The golden rules for negative reviews
Before we dive into the examples, keep these principles in mind:
- Stay calm: Never respond when emotional
- Respond quickly: Within 24-48 hours
- Be empathetic: Acknowledge the frustration
- Take responsibility: Don't make excuses
- Offer a solution: Move it offline when needed
Example 1: Slow delivery
"Order took 2 weeks to arrive. Unacceptable!"
"Hi [Name], thank you for your feedback. You're absolutely right – 2 weeks is too long, and we sincerely apologize for this delay. We've investigated your order and found [reason]. We've taken steps to prevent this from happening again. As a gesture of goodwill, we'd like to offer you [compensation]. Please reach out to us at [email] so we can make this right."
Example 2: Product quality issue
"Product broke after one week. Complete waste of money."
"Hi [Name], we're truly sorry to hear about your experience. This definitely doesn't meet our quality standards. We'd like to send you a replacement or provide a full refund – whichever you prefer. Please contact us at [email] with your order number, and we'll resolve this immediately."
Example 3: Poor customer service
"Customer service was rude and unhelpful."
"Hi [Name], thank you for bringing this to our attention. This is not the experience we want for our customers, and we apologize sincerely. We're addressing this internally to ensure it doesn't happen again. We'd appreciate the chance to make this right – please contact me directly at [email]."
Example 4: Wrong item received
"Ordered blue, received red. Now I have to deal with returns."
"Hi [Name], we apologize for this mix-up – that's completely our mistake. We're sending the correct item today via express shipping at no extra cost. You can keep or dispose of the wrong item as you wish. We'll also send a return label if you'd prefer. Sorry again for the inconvenience!"
Example 5: Price complaint
"Way too expensive for what you get."
"Hi [Name], thank you for your feedback. We understand price is an important factor. Our pricing reflects [quality/materials/service level]. That said, we're always looking to provide value – we regularly have promotions and would be happy to notify you of upcoming deals. We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts."
Example 6: Damaged item
"Package arrived completely damaged. Very disappointed."
"Hi [Name], we're so sorry your package arrived damaged. This is unacceptable, and we take full responsibility. We're sending a replacement immediately and will work with our shipping partner to prevent this in the future. Please don't worry about returning the damaged item. Thank you for your patience."
Example 7: Long wait times
"Had to wait 30 minutes on hold just to ask a simple question."
"Hi [Name], we sincerely apologize for the long wait time. We've been experiencing higher than usual call volumes, but that's no excuse – your time is valuable. We're actively hiring additional support staff to reduce wait times. In the future, you can also reach us via [chat/email] for faster responses."
Example 8: Unfair negative review
"Terrible company, worst experience ever!" (no specific details)
"Hi [Name], we're sorry to hear you had a negative experience. We'd really like to understand what went wrong so we can improve. Could you please contact us at [email] with more details? We're committed to making things right."
Example 9: Competitor comparison
"[Competitor] is much better and cheaper."
"Hi [Name], thank you for sharing your perspective. While we respect all businesses in our space, we believe we offer unique value through [differentiator]. We're always working to improve and would welcome specific feedback on what we could do better. Thank you for considering us."
Example 10: Repeated issues
"This is the second time this has happened. Done with this company."
"Hi [Name], we completely understand your frustration, and you have every right to be upset. Two mistakes are two too many. I'd like to personally look into your account and ensure this is properly resolved. Please contact me directly at [personal email]. We value your business and want to earn back your trust."
Key takeaways
- Always personalize your response
- Acknowledge the specific issue
- Apologize sincerely
- Offer a concrete solution
- Take detailed discussions offline
Need help managing negative reviews? ReplyVo can help with professional, empathetic responses that protect your reputation.