What business practice annoys the daylights out of you?
Posted by MisterWednesday6@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 258 comments
Asking after receiving repeated requests for reviews of a piece of fabric I recently bought from a supplier I've used before but won't be using again. Said item had been purchased to make a teddy bear for a pregnant friend who has now miscarried, and I've just received a FOURTH review request.
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
Shops that ask for your email address to send you a copy of your receipt.
DarthMori@reddit
Urban Outfitters did this with me...then provided me with a physical receipt.
Lwaldie@reddit
Zara wouldn't let me use their self service tills without an email despite the fact no one was serving on the regular tills. Joke
holycraplions@reddit
I’ve worked at Inditex; they have the ‘print receipt’ option on the screen, but it’s purposefully very small and easy to overlook.
aconsideredlife@reddit
It's really annoying. Just set up a gmail address for receipts so you don't get a ton of marketing stuff when your email is inevitably sold.
PortPiscarilius@reddit
I use SimpleLogjn with my own domain name, which allows me to generate a unique e-mail address for every single thing I sign up to. For example boots@mydomain.com. They all come into one inbox.
The advantage is that if one does sell my details, I immediately know where the breach was based on which e-mail address starts receiving spam. I can then simply disable that e-mail address.
The downside is the awkward conversations, for example when the optometrist at Boots Opticians asked for my e-mail address and then asked whether that meant I worked for Boots as well.
SamVimesBootTheory@reddit
Yeah work somewhere that does it, we hate it as much as you do it's used as a metric to grade performance.
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
How does that work?
SamVimesBootTheory@reddit
Basically they use the amount of emails taken as one of several markers of how well the shop is performing and then also use that as a way to personally evaluate employees as apparently it's a sign we're doing good at customer service
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
To be honest I have seen staff almost cringing when they have to do this. Do they have anything on display that explains what data they share? Sounds like they are using excuses to push the staff into collecting data under the pretence it is a guide to how well they perform.
SamVimesBootTheory@reddit
It is meant to be done in a GDPR/data protection compliant way , and at my shop at least you can opt out of the marketing emails as you have to ask if people want those.
We have no access to the customer emails on a shop level as far as I know a.
jay19903562@reddit
Halfords do this , if it's something cheap like a bulb or a fixing or something I'll just tell them not to bother.
I don't actually mind if it's something more expensive/with a warranty like their tools or stuff because actually it's more likely I'll be able to find the emailed receipt than a paper one.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Saw a retail worker - I believe it was Not Always Right - discussing this very issue online. If a customer refused, the retail worker would enter the email adress of someone in corporate...
markvauxhall@reddit
Cash only so they can under-report to HMRC.
Dimac99@reddit
There a Japanese restaurant in a nearby town, nobody else is ever in it and it's cash only. I don't feel good about supporting organised crime, but Japanese is my favourite and their food is nice so… shrug (None of the staff are even Asian, let alone Japanese. Quite often eastern European by their accents.)
jay19903562@reddit
The growing number of restauraunts and even pubs/bars now adding service charges on as standard or asking what tip you want to pay when presented with the card machine. And some of these added service charges now are getting riduculous at 15% plus.
I get adding a service charge in a restauraunt if it is a large group booking or something to a degree but when its a quick lunch and a table for 2/4 it really just puts me off . And if I order a drink in a pub/bar and the card machine asks me what Tip I want to pay It makes me wonder what exactly I am tipping for.
I dont mind tipping for good service by all means, but it shouldn't just be expected.
Jmac0113@reddit
Is it a thing from the US?
DarthMori@reddit
Naturally.
This is a country where businesses have the freedom to underpay their employees. And then shame the customer instead.
Hour-Estate-2962@reddit
I'm starting to boycott places that do this. If enough people do and tell them why, places will stop doing it. If people just pay up they won't.
Usual-Sound-2962@reddit
I ask for it to be removed. Not because I don’t appreciate waiting staff but because every time I’ve asked no one can tell me with a degree of certainty that staff get that money.
Hour-Estate-2962@reddit
Everyone should do this. I don't so I'm a massive hypocrite but I applaud people who do.
RNEngHyp@reddit
I've done it. Everyone complains but truth is not enough people give enough of a shit.
jay19903562@reddit
I have on a few occasions asked to have it taken off. Especially if it is at the higher end
Strong_Access_8179@reddit
I leave it on if the place actually has very good service since I'm a coward and hate anything with even the slightest whiff of confrontation to it, but I have asked for it to be removed when the service was entirely average or, in one restaurant, when you had to do all the ordering and paying awkwardly through a website reached from a QR code on the table. I'm not paying you 10% when all you've done is walk across the room with a couple of plates.
