In a couple other threads, a number of people have been pretty excited to see OR-Fab again offering their tire/jerry can carrier. I own one myself and I'm very happy with it.
On one distributor's website, someone who bought the carrier left it a three-of-five star review: four stars for "bang for your buck" and a paltry two stars for "fit". I found the two star rating to be ridiculous. What's worse: six people voted the review as "helpful".
The reviewer's reasoning for leaving such a low review for fit is that the tire carrier's swing arm didn't align properly with the strike plate when the arm was loaded up with a tire and gear. What the reviewer failed to realize, however, is that the instructions very clearly indicate how to fix this issue. When I say "very clearly", I mean they have a big black framed box around the specific instruction, emphasizing it among the other instructions on the page.
As a result of this customer's inability to read the directions thoroughly, the company suffers potential sales because of the poor review.
I have friends that own businesses. They often find themselves on the receiving end of unfair reviews, be it via Yelp, Google, Facebook, or some other means. A small business's reputation is everything. All it takes to dent that reputation is a whiny customer who couldn't be bothered to bring up their issue with the business. Instead, they head to the Almighty Internet and lambaste the company online.
I've seen it happen first-hand. It's unfair and 100% cowardly. I'm not being dramatic when I say that it carries the potential to be catastrophic to a business owner.
I'm not saying you should only leave positive reviews on websites. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What I'm asking is that you please go through the correct channels before you decide to crap on a business in a forum that is seen by the often-unforgiving and seemingly all-powerful public eye.
There are a lot of good people trying to make good products. A lot of them take a step that I'm sure very many of us have daydreamed about: they abandon the life of a steady job in favor of making their own way in the world. They have houses and families. They decided to take a chance on their big idea and want to do good work.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're so frustrated that you're a moment away from unloading both barrels into a text box on the internet, please remember this entry.
On one distributor's website, someone who bought the carrier left it a three-of-five star review: four stars for "bang for your buck" and a paltry two stars for "fit". I found the two star rating to be ridiculous. What's worse: six people voted the review as "helpful".
The reviewer's reasoning for leaving such a low review for fit is that the tire carrier's swing arm didn't align properly with the strike plate when the arm was loaded up with a tire and gear. What the reviewer failed to realize, however, is that the instructions very clearly indicate how to fix this issue. When I say "very clearly", I mean they have a big black framed box around the specific instruction, emphasizing it among the other instructions on the page.
As a result of this customer's inability to read the directions thoroughly, the company suffers potential sales because of the poor review.
I have friends that own businesses. They often find themselves on the receiving end of unfair reviews, be it via Yelp, Google, Facebook, or some other means. A small business's reputation is everything. All it takes to dent that reputation is a whiny customer who couldn't be bothered to bring up their issue with the business. Instead, they head to the Almighty Internet and lambaste the company online.
I've seen it happen first-hand. It's unfair and 100% cowardly. I'm not being dramatic when I say that it carries the potential to be catastrophic to a business owner.
I'm not saying you should only leave positive reviews on websites. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What I'm asking is that you please go through the correct channels before you decide to crap on a business in a forum that is seen by the often-unforgiving and seemingly all-powerful public eye.
There are a lot of good people trying to make good products. A lot of them take a step that I'm sure very many of us have daydreamed about: they abandon the life of a steady job in favor of making their own way in the world. They have houses and families. They decided to take a chance on their big idea and want to do good work.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're so frustrated that you're a moment away from unloading both barrels into a text box on the internet, please remember this entry.
Last edited: