Is this a fair question to ask a vendor?

[ghostrider1971]

Evening each,

Last night I asked a fairly innocuous question on the BCL facebook page about postage costs.....and it turned in to the troll gunfight at the OK Corral (even with the England game on....) - certainly not my intention when asking "Would you consider looking at cheaper postage options?" - both customers and the owners were getting stuck in and boots and fur were flying

I want to ask another question about their 2 in-house reviewers, being: 1) Are they "paid" or "employed" by BCL? 2) Are they given their juice/concentrates for free?

The reason I want to ask the questions is purely from a point of impartiality - I have never seen a bad or indifferent review from either of them. As most of you know I do love writing a review myself, but if something is great it's great, if something isn't great....well, it isn't  

I'm certainly not trying to get on their preferred reviewer list (I'd much rather be happy doing truthful reviews here!) but I get an awful feeling if I ask (on their FB page...) it could just turn in to another unnecessary keyboard fight?

Hope this ramble makes a bit of sense to someone

[dalealan]

Any vendor should be happy to answer questions in a polite and professional manner as they should rely on their customer service and be happy to provide clear answers. If they pull a strop or get a bit defensive I'd take that that they have something to hide and your questions don't seem to be anything out of the ordinary so ask away.

[unclegromit]

You’ve answered your own question matey re: never seeing a bad or indifferent review.
Personally I wouldn’t bother asking.
If either 1 or 2 is applicable then it will influence the review.

[ghostrider1971]

dalealan - unclegromit - Thank you for your responses - fully concur with both

Maybe I am being a bit naive (or not...) - but if you have a FB group audience of 750+ and every single review ends with an ".......and another amazing juice from...." I would think more people would be going "Hmmmmmm....."

[izan]

Jul 4, 2018 18:05:09 GMT ghostrider1971 said:

Evening each,

Last night I asked a fairly innocuous question on the BCL facebook page about postage costs.....and it turned in to the troll gunfight at the OK Corral (even with the England game on....) - certainly not my intention when asking "Would you consider looking at cheaper postage options?" - both customers and the owners were getting stuck in and boots and fur were flying

I want to ask another question about their 2 in-house reviewers, being: 1) Are they "paid" or "employed" by BCL? 2) Are they given their juice/concentrates for free?

The reason I want to ask the questions is purely from a point of impartiality - I have never seen a bad or indifferent review from either of them. As most of you know I do love writing a review myself, but if something is great it's great, if something isn't great....well, it isn't  

I'm certainly not trying to get on their preferred reviewer list (I'd much rather be happy doing truthful reviews here!) but I get an awful feeling if I ask (on their FB page...) it could just turn in to another unnecessary keyboard fight?

Hope this ramble makes a bit of sense to someone

G,

Email your questions directly to the owner.


Asking your questions on AttentionBook was your only blunder.

Cheers
I

[ghostrider1971]

izan - Fair point - the question I want to ask about the reviewers is only for personal interest and not looking to stir up a hornets nest with the general population

Although the question about the postage, on the FB page, was only a request and certainly not a criticism....

[joeten]

I don't think being asked a question is something they should be upset or defensive over, surely answering with a simple explanation would suffice IE small parcel costs are x x x and we can't afford to do that would have been a nicer response, as for reviews if you have been on Chefs FB page there are literally a ton of folks who post their (Fan Boy review) opinions but only a small number post anything I would give credence to, and that includes at least 1 who got taken on to do reviews but has as far as I know not always gave a glowing report he does say it is his opinion based on what he tastes and other may find it differently which is fair enough it's pointless having reviews that don't at least reflect a honest opinion as folks will notice at some point and that just might ruin a vendors reputation but if that is how they play things then they deserve what comes.

[Perpetua]

Jul 4, 2018 18:05:09 GMT ghostrider1971 said:

Evening each,

Last night I asked a fairly innocuous question on the BCL facebook page about postage costs.....and it turned in to the troll gunfight at the OK Corral (even with the England game on....) - certainly not my intention when asking "Would you consider looking at cheaper postage options?" - both customers and the owners were getting stuck in and boots and fur were flying

Seems a reasonable enough question to me, a very similar situation occurred on The Ecig Shop's FB page . . . . they had ( understandably ) switched to a higher cost signed for postage option due to the number of ' claimed ' non receipts. ( Makes your blood boil when a minority spoil it for the majority who play fair! )

Anyhow, a very civilised discussion took place with Natalie creating a poll to gather feedback - end result, a cheaper postage option was reintroduced.

While all the people can't ever be pleased all the time, on occasions a small concession is all it takes to gain support and ultimately more happy customers. Which is the objective of any good, professional business I would have thought.

As for reviews, probably best I don't go there.

[jtc]

I would take my custom elsewhere tbh.
Nothing worse than being shouted down by a vendor 😒

[ghostrider1971]

jtc - Funny you should say that, I still have about a litre (10 x 100ml) of BCL juices on steep - any future reviews of those will, of course, not be clouded by this episode

Unless I see another crazy 50% discount code, I don't think they will be seeing much of my hard earned for a while......

Perpetua - One of the main arguments from BCL was the same as Ecig - missing parcels - very annoying as you say - however, this got interesting when they said they charge 4.10 for signed for post - they say most people gain as it's a flat charge and if they are ordering VG/PG etc - others then waded in saying the postage on their envelope said 2.50 and they were charged 4.10.....

Wish I hadn't asked them the question now

[ghostrider1971]

Just had a notification that BCL are doing free shipping until 9pm Saturday night.......

Fill your boots, gang