Hour-Estate-2962@reddit
I should do this but I feel awkward, like it leaves a bad feeling at the end of a night.
Had it recently where I used a voucher for a fancy meal that was given to us as a present. Voucher covered the meal but they expected service on top so it ended up costing us £18.50 in service (18.5%) which is actually quite a lot when you aren't expecting it. I paid it because the service had been good and I didn't want to give the impression it hadn't been but I did really resent it. Before the bill came we'd been talking about coming back one day when we can afford it. Definitely won't go back now.
acceberbex@reddit
Paid for a tasting menu in advance (when booking). Drinks paid for on the night and they put a 15% service charge on the drinks! Just increase the booking/menu price a bit. I'm a big believer in tipping is optional so don't mind when the card machine has a yes/no option but I don't like the discretionary charge added automatically. And petrol stations now asking if you want to donate 25p to charity (what charity is anyone's guess!)
meower_to_the_people@reddit
The charity donations are for tax-write off purposes. The businesses don't give a shit about the charities, or they'd donate their profits instead of asking their customers to round up their bills.
Gingy2210@reddit
The service station we use does that. It's for a children's hospital in Manchester (we're West Midlands) they get very irrate every time I say no I support Birmingham Children's Hospital (they saved my grandson's life). Its like you can't even pick your own causes to support because a service station says so.
srm79@reddit
My local pub has card machines with the option for a 20p tip (Merseyside standard "one yourself") and that seems okay to me, but the ones with a percentage based tip can go do one
OverlyAdorable@reddit
There's a takeaway near me that charge a delivery fee, a service charge, an online fee, and ask for a tip. Phone to place an order, there's still the delivery fee and service charge, they still ask for the tip, and there's also a fee added on top for phone order. Go to them, there's little to no parking, if they're not taken by the delivery people, they'll block you in until they get another delivery. On the other hand, no service charge, no delivery fee, no phone/online fee, and they don't ask for a tip
RosieEmily@reddit
Like when you're in a pub and have to physically go to the bar to order a drink, pay at the bar and the machine asks if you want to round up a tip when all the bar tender did was pull a pint and hand it to me..
PercySmith@reddit
I use a taxi service with an app that asks for a tip amount when booking a taxi. Why would I agree to a tip before I've even been provided with a service!?
majesticjewnicorn@reddit
Buffet restaurants asking for tips takes the biscuit because the customers are serving themselves. Do we deserve tips for self serving?
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
This! Went to the cinema and was asked by the card machine if I wanted to leave a tip. Absolutely ludicrous.
marthamagic@reddit
When I’ve been on a website for about 2 minutes and I’m already being asked to spin a wheel for discounts.
I don’t even know if I want a discount yet.
Dimac99@reddit
I don't mind that so much as the insistence I must give them my email address first. Nope. I don't even know if you have whet I want!
DrMoneybeard@reddit
I try to avoid temu like the plague but every now and then I’ll see an advert for an item I haven’t seen elsewhere and I think oh fine I’ll check it out.
But then it puts you through ten steps of spins and coins and eggs and free items and nonsense, you can’t even see the item you were interested in.
For that and a million other reasons, fuck temu.
quellflynn@reddit
I can be super bad at work, and I'll get away with it, but if I lie, then I'm outta the door.
companies can stretch any truth they want.
100% recycleable, except the lid
zero calories (2 kcal per 250ml)
Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit
Buying something online and then receiving 50,000 emails about its progress. I want one email as proof of purchase with estimated delivery date, and then a secondary email ONLY if it has been delayed.
minipainteruk@reddit
I'm the opposite, I want to know everything 😂
aconsideredlife@reddit
You don't want a dispatch email with tracking code?
Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit
No, I want it to turn up when they say it will anything In between im really not interested. If it goes missing that a sender issue and they can sort it.
Proper-Throwaway-23@reddit
Online ads to the tune of:
"DON'T BUY OUR PRODUCT! ....if you dont want your life to be filled with rainbows and unicorn farts"
"YOU WILL HATE OUR PRODUCT... ...If you enjoy being miserable"
(Or some equally ridiculous bell-endery)
skeletonclock@reddit
WE'RE SORRY
that our product is so good
NecroVelcro@reddit
The abuse of reflexive pronouns in the deluded belief that it sounds more professional. "Is that acceptable to yourself?"
