#1
According to the author of the thread, they can't quite remember what inspired them to start the discussion, as it's been a while; however, they suspect that "it was one of the companies that overnight changed their prices, refund or shipping policy due to covid."
"Knowing myself, I was definitely very frustrated with the company if it prompted me to ask the question on Reddit. In terms of something more recent, a company I was very frustrated with and will definitely not get my business again is 'Our Place,' a US-based homewear brand. I bought an air fryer from them in November during Black Friday." They told Bored Panda that their communication was abysmal.
"There was no phone number and they weren't replying to email queries. Eventually, I had to start a chargeback and only then did they contact me asking me to close my claim and they would resend a unit—considering how they ignored all my queries prior, I was not interested in doing business with them again, so I got the funds back from my credit card company and never plan on using them again."
#2
Coworker gets cancer and we set up a big jar in the cafeteria for donations to help her with treatments. United Way comes in and tells us that they have an "exclusive contract" with our company (large, international company) to be the sole recipient of any charitable donations on the property and demanded that we remove the solicitation jar and cease any fundraising for coworker's cancer treatment.
They had an annual "drive" where department heads competed to have the most donations and ongoing monthly contributions, but the next year the number of participants in the company dropped to almost nothing. Good.
From u/silent_pm's perspective, the biggest mistake that companies can make is "ignoring customers, be it after-sales support or ordering queries and everything in between. I get that sometimes things are out of stock or delivery times are delayed, but if you can't effectively communicate with customers in a timely manner, then you're not really a good company to do business with."
Bored Panda also wanted to get u/silent_pm's opinion on how brands can convince their former customers to give them another chance once they've already lost their trust. The author said that in order for this to happen, there needs to be a shift in ethos or processes so that similar problems don't repeat.
"So, if they struggle with customer support, hire more people or streamline processes so complaints and queues are handled better. If it's an item quality issue, then look at where the weaknesses are and adapt the product. Taking ownership of an issue is also a big thing for me," they said.
"The other week, I had an issue with an electricity company in the UK. Once I got through to an agent, they became the agent assigned to me. Any updates or queries, they would deal with. Having that point of contact is a big deal—you don't have to repeat yourself every time you call the company, and by making the experience more personal with a named individual, you're more likely to get good results."
#4
#5
They are disguises as a charity when in fact they are nothing if the sort
When your regional CEOs get hundreds of millions as a BONUS, but they can legally pay WELL under minimum wage because the employee wouldn't otherwise be enjoyable... they are s**t.
Their merchandise costs them NOTHING because it's all donated. They get huge tax breaks because of their charitable status.
They have many programs to help the disabled, but again, they themselves treat the disabled horribly.
#6
We were going through a rough time during my freshman year- my mom was sick and out of work, we got behind on bills and lost the house, and ended up having to move into a tiny tiny apartment in the dead of winter. Since we wouldn't have enough room for everything, even with a storage unit, it was decided that I would have to get rid of some of my books. By some, I mean the majority of my collection. In the end, I filled three storage bins with books I'd taken great care of growing up and we made our way to Half Price Books, foolishly thinking we'd get a fair price for what was essentially my childhood. At the selling desk, I made it very clear that I only wanted an estimate and would take my books elsewhere if I felt I was being lowballed. The girl at the desk assured me I'd get an estimate and told me to come back in an hour, considering how many books they would have to inspect. An hour later, I make my way to the desk only to be told that the most they'd give me was $15, take it or leave it. I was heartbroken and outraged, and demanded that my books be returned, only to be told that some were already being processed into the system while others had already been thrown away, so there was no way I'd get them back. I ended up leaving in tears with only fifteen measly dollars and a broken heart to show for my troubles. I will never, and I mean NEVER shop or sell at Half Price Books again, and if ever anyone asks my opinion of them, I tell them about my terrible experience. I simply cannot forgive a company that would see child making one of the most difficult decisions in their fourteen years of life and not only kick her while she's down, but rub salt in the wounds just because they can. F**k Half Price Books.
Brand loyalty, while incredibly important, might potentially be losing some of its power and relevance. According to Forbes, brand loyalty is “in a steep decline” in part due to changes in the buying process. Younger consumers are “more well-versed in e-commerce and values the consumer experience more than the generations before them.”
“They hold the companies they love in high esteem, and they go over any wrongdoing on behalf of those companies with a fine-toothed comb.” Researching products before you buy them can level the playing field, pushing businesses to put the consumer first.
#7
#8
In addition, my mother passed unexpectedly ten years ago. My sister immediately brought her Comcast equipment back and the company said they were so sorry to hear what happened, and there would be no additional charges from them and the account was squared away. As Mom's executor, I began receiving bills from them every month. Every month I would call and explain and they would say, "Oh, yes, I see the notes, we're sorry; it won't happen again." Every month another bill would come, and every month it would be larger, with more late fees added. Finally after about the tenth time it happened I was really testy about it, and they were like, "Let me put you on hold; you'll have to speak to my supervisor." The supervisor gets on and immediately says, "The REASON your mother's BILL is so high is that she is NOT MAKING PAYMENTS!" and I lost it and screamed, "THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'S DEAD!" They put me on hold a looooooong time after that and when we were done, I never heard from them again.
#9
Forbes states that 57% of Americans from Generation Z (born 1997 to 2012) are less loyal to brands now than before the pandemic. But this aside, many young(er) people are generally more wary of large corporations and “over-the-top marketing ploys.” There’s a lot of discontent brewing beneath the surface where businesses and brands are concerned.
Meanwhile, 77% of members of Gen Z are willing to try new brands in order to find the level of quality and service they’re looking for. This can, potentially, pressure companies to innovate.
#10
#11
When they started, they made good tools, and continued for many years. They they went broke and sold the name to a mega-corp that slapped the name on their low-end, junk tool line
Brands don't mean anything. Product quality is all that matters.
#12
Over a third of American customers aren’t loyal to brands, with many people willing to shop around for better quality products, lower prices, and an overall better deal.
An over-satured market, more competition, and higher consumer expectations can mean that gaining and retaining customers is more difficult and less common than before.
#13
Old Navy. Their clothes fall apart quickly. Not bad for toddlers since they go thru them so fast.
Time Warner/Spectrum. Cable company that does typical cable company b******t.
Nestle. I hope they choke on acid rain.
#14
#15
What are some brands, companies, and businesses that have completely lost your trust, dear Pandas? What happened that made you want to boycott their products or services?
Theoretically, what would those brands need to do for you to give them another try? We’d love to hear what you have to say about this topic, so if you have a moment, share your thoughts in the comments below.
#16
They've cheaped out production so much most of their products can't legally be called ice cream, check and they're labeled as Frozen Dairy Dessert. They used to be the good brand, a fresh tub of mint chocolate chip is how little me knew it was payday.
#17
#19
#20
The last time my mom literally cussed and screamed at them until they fixed it. She threatened a lawsuit and everything before they finally did what we needed. Next time she needs help with her bills she’s getting cash. And if Wells Fargo is doing the loan, I’d rather take it somewhere else. As long as I can avoid using them, I will.