Well, well ... I mean ...
... as new details emerge of challenges facing businesses through cost of living crisis.
Yeah, I mean ...
'What do they expect, boss?'
Who?
'What?'
Who are you talking about, Voice?
'Er ... the people you're talking about, Mikey. / Who are you talking about? / Is this a PR email?'
Yes, yes, it's a PR email. No surprises on a cold Monday morning in winter.
Anyway ...
Good morning,
Is it?!
Anyway ...
Please find the latest research from online review platform Trustpilot, which reveals that there has been nearly 50,000 fewer positive reviews submitted to the platform since April, suggesting some businesses are struggling to maintain good levels of customer service in tough economic conditions.
Well, what can I say?
The new data comes after Trustpilot's research into the cost of living crisis found that 30 percent of consumers claim companies have used the crisis to treat them poorly, using unfair practices or taking advantage of the difficult circumstances.
I mean ...
A lack of price transparency, shrinkflation - items shrinking in size, quantity or reducing quality, while their prices remain the same or increase - and VAT cuts not being passed on, for example at petrol pumps, were among some of the top concerns raised.
Yeah! That's what I hate! Shrinkflation! There's no point in buying your favourite snacks any more. They're smaller, quite often use cheaper ingredients, and, yeah ... the price is up! Ridiculous! 'You're on a diet, boss.' That's not the point, Voice.
For more information, and/or to request to speak to a spokesperson, please reach out to me directly.
Thanks,
Christie
Reach out? What, with astral hands, like? 'Ha, ha, ha! I'll do it! That sort of thing is a piece of piss for me.' No, don't bother.
Now ... I'm going through this email, and there's a lot of repetition - which I absolutely love, by the way.
New data reveals there has been a noticeable decrease in positive sentiment in reviews of businesses on Trustpilot since April this year - there's been a 5% drop, which equates to nearly 50,000 fewer positive reviews, suggesting some businesses are struggling to maintain good levels of customer service in tough economic conditions.
Er ... yeah.
Overall the number of the reviews submitted to the Trustpilot platform continues to grow and positive reviews still outweigh negative ones.
Oh, right. Well, that's something, I suppose.
Problem areas highlighted include issues with deliveries, response times to enquiries and mistakes made with orders.
Oh dear.
Electronics, technology and entertainment businesses saw the biggest rises in negative reviews, while education, construction and travel had the least.
Okay.
What is this?!?!?!
LONDON, UK. New data has revealed there's been a fall in positive sentiment in reviews recorded on Trustpilot in the UK since April this year, as consumers continue to feel the impact of the cost of living crisis. As part of the new quarterly 'Online Review Index', which is a dip into review data highlighting customer sentiment across the platform, there was a 5% fall in positive reviews (which equates to nearly 50,000 fewer positive reviews). Reviews help shed light on how consumers are interacting with businesses and how businesses themselves are ultimately performing.
Yeah, yeah. Okay. We get the point. 'Oh, you love it, boss!' Whatever.
It's not exact repetition, is it? That's what I really love. 'You're hard to please.'
The number of positive reviews still outweigh -
Yeah, we don't need that bit.
As well as overall figures for customer sentiment, Trustpilot's tracker is able to measure how different sectors are performing. The electronics, technology and entertainment sectors saw the biggest increases in negative sentiment in online reviews.
Right.
It comes as consumer research carried out for Trustpilot earlier this year on the cost of living crisis revealed that almost three quarters of Brits said they had not experienced any businesses going above and beyond to help them - whether that's discounts, free upgrades or providing cashback options.
No one's gonna help. It's the way of the world these days.
Worse still, 30 percent claim companies have used the current economic situation to -
Don't need that.
Oh, we have a voice!
'Me?!'
Not you, idiot. Mieke!
Mieke De Schepper, Trustpilot's Chief Commercial Officer, says: "Through Trustpilot's new quarterly 'Online Review Index' we now have the ability to understand how consumers are feeling about businesses from the way they write reviews.
"It's a unique way to measure how customers are interacting with a range of companies and organisations, and it's especially valuable as the UK continues to grapple with the cost of living crisis.
"On the face of it, receiving fewer positive reviews can be worrying, but businesses should treat it as an opportunity to understand how their customers are feeling about them. Feedback from customers is an essential part of the process of getting to know where improvements can be made, which will ultimately fuel growth. Businesses are, of course, facing tough economic headwinds, but they need to ensure that levels of customer service are maintained in order to earn and maintain the trust of consumers.
"With consumers' purse strings stretched more than ever, the evidence suggests reviews are playing an increasingly influential role in helping shoppers ensure they're not just getting a good experience, but genuine value for money too - and businesses should heed that those who feel they're getting a raw deal will not hesitate in voicing their concerns."
Thanks, Mieke! 'Nice one, Mieke!'
And ...
ENDS
ENDS
ENDS
...
Anything else? Music?
It's not easy recording a demo in an emergency situation. The noises outside. The stress. My nerves.
I may have to leave a couple of mistakes in.
'Mikey, is anyone expecting you to be Steely Dan, for Christ's sake?!'
Probably not, Voice, but I just don't like mistakes.
The good news is ... my singing voice - not you! - is in very good shape at the moment. And I've always said that the voice should dominate the guitar in a simple acoustic recording.
Redemption Song by Bob Marley being the best example.
Anyway ...
Laters, kooks.
'Bye!'
You know, one day, when I'm living in my Malibu mansion ... I'm hoping I'll look back on this time and think that it was the best time of my life because I was living on the fucking edge.