In yourself parlance: Myself wants to yourself to shut yourself face.
skeletonclock@reddit
The Apprentice candidates are some of the worst for this, which along with talking into the bottom of your phone as you hold it away from your face, is shithousery of the highest order.
PossibleAddress1000@reddit
I was a civil servant. Myself abuse was rife.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Having no option to speak to a human is another one that enrages me. I fully believe that it should be illegal.
Case in point, the AI gatekeepers being installed in an increasingly large number of GP's surgeries - that's right, even the receptionist doesn't want to speak to you now. The feedback from patients has apparently been universally negative.
BatteryAt14percent@reddit
Here's a voucher code exclusively for you!
Don't forget to use that voucher!
Times running out to use your voucher!
Your voucher expires tomorrow, don't forget to use it!
Final chance to use that voucher!
For being such a loyal customer we extended your voucher until midnight tonight!
Here's a voucher code exclusively for you!
Adventurous_Ad3451@reddit
Telephone appointments at the GP. I can’t guarantee privacy at home, and I find it hard to concentrate/focus when talking over the phone. I want to interact with someone in person please. I’m sure diagnosis is not as good on the phone as it is in person, either.
Apricot_Oasis@reddit
When phone lines say “we’re experiencing an unusually high demand for support at the moment”, but it’s a year-round message for that company.
They either need to hire more people, or just remove the message, because if it’s a constant thing, it’s not unusual, it’s the norm.
NoStoryTerritory@reddit
Especially when they say 'you are number 1 in the queue' and keep on hold for ages 😂
smudgethomas@reddit
That usually means "we have one person answering calls and a lonely person was ahead of you."
HooverBeingAMan@reddit
I hate "Did you know you can answer your question on our website?"
As if I'd be phoning anybody if what I need can be fixed online. Also, after being reminded for the twelfth time, I'm starting to doubt my call is "very important".
wykniv@reddit
My GP surgery does this; you have to sit through a lecture about the NHS app and System Connect before getting multiple options, the last of which is speaking to a 'care navigator'. Rankles particularly when they've called me and have told me to call back!
peanutthecacti@reddit
If you know the option number you want you can often just press it when it starts the big long spiel and skip it all. Used to be able to get doctors appointments first try when I learnt that as you could phone at exactly 9am, press 1 the second it connected and skip everyone who listened through the message and actually get an appointment before they were all snapped up.
TrainingDragonfly248@reddit
My doctors surgery still says ‘through these challenging times’. Still using Covid as an excuse.
Zestyclose_Key_6964@reddit
My surgery has an in initial message saying you should 9999 in the event of an emergency. I keep meaning to mention it to them.
LegendEater@reddit
Honestly, why even bother with the capital C? it's COVID, or CoViD if you want to be an arsehole about it.
Perfect_Pudding8900@reddit
That's probably less an excuse and more no one knows how to change it. Or they don't actually realise because they never ring up themselves.
darybrain@reddit
My small local pharmacy still has a similar message since the pandemic
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Royal Mail are very good at this one.
DrainpipeDreams@reddit
I was literally just about to add them onto the pyre. Today I got "we need to let you know that our wait time is over 60 minutes..." and there's no other way to contact them.
Ill_Tonight_2069@reddit
HMRC hold music is horrendous
Front-Parsley1901@reddit
I wish I could upvote this more than once
gonetospacebrb@reddit
Spent 5 hours on calls (mostly waiting for someone to pick up) with HMRC on Monday, I wanted to put a hot poker through my ear drums
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Unless it is sales, call centres are just a money drain for a lot of companies. The queues are probably managed by a third party, no one cares enough to change it. They don't want to drop hundreds of thousands on adding more agents who likely just sit there resetting passwords, giving out refunds or listening to complaints. I feel like call centres entirely should be almost dead, do it via live chat or email. Hardly anything needs an instant response.
Gingerpett@reddit
Excuse me. I would quite like to talk to someone in real time please and thank you.
gyroda@reddit
Yeah, I'd rather get it sorted then and there than go back and forth asynchronously if it's anything beyond the most routine thing.
MolluscsGonnaMollusc@reddit
I hate when they pause for a millisecond every 30, and then say "thank you for waiting, we'll be with you shortly". That millisecond gives me hope every time 😂
I also hate when they don't tell you which number in the hold queue you are.
SarcasticDevil@reddit
Salford Councils' council tax line doesn't even ring out first, the message just says they're receiving too many calls to take a call.
