I had a very heated discussion with someone recently about positive vs. negative product reviews; she prefers to write only about what she likes, eschewing the negative, and I, while I write primarily about stuff I like, also enjoy being controversial and honest – if not necessarily positive – when I talk about products. I really believe it’s just as important to point out things you dislike about something as it is to praise the things you love – sometimes if you don’t, no one else will!
As an example, I feel like I was the only fashion blogger to rail against Gap’s new jeans recently. It’s no secret I have a sometimes like/mostly hate relationship with the Gap, but I didn’t mind some styles of their old jeans (I’ve been wearing them a lot lately). When the new styles came out, fashion editors of all the major magazines & some blogs had nothing but sickeningly sweet things to say about the jeans, so even as I had a feeling they weren’t going to work on me like they worked on them, I wanted to try them anyway. And they sucked. There was even more waist gap on the new styles of jeans than before, but that’s only when I managed to squeeze myself into a pair – I feel like they shifted the sizes all down one, so where a 12 that fit me well in a previous style, only a 14 would fit now. Seriously?
I’ll admit, I was also disappointed and maybe a little let down after all the hype and praise being heaped on Gap for their new denim styles, I guess I was looking forward to something new & exciting from them, and it turned out, they weren’t all that – for me anyway. The whole thing kind of felt a little like the “new coke” fiasco (for those of you who remember…)
As I was waiting for someone to write something not-so-positive about Gap’s new jeans and nothing came, I posted a few comments on twitter about how I didn’t like them, and received more than a few back in agreement.
And as if to reinforce my opinion that sometimes it’s important to write negative reviews about products, I read this today at Libertylondongirl about her new Toy Watch. Hint: it’s not good. Not good at all. And I loved it. Now I know to either stay away from Toy Watch completely, or at least be aware that I could encounter quality AND customer service issues.
I also appreciate hearing other people’s opinions on their experiences with online boutiques and designers. That’s how I learned to stay away from Chick Downtown (and why I don’t work with them) – I heard too many horror stories about bad customer service from them that I chose not to be associated.
I guess my point is that I appreciate reading about negative experiences with products and boutiques AS MUCH I appreciate the positive ones. They’re both helpful – but I think the negative one has more impact; I tend to remember it longer. I also think honesty and some negativity help keep a blogger real. What do you think?
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Dude, I had a BAD time with the new 1969 jeans… and I just didn't want to give them any more press. I posted a little information about what they did, but that's it.
It did, however, eat me up inside that the WSJ article I was in was ALL about them. Ugh.
…well one of the ways we learn about the world is through the critiquing of it, of this there is no doubt. But I do tend to stay away from sites that have made a game of being so right, that all other sites are mostly wrong…Cuz I also learn about the world from listening to others praise about the virtues of it…
Good Post, found you on Twitter…
Martin
I've been told I'm a half glass empty kinda girl so, I tend to not comment at all when I don't have something nice to say because it only fuels my fire. I do have to admit, I like reading more about stuff you like b/c I have so little time to spend on dislikes. Keep up what you are doing. I'll always read you:) even if it is negative – well, unless it's about me! LOL!
LOL – i don't think i would post just random dislikes here and there, i only post negatives if they're \”rants\” (i'm really disappointed) or if i think there are enough people out there who would be interested…
honesty is the only policy as far as I am concerned…we need to know the good and the bad otherwise we are not making informed decisions!
First, re: Gap, I was really angry when Old Navy did that as well. I went over night from an L to a XXL and I was like, "EFF YOU OLD NAVY!"
I try to be honest and fair in all of my reviews, and make sure to list everything I can think of: whether it's bunching around the hips on a dress B&Lu sends me, to being annoyed a grey matte nail polish that promises 10 days lasted 2 before chipping. I hope that people recognize that, and that I don't expect perfection out of any product… but I do expect it to the be the best that it can be. And if it's not, I don't have a problem sharing that.
I know that my readers trust my opinion so it's helpful to have a mix of the good and of the bad. If I only ever post glowing reviews, how can they trust me?
Equally people seem to find them fascinating. I had a gd old rant about bad customer service at a bakery in NYC more to get it off my chest than anything – I had more comments than I knew what to do with AND the piece was retweted and linked all over the place. (A lot of blogs were using it as an example of how you shld always watch customer service)
Mind you bad ones also useful persaonllyl: ToyWatch got in touch and are placing my watch, so all win as far as I am concerned! Thanks for linking to me! LLGxx