Using the BBB

Hi ladies,

after seeing some post about issues with vendors, just thought i would post a tip on using the BBB that i got from my dad.

I didnt know what to make of it at first, was not sure what it meant when someone had a complaint on the BBB and how to take it. When i was looking at vendors and would look them up, i saw a couple people that we visited did have a complaint, but it was just 1 or 2 at the most...I was like, 'oh that's not so bad.' My dad happened to be next to me and I asked him about how I should interpret this if it's just 1 complaint, not terrible right? Well, his advice was to take 1 and think of it as 10, because not everyone goes that far as to post with the BBB. but if just 1 person does, it's like the equivalent of 10 people possibly having a similar experience, but not doing anything about it and just letting it go. it;s like when you get a parking ticket or any other ticket but you know it was an unfair ticket...most people just pay it, even if they want to fight it.

It made total sense! how many of us would go that far, unless it was a really really bad experience that we felt needed some kind of action. but if 1 person did, then maybe other people had bad experiences - maybe not the same really bad experience, but perhaps something that they just were not too happy with and just let it go. now of course, these complaints are not the be all end all, and it really could be that the vendor just had a bad day or something, you should take all things into account when selecting a vendor, including your gut instints - but this is just something to keep in mind, on how to use the bbb as a guide.

hope this helps! ericka

I agree I check the BBB for any service i use. If they have one comlplaint I am weary but as for that limo COmpAny whiCH MAy Not be named. (hee) thats a huge red flag. We have to be educated shoppers especially if we are going to see thes companies alone. Good luck Shopping....

So true! I just looked up an online linen company that I was all set to use for overlays and I saw that they had an Unsatisfactory standing and 18 complaints in the last 36 months No thank you!! I think I'll pay a little more and use a local company.
FM if you want the companies name.

also see what kind of complaint and how it was resolved.

i worked retail for years and have managed retail locations. a lot of times people go straight to the BBB without trying to reconcile it with the store/vendor.

if they reconcile and the customer is then satisfied it's a different kind of complaint than if they do not respond, or if they respond but the customer is still left unsatisfied.

#'s alone should not be the reason you do not choose a company if there are less than 3 complaints.