CalicoDesertOasis@reddit
Martin Lewis has a form for this! https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/report-high-call-volumes/
glasgowgeg@reddit
You can report these with Money Saving Expert
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/report-high-call-volumes/
jay19903562@reddit
I always lol at that when I then get put through to someone straight away.
As you say it's just automatic now for a lot of companies.
JonnotheMackem@reddit
And sometimes you get through right away!
pig-dragon@reddit
Any more than 3 pop-ups on a website I’m browsing and I’m not looking anymore.
BALLCLASH@reddit
When prices or estimates aren't advertised online for services requiring you to contact them for a quote. I understand this for home repairs/housework/painter services, but I don't understand it for caterers, printers and dry cleaners - at least have an itemised list of estimates I can browse through somewhere.
pig-dragon@reddit
Yep. Same with gym memberships. The only explanation for not being transparent with pricing (looking at you In particular David Lloyd) is cos they must be charging different people different amounts.
acceberbex@reddit
A local kennels. "Contact us for a price". It's going to be £20-30 for a single dog. I get there may be additional or sharing is cheaper or a big kennel costs more but you must know your rough prices. Like 1 dog =£25 per day, 2 dogs sharing=£23. Large dogs over 50kg start from £30 size depending. Call for further info.
BethRE1@reddit
I would imagine this is because the price is Date dependent with busier/peak dates (e.g. weekends, bank holidays, school holidays, Christmas period) being more expensive than other dates.
acceberbex@reddit
It's just odd to me that out nearest kennels have a set price, the backup we use have a set price, the cattery is a set price and yet another is "contact us for a quote" - peak and off peak would work or price range from X to Y
BethRE1@reddit
A price range would seem to give more transparency. I suppose that needing to charge different rates for different dates isn't really an excuse for them not to at least state a price range.
Spify23@reddit
Then have peak and off peak pricing like most of the tourist industry. I feel like kennels fall into the tourist industry because you mostly need them when you're going to be a tourist in another country.
srm79@reddit
Yes! I just want to kniw what ballpark the price is in, I don't want to give you my inside leg measurements for a caravan I might want to hire next summer
RedTheWolf@reddit
Aaaargh yeah, the printers local to me are especially terrible for this - they all have super shitty websites that don't really list the products properly and they force you to contact them, usually on a landline number, to get a quote to even know what the unit price will be, for something you have to hope they might be able to do!
As a rule, I never do business with a company that has a shit website and especially if I can only reach them by phone,. It's awful service and makes me assume they are unreliable and probably have shoddy products too. I finally found a design agency who do websites as well as printing and they have been fabulous and I could conduct all business by email, like you should be able to in 2026 😂
catasha7@reddit
It makes me think, they will just make up a price based on what they think I can afford
Boldboy72@reddit
I very strictly adhere to "If I have to ask, I can't afford it"
WhalingSmithers00@reddit
No doggy in the window for you then
CrazyLadyBlues@reddit
"Chatty labels" on products. No. I don't want to pretend that the smoothie I've bought is my friend. I just want to pretend I'm drinking something healthier than fizzy pop.
Also products that claim that they're lower in calories, sugar etc because the suggested serving amount is miniscule.
Rahzmataz@reddit
I run a business and I get multiple calls a week from companies trying to sell me phone contracts
darybrain@reddit
Lack of fully remote roles when it clearly can be done from home
Maelfic@reddit
Eh, just the old annual recurring revenue
DrMoneybeard@reddit
Mine is flooding my inbox with marketing emails. If you email me more than once a month, I’m unsubscribing and not shopping there again if I can avoid it.
I bought something on spoonflower, which is a website for custom fabric orders. I bought like 2 metres of something one time. They sent an email every fucking day. How often do most people order novelty fabric that this is an effective strategy?? I’d bet that most customers are once or twice a year at most. Plus their auto unsubscribe didn’t work, I had to send a series of increasingly irate emails to their customer service to get them to leave me alone.
BisexualPands97@reddit
Have food at a restaurant. Guarenteed the moment you put a bite of food in your mouth someone comes running over asking if everything is alright. I appreciate you have to ask, but at the same time I see you stood in the corner watching as we take a bite to then immediately bound over to ask. Please ask us at the end of the meal instead, or when you see we havent just put some in our mouth.
HooverBeingAMan@reddit
Harder to complain with a mouth full of food!
ConstantPurpose2419@reddit
It does kind of annoy me when waiting on staff come and ask you how your meal is when you clearly have a gob full of food.
DrMoneybeard@reddit
Well, if there was a problem, it’s better that they come so they can fix it quickly rather than waiting to be flagged down.
Oster-P@reddit
Worked in a restaurant once that had a check back timer on screens in the back and the managers were constantly hounding us to do check backs at the set time, so reluctantly we'd be forced to go to the table and check back after a few minutes had passed while we were also doing all of our other work and serving other tables.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
This happened to me literally yesterday!
sunheadeddeity@reddit
They do that deliberately.
bellatrixgeralt@reddit
They absolutely do. I once had a burger and my partner his meal and a couple side plates to share. I was leaving the burger until after they asked how the food was so I could avoid having a messy mouthful when they arrive. So I just kept picking at the side plates for over 5 minutes. Nearly 10.l, until I thought "huh maybe they don't do that here. Tuck in!"
Immediately they arrived as I took my first bite. It's a conspiracy!!
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
I swear they do. Same as couriers who wait till you're making a "sit down toilet visit" to hammer on the door...
CarfireOnTheHighway@reddit
I’ve started just giving them a thumbs up when this happens!
TheTjalian@reddit
I mean statistically you're more likely to have food in your mouth then not while eating your meal, unless you're taking one bite every 5 minutes.
They also do it near the beginning of your meal so if there are any complaints, they can rectify it immediately so customers can't chance it by saying "the meal was terrible" even though they've scoffed the whole lot already.
No_Application_8698@reddit
Shops and other businesses premises - like furniture shops and car showrooms - having every single light blazing throughout the night when the buildings are empty, and all the heaters/air con belching out all day while the doors are wide open. Empty offices often have the lights on overnight too.
I have to rinse out bean tins and fucking yoghurt pots, and I worry about my landing light (energy bulb) being left on for a few minutes, yet they can deliberately waste all those resources while actively making the climate worse, without a care in the world.
YchYFi@reddit
The lights on are on to deter criminals, as well-lit premises are less likely to be broken into. Lights also facilitate security monitoring. It is also part of some business insurance terms and conditions.
No_Application_8698@reddit
I knew about the insurance aspect, and guessed at the criminal deterrent. However, in my view there’s no need to have every single light blazing away the whole time. Surely the technology exists for motion-activated lights when needed, plus some lower level lighting in the background.
JayR_97@reddit
Software being subscription based rather than a one off purchase.
Boldboy72@reddit
forget that, they're turning EVERYTHING into a subscription service, toasters to car radios. Everything
Next-Suit-9579@reddit
My dentist changed to a subscription model ffs
MysteriousTable6394@reddit
In a way that is good if
If not, then they can do one
Next-Suit-9579@reddit
They don’t, it’s one price at £18 a month and that only covers two checkups a year with a small discount on any other treatments. They kicked all their NHS patients last year, including the kids. My family now doesn’t have a dentist as all the dentist in my area have adopted the same system.
KempyKemp123@reddit
Im in the same position, 18 but 1 check up and 1 clean a year with the small discount. Then 25 a month for 2 check ups and 1 clean a year. Like why does it need to be like this !!!
Fortytwopoint2@reddit
You're being rhetorical, I know, but the answer is that it makes money and your dental practice has probably been bought by some American company that prioritises shareholder return over health.
Previous governments kept NHS dental payments low enough that dental practices couldn't get paid enough to do NHS treatments, while Big Dental was offering £££ to buy out the owners and turn a profit.
MysteriousTable6394@reddit
Wow that's awful. Sorry to hear that
DoctorOctagonapus@reddit
"You will own nothing and be happy."
TroublesomeFox@reddit
I truly despise that people buy a car for alot of money and then have to pay more to get a feature on the car they OWN and I don't even fucking drive.
Glad_Boysenberry_673@reddit
This is why I binned off Lightroom. I don’t use it enough but really enjoyed it but it didn’t make sense to keep paying monthly for it 👎
JonnotheMackem@reddit
Printers being a subscription service, or they won't work. Printers?!
glasgowgeg@reddit
There are printers that have that functionality, but which ones only support subscription cartridges?
jay19903562@reddit
You have printers that work ?
What is this sorcery?
JonnotheMackem@reddit
A monthly payment, obviously!
a-liquid-sky@reddit
Which the company doesn't know. The review requests are just an automated thing.
But yes the review requests do drive me bonkers.
Also those marketing emails where they "make a mistake" or send 'internal emails' about discounts. I'm noticing soooo many places do this now.
Flapparachi@reddit
I’m conflicted on this.
I have a tiny business, and sending one email for a Trustpilot review after a purchase has made the difference between people knowing I’m genuine vs a scam website.
I also hate the barrage of emails about leaving feedback/reviews when it comes to most things, as I order a lot online as a consumer as well as a retailer. If I left a review of absolutely everything I purchased online, I wouldn’t get a lot done in a day.
However, I kinda need it 🤷🏻♀️
hiddenhare@reddit
Now that you've got a solid base of Trustpilot reviews, how many customers need to receive that email in order to maintain your reputation? 20% of purchases? 10%?
Flapparachi@reddit
Your score is weighted based on most recent reviews, so one mediocre review in the last month can pull your rating down - I strive for as close to perfect as possible for obvious reasons.
The reality is that maybe only 1 in 5 purchasers will actually leave a review so every one counts. With the setup available, it’s either all or nothing in terms of sending an automated email requesting feedback on purchases.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Oh, I fully appreciate the emails are sent automatically, but who on earth had the bright idea of sending so many of them? If I want to leave a review, I'll do it off my own bat; repeated requests only serve to antagonise me.
hiddenhare@reddit
It's covert advertising, exploiting a loophole in marketing laws: requests for reviews can be sent without your permission and without an "unsubscribe" link. The company doesn't actually care that much about reviews, they just want you to remember they exist, so that you'll buy another item from them.
Crochetqueenextra@reddit
If I get 3 requests I review saying do not buy they pester you for reviews and score them the lowest possible
Lizzie-P@reddit
That’s so annoying to people actually wanting to buy the product though. I’m looking at reviews to see if the product itself is decent, not to find out how much they email you.
Own-Heat2669@reddit
Bit annoyed at companies who offer 10% off to sign up to their newsletter and then don't give you a code.
Bleep.com I am looking at you.
Other than that, equally - no prices or incorrect prices on products in shops.
getoffthebandwagon@reddit
Or wait two days, and send it just after you’ve bought the thing.
Own-Heat2669@reddit
You know it.
majesticjewnicorn@reddit
Food delivery apps like UberEats and Deliveroo allowing drivers to collect and deliver multiple orders at once, expecting customers to pay extra for "priority" delivery, and food comes cold as a result. It should be one delivery per journey.
Oster-P@reddit
We have a timer in our restaurant if the foods been sat there a certain amount of time we remake it when the rider decides to show up. Some of them get pissed off it's not ready to go but at least the customer is getting fresh food.
Half of the riders just walk out when we say we need to remake it and it will be 5-10 minutes.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
That, and the discount coupons being valid for delivery only when you live just up the street and can walk there in 30 seconds. The delivery charges also stand.
So you've saved sod all and have to wait 40 minutes for your food to be delivered cold in a '52 plate car.
Rowanx3@reddit
Or how if you add something to your basket then change your mind they send you notifications all day about that potential order
Apricot_Oasis@reddit
That, and when Deliveroo says the delivery will be between e.g. 18:00 - 18:30. Then when it’s still being cooked/transported from 18:00 onwards, they adjust the expected time minute by minute, and go “it’s been delivered - right on time!”
Kitchen_Current@reddit
Wearing office wear in a call centre where no one sees you.
Got a client coming in? Give staff the heads up to come in business wear for 1 day
ThatFilthyMonkey@reddit
That Tradies done have no communication skills, trying to arrange a quote for a bathroom refit and also a landscaper to sort our garden. Several times have had people say they’ll pop out for a quote or will message me back and then ghost me.
Very first world problem I know but geez, they’d be decent sized jobs so thought they’d be more interested.
Lizzie-P@reddit
Reward card prices do my head in because you’re not getting a discount - people without the card are simply paying over the odds. Honestly don’t think it should be allowed
Mighty-Wings@reddit
Being forced to click through a dozen FAQ / are you sure this won't help / you are the idiot aren't you pages, before I can talk to anyone on a website.
Advertising a product as having x, however x has some small print that actually makes it y. E.g. Royal Mail 48 hour tracked is a target, not a guarantee.
BG3restart@reddit
I hate it when I get asked to review something I've bought for a gift, but the recipient hasn't yet received it. I can't tell you if my six year old grandson liked it when his birthday isn't for another two months. I like to be prepared and buy early.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
I bought one of those grownup paint by numbers sets in an online sale back in January with the intention of painting it as a Christmas gift for a friend. I'm still getting weekly review requests.
aconsideredlife@reddit
You could literally leave a review about how fast/slow the delivery was, what the packaging is like, why you bought it... You can mention it was a gift and you haven't used it. It would help you business out and put an end to all the emails. It would literally take seconds.
