You’ve heard about online places where you can see how well a certain company is doing. No matter the field, reviews are all around us, and there’s a good reason why this is happening. You’ve probably learned, hopefully not through personal experience, that companies that have a really low rating are the ones you should avoid. But, reviews are also great for understanding a lot of different things about a certain company, whether their services could suit you, etc. It’s definitely not just about being good or bad. So, how important are online reviews today? That’s what we’re here to discuss today, so let’s jump into it.
Each company experiences a fluke every now and then
In this regard, companies are like people. They make mistakes. The responsibility we put on them – their employees, in fact – is great. After all, you will be entrusting them with your stuff. But they also make mistakes, and the clients love to complain. People love to complain at McDonald’s, for example, but just won’t stop eating there. Meanwhile, their revenue keeps growing. However, one bad lunch isn’t the same as your broken valuables. You, of course, value the stuff that you have earned and do not want to see it destroyed.
Naturally, you’re much more skeptical about moving companies than you are about McDonald’s. So, if you see a company with several customer complaints, but a good rating otherwise, then you’ll know that it’s just a simple fluke that could have happened to anybody. If you see a ton of bad reviews, you’re dealing with a company with bad practices, or even a fraudulent company. So, all in all, don’t immediately dismiss a company just because it has a couple of negative reviews. Accidents do happen to all of us, and chances are that the movers will actively be trying to outdo themselves. Getting a higher rating should be one of their top goals. Who knows, you might even get better services from a moving company such as this one than from one with top-notch ratings.
What customers say is a pretty good indicator of how important are online reviews today
A 1 to 5 rating doesn’t leave much room for explanation. To get an idea of how important are online reviews today, you have to look at what customers have actually written. This doesn’t mean that you have to read what each and every customer has written about each and every company in your area. You will want to single out displeased customers, and you can recognize angry reviews at a first glance. They tend to:
- Use a lot of uncensored words and other forms of colorful language, often in rapid succession, in a single sentence;
- Sometimes they write IN ALL CAPS, LIKE THIS;
- They will probably use strong language (for instance “I will sue these idiots/morons/dolts”).
We’re all angry sometimes, and that’s understandable. But if their concern is something minor, such as a single piece of a broken dish that isn’t expensive at all, then these people are just looking to vent their frustration. Keep this in mind when browsing through Verified Movers reviews. Customers’ anger might get the best of them at moments. Everyone remembers a broken dish, or a scratched sofa, but people tend to forget all other items there were transferred safely. So, take reading reviews with a pinch of salt. While they still are some of the best indicators when it comes to telling you how important are online reviews today, you cannot trust them 100%. Always look for several reviews and read carefully what they are saying.
Do reviews affect revenue in the long run?
Well, yes. Negative reviews, as you well know, can discourage future users from buying a certain product or service. Customers have something like a gut reaction that causes them to distrust companies with many bad reviews. Then comes the snowball effect, which comes in several steps:
- A user browses the company whose service he is in need of;
- Then, he sees some negative reviews. Those negative reviews can be one in twenty. For that reason, the user can easily single them out;
- After reading those negative reviews, the user forms a negative picture of the company, which may or may not be correct;
- Said prejudice causes the customer to either a) avoid the company altogether, or b) use the company’s services anyway;
- Assuming the customer uses the company’s service, he is more likely to spot minor faults. His prejudice will make him more likely to think that the company has done a shoddy job, when, in fact, it was a job well done.
- As a result, the customer is more likely to give another negative review;
- The vicious cycle repeats with each new customer.
And this is how important are online reviews today. As you can see, they can quickly bury a business in bad reviews and deceive the customer, which is something we will discuss in the next chapter. Even reliable moving companies can fall prey to this. We urge you to take into consideration all reviews, both negative and positive ones. If you take part in this cycle, some reputable and professional companies can lose customers. This can financially ruin them, and even remove good-standing moving companies from the market. Reviews are a powerful tool when it comes to deciding a company’s behavior, but they can easily be used to ruin said company as well.
Will the free market correct this?
In the long run, perhaps it will. You see, what every company, and especially a moving company needs right at the beginning, is a stroke of luck. We have demonstrated how negative reviews tend to multiply over time. Well, the same goes for good reviews. It does happen in the free market that a good company may find itself in bad luck and face foreclosure. It can also happen that a company with bad business practices satisfies a few customers right at the beginning, due to luck. And then, their number of customers grows exponentially. The importance of reviews today is huge mostly because they’re such a double-edged sword. It’s not always fair, and a good company with bad reviews may have to wait a bit until the market corrects itself in their favor or even reorganize.
