There are a number of websites out there that present consumer reviews of companies like ours who provide stamped concrete, architectural concrete and concrete driveway solutions.
As a proud service provider with a strong reputation on these sites, Bomanite wants to provide a few words of advice in regards to selecting the right company, in our industry or in others as well. The following advice also pertains to product and restaurant reviews. So please keep the following 4 aspects in mind when reading online reviews.
1) Rating
If a company has a perfect rating, or something too close to perfect that you have to look twice, that could be a warning sign that something is amiss. As much as companies strive for perfection, it’s almost impossible to be perfect. If a company has nothing but perfect reviews, look at the reviewers’ profiles. If they have never posted a rating/review before, or they ONLY post perfect ratings for multiple companies, chances are they’re either not valid, or their review was encouraged and not naturally given.
2) Style and Tone
If a company’s reviews all seem the same, there’s a chance they are written by the same person. In our world, people come from a multitude of different backgrounds. As such, their understanding of English varies, as does their vocabulary. Realistic reviews will have different descriptive words, the odd spelling mistake, different tones and different lengths. Some may describe every detail with Shakespearean prose, while others may write three words in total. This variance is an indication of authentic reviews.
3) What they actually say
If a number of reviews refer to the same themes or specific topics, especially in a row, that can seem suspicious. Some companies are limited in how much can be said about them, but if the content of the reviews are all too similar, take them with a grain of salt.
4) Timing
Some companies are seasonal, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense that they have reviews during their off-season, as most reviews are given almost immediately after the job is complete. Additionally, if the reviews are timed evenly apart, as in almost exactly in a pattern, that could be another flag. Real people post reviews whenever they get a chance. Sometimes three will be posted within a week, sometimes there will be 2-3 months between reviews. Watch for patterns.
The purpose of this blog entry isn’t to make you skeptical of online reviews – they can be very helpful in selecting a company or product you can trust. We just want to help you make a more educated decision when you select the concrete service provider to entrust with your driveway, landscaping or backyard.
And of course, if you’d like to discuss your project, we’re always happy to give you a free quote. Contact us today at 905-265-2500 or toll free at 1-800-331-9754 or visit http://bomanite.ca/