Total-Fondant-3596@reddit
God no. I hate those reviews. I was reading the reviews of a book I wanted to buy recently - three of them had useful information about the plot, writing style etc, and one was complaining that it took three weeks to arrive. I don’t care! I’m not here to read your review about DHL! The book doesn’t deserve one star because you had to wait twenty days to read it - I’m ordering the book six years later to a different country!
Lizzie-P@reddit
Yeah, people seem to forget that the main point of reviews is so the customer can decide if the product is worth buying or not - not what box it arrived in or spiteful revenge posts, haha
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Shops that display items behind the wrong shelf price. Superdrug does it so often I can only assume it's part of their business model.
majesticjewnicorn@reddit
This happened to me in Dubai a few years ago. I saw a nice bracelet at a shop on Port Rashid (went on a cruise) and the price was written as the equivalent of £2. Bargain! Went to pay, it ended up being the equivalent of £30. I argued, using UK consumer law (as I have legal qualifications), citing false advertising. I used UK law. In Dubai. They ended up honouring the price advertised and I only paid £2 in the end. I thanked them by leaving a good review online.
YchYFi@reddit
No shop in Dubai, not even in the UK has to honour incorrect pricing.
MingePies@reddit
If you have legal qualifications then surely you’d be aware that the price displayed at the shelf edge is an invitation to trade and the store is not legally obliged to sell the item at that price if it is incorrect?
WhalingSmithers00@reddit
Once got something 90% off in John Lewis because it wasnt priced correctly on the shelf.
Had to walk over and point where I found it and they sold it to me at the price on the shelf.
MingePies@reddit
John Lewis are very good with things like this. They don’t have to, but a good shop will.
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Not any more. A couple of years ago I tried to buy something on their website. The price changed in the basket and their (now offshore and outsourced) customer refused to honour it. It was only about 5% different but I cancelled.
thecatwhisker@reddit
It’s entirely possible a customer could pick something up and then put it down elsewhere so it’s not entirely fair to say ‘a good shop will honour it’ they can’t be held responsible for people moving stuff around. If they say this model is £X then I feel it should be £X but just sitting on a shelf above a price doesn’t mean much.
Worked in a little independent electrical retailers for a bit and we had someone switch the prices round on stuff and then proceed to scream at us we should be selling it at the price it says on it, we are criminals, will see us in court blah blah.
The price ticket also had the model number on it so it was always clear it never applied to the item they put it on and reviewing the cctv yeah they switched it themselves.
gemmanotwithaj@reddit
When Argos ask if you want to insure something you bought for £5.99
FreeBogwoppits@reddit
I used to work for Homebase. They considered selling "financial products" to be their core business, not selling paint and patio furniture. The sales targets for upselling insurance and extended warranties were madness.
YchYFi@reddit
They aren't around anymore tells you something.
liluniqueme@reddit
Bought some cheap speakers earlier this year. Cost me £13 or something. Did I want to purchase insurance for it? Nope.
quite_acceptable_man@reddit
Same when I worked at Currys, 25 years ago. The products were secondary to the extended warranties. In fact, all our targets were based on extended warranty sales, and the pressure was huge.
FunPie4305@reddit
Currys will just add the insurance without asking and leave it up to you to cancel.
TWLemonadeBanana@reddit
My dog went through a spree chewing things around the house and I had insurance with Argos for a lot of it. They replaced everything without any problems.
JonnotheMackem@reddit
I laughed aloud at this.
TheNathanNS@reddit
Trying to be relatable, nothing beats that #FridayFeeling amirite my wagesla- I mean, customers?
Putting shit like "go on! treat yourself! You deserve it" on ads, if I "deserved" something, I'd get it for free.
Tipping and other nonsense "fees"
sennalvera@reddit
It's less common now, but there was a time when companies would happily sign you up online but if you wanted to cancel you had to ring a number and wait on hold to speak to a person.
PortPiscarilius@reddit
The Times still do this.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
I am reluctant to give them any credit right now, but the Americans did try this. Sadly it was struck down.
FitSolution2882@reddit
Barbers and Chinese takeaways always insisting on cash
Sunday trading hours
Holska@reddit
Sunday trading hours are the bane of my existence atm. And I hate the argument it’s so the staff get a break. No, no it’s not. I’ve worked a lot of retail, and Sundays were easily the worst day of the week, a normal work load crammed into fewer hours, with fewer staff and more customers. Even worse was doing a Sunday shift that started before the big supermarkets were open, and finishing after they closed, then having to go out of my area to find an express shop and pay more for something.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
It needs reviewing.