Some moving companies cannot afford to wait for the market to correct their standing in the moving industry. So, if you want to help out small and new moving companies, consider leaving positive reviews and high ratings after you have worked with them. If you are satisfied with their services, that is! This will award professional behavior and improve the overall presence of good movers on the market.
Whom can the customers trust?
There’s no strict definition here. Unfortunately, there are no 100%-foolproof parameters that you can use to distinguish good companies from bad ones. Reviews are just one method, and, as we’ve established, it’s not completely surefire. So, what is there left for a customer to do? Well, the obvious answer relates to moving mistakes, such as hiring bad movers. The thing is, reviews will only tell you the general idea behind the company’s practices. This is how important are online reviews today: that is, they are, but not the point of make-it or break-it.
If you orient yourself solely based on reviews, you may find yourself in a bad situation sure enough. What you need to do is research individual companies. If this sounds like a chore, well, that’s because it is! Unfortunately, it’s something that you have to do in order to get a good service. Nothing beats your personal experience when it comes to researching moving companies. Your own eyes and ears, metaphorically speaking, are the best source of information there is. Reviews, no matter if they’re positive or negative, are only there to help you along the way.
Apart from reviews, what else should I do to differentiate good companies from fraudulent ones?
Wherever you look, everyone will tell you how important are online reviews today. They are one of the best indicators, if not the best, of an honest and professional moving company. However, during the phase of researching good and reliable movers for your relocation, there are some other factors that are worth checking out. There are several other ways to ensure that a moving company is legitimate:
- Check for proper licensing and insurance: Make sure the company is licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and that they have the necessary insurance to cover any damages that may occur during the move.
- Be aware of red flags: Be wart of a moving company that is offering you an insanely low estimate. It is definitely too good to be true. Also, you should stay clear of movers that are constantly making delays, dodging your calls, and making excuses for not having the required documents.
- Get a detailed estimate: A reputable company will provide a detailed, in-home estimate of the cost of the move. Be wary of any company that gives you an estimate over the phone or online without seeing the items that need to be moved.
- Ask for referrals: Ask friends, family, or real estate agents for recommendations of reputable moving companies they have used in the past. While this is still somewhat of a review, you will get a better picture of the company.
- Check if they are a member of the American Moving and Storage Association. All reputable movers should be a part of this association. However, if the company is a new one, they might need some more time to get a membership so make sure to ask about it.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so take the time to do your research and choose a reputable and trustworthy moving company. Having an enjoyable and smooth moving experience should be your number one priority. And with reputable movers, that can easily be the case!
Not all reviews can be trusted!
Online reviews have become increasingly important in today’s digital age. In fact, they have become one of the most trusted sources of information for consumers when making crucial decisions. If this isn’t a clear sign of how important are online reviews today, we don’t know what is. Consumers today are more informed and empowered than ever before. They have access to a vast amount of information at their fingertips, and they use that information to make informed decisions about the products and services they purchase. One of the most important sources of information for consumers is online reviews. Unfortunately, fraudulent companies are aware of this. And they are more than prepared to exploit the trust of customers.
Fraudulent companies are starting to make fake reviews for their own company. These can be made by bots or by people they have paid, without ever experiencing their services. These kinds of fake reviews can suddenly increase the company’s rating, and attract new, unsuspecting customers. Believing that they are in safe and trustworthy hands, customers can even lower their guard. All this will quickly result in new fees, delays, broken items, and who knows what else. Luckily, there are ways for you to recognize false and fake reviews.
Tips on how to recognize fake reviews of a moving company:
- Look for patterns – Fake reviews often have similar language and tone. Look for reviews that use similar language or phrases, or that are written in a similar style.
- Check for unrealistic details – Some fake reviews may contain unrealistic details or exaggerations about the service provided by the moving company. Be wary of reviews that seem too good to be true.
- Check the date of the review – Some fake reviews may be written by individuals who have never even used the service of the moving company. Look for reviews that were written long before or after the moving company existed.
- Check the number of reviews – Some fake reviews are added in bulk. Be wary of moving companies with a high number of reviews and a short period of time.
- Check the reviewer’s history – Some fake reviews are written by individuals who have never written a review before. Check the reviewer’s history and look for any red flags.
Reviews remain extremely important
It’s important to keep in mind that not all reviews are fake and not all bad reviews are fake. It’s always a good idea to read a variety of reviews from different sources to get a well-rounded understanding of the company. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that some companies may engage in unethical practices to boost their online reputation, like buying reviews, and that is illegal. However, even despite all of this, the answer to the question “how important are online reviews today?” is still the same. Reviews are, and will be, one of the best indicators of a company’s behavior. That’s why we encourage you to write a moving review once you relocate to another place with professionals, as it tremendously helps someone else who will find themselves in your position sometime in the future.