enough a lot of people are complaining about that phone.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Apr 13
I had the same problem with a cellphone before. I still didn't research the one I have now, but I am much happier with this one than the last.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Apr 13
I absolutely research things before I do them or go through them now! I have learned many lessons from not doing this and learned the hard way. Now before we do anything I research before doing it.
We went to a restaurant a few years back before I started researching things for our anniversary. It was an expensive place! The atmosphere was super nice but the food was HORRIBLE! I looked at the reviews when we got back and sure enough EVERYONE on there said the food was nasty but the place had a nice atmosphere!
Also, when we took the kids on their first vacation to the great wolf lodge we did not look into it before we went. Once we got back and looked at all of the reviews said do not eat there, go out to eat somewhere else. The food was gross and WAY over priced!! We should have looked first, Lol.
Ever since then I definitely look into places now...Lessons learned.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Apr 13
We only eat at places we've already been before. We're afraid to try new things because of how many times we've been disappointed!
@befrindwithme26 (5805)
• Philippines
20 Apr 13
I have not tried buying on the internet.You should know first the company before buying because there are sites or campan that will deceive you and try to buy their products.
I also joined other sites that not pay. i am a victim.
@xiejiaotu (217)
• Malaysia
20 Apr 13
depend of what kind of situation is, i will only research. when i feel this decision is more than normal cases of need to take caution, i will start to research see should i take it. normally something i am not familiar with is my priority to start the research because any action may lead to good or bad things happen.
@inopiratum_a_medio12 (877)
•
20 Apr 13
I always do some research before purchasing product to canvass, to know the quality and it's services actually almost everything I do research if I'm not familiar with employers or anything.
I experienced before an awful services from outsourcing company, my previous employer it's been several months/ almost a year then since I do follow ups for my back pay. My fault since later I was able to think about my back pay 3 months since the day I tender my resignation and I was being impatient that I checked online their reviews and positively that there process is very slow as if they don't want to give the money for former employees and you will not be notified for the back pay if you haven't file the date you resigned.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Apr 13
Good idea to research a company you want to work for. I made my husband do that and he found out the employees are treated badly, so he did not go for the job!
@ChoukseyMK (1045)
• India
20 Apr 13
atleast i could learnt something from your discussion. in future i take care of when i go for new deal or purchase something new. thanks
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
19 Apr 13
Well i can understand your problem and i know u must be repenting that had u done a small research before getting Direct TV then the situation would have been way different, so u always try to do a research and look out for what people have to say about a particular service and product so that u guys again do not fall into any trouble.
@profmuhammadakhtar (103)
• Pakistan
20 Apr 13
there be tremendicios hardship facing people when ever people using services of different as for ex in our country banks offers many credit card offer but astioned that rate of interest charge nearly above 30 percent so becareful using service many show are not confirm