Absolutely everything else is open as normal on Sundays, even the smaller stores owned by the same chain.
You work in Tesco Extra therefore you "deserve a day off" because it's Sunday, but your mate at Tesco Express 2 miles away is on the clock until 11pm?
DoctorOctagonapus@reddit
More and more news sites are now putting the option to turn off cookies behind a paywall. As in you have to give them your data/browsing habits for personalised ads, or pay them money. It should be criminal.
PoorLittlePicklePest@reddit
Small businesses who never answering the fucking phone and use voicemail as form of call screening.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
Yes. And one thing I've learned since becoming a homeowner is that "no obligation free quote" and "no job too small" are horse shit.
bluepizzabooks@reddit
Call centres in non-English speaking countries so that you have to explain your complex issue while also navigating a language barrier and accent issues - if you happen to have a strong accent!
Background_Bug1102@reddit
Looking at an item on a website (sometimes to check out just how hideous/overly expensive it is) to then receive numerous follow up “we saw you looking/ you’ve got great taste!” emails over the next few days. If I wanted it and could afford it, I’d have bought it.
lindyhoppette@reddit
Over on the lacquerista subreddit, there was outrage that one US brand was sending a follow up email entitled ‘CPS has been informed!’ About their baskets being abandoned, people were going absolutely crazy
RosePamphyle@reddit
They better only send me those emails if they contain a discount code
thorn312@reddit
Suttons (seeds) send me an email every day and if I click in, I get a "we saw you browsing" as well. I've only ever ordered a small quantity of seeds, I just keep forgetting to unsubscribe because on auto pilot on my phone, I swipe to delete and it leaves my brain until the next day. 🤣
quite_acceptable_man@reddit
I often do that for a product I'm interested in, but not fussed if I have to wait. If you're signed in to a website and you leave something in your basket you'll sometimes get a discount voucher.
I tend to leave stuff for about a week. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Larrypants1@reddit
Sometimes this can be to your advantage though if they send you a random discount code for something you were going to buy anyway!
captirl@reddit
Requiring a phone call to cancel a subscription you signed up to online! No, I don't want to talk to you and listen to all the reasons I shouldn't cancel, just cancel the damn thing already!
PortPiscarilius@reddit
I signed up for a trial with The Times online - they force you to call them to cancel. Then they try and guilt-trip you into staying for 15 minutes. It's so stupid because it's completely put me off going with them again.
captirl@reddit
It’s so frustrating, like I understand they are doing their job, but it should not be that hard to cancel!
Bloatville@reddit
They're about to change that I think. Thank goodness.
RedTheWolf@reddit
I am hearing-impaired and so making phone calls is really difficult for me, I like to email the companies who do that, usually on their media/sales addresses, and ask if why their policy on cancelling is so ableist... Sudddenly, I can conduct my business with them by email, no problem! 😂
Bossman_Mike@reddit
Businesses that advertise umpteen different ways of contacting them... only to ghost you on all of them except basic telephone.
Nannyhirer@reddit
I’m so glad you asked this. When you fill in an online form for a copy of their brochure and the phone calls start up almost immediately. I don’t want to chat on the phone, I want to look further at your offering and then I’ll call you thanks.
EducationSuperb3392@reddit
I rang Vodafone a few weeks ago to upgrade my phone.
After every single sentence the guy was desperately trying to upsell me something
Insurance, a case, headphones, an adapter plug, as I said, anything
Just shut up and listen to me, I just want the phone please sir.
Bossman_Mike@reddit
Everything being done through chat bots or self-service portals... except the one bloody basic thing you want or desperately need to do.
Weird_Surprise6221@reddit
When they’re not sure on the price, so charge you more.
There’s a takeaway near us we frequent (as they’re good), but if I call to order the price is about 25% (I’m not kidding!) more than if I order through their own website, make it make sense?
beaches511@reddit
Anything less than 5 stars being viewed as awful. 5 should be exemplary not standard. 3 is perfectly good. But everyone getting 5 stars all the time skews everything.
Proper-Throwaway-23@reddit
I have worked in a few places where a review of less than four would get you dragged over the coals by senior management even if the verbiage the customer included made it clear that had recieved good service. One always sticks in my mind: "Excellent customer service, very knowledgable, but carpark was full and difficult to park. 3 Stars". Management was annoyed. With me, the excellent and knowledgeable employee. I can only assume I was meant to magically create an overflow carpark in the corner of the shop specifically for this customer.
OrangeSodaMoustache@reddit
I think the way people (and I include myself in this) review is a descending scale rather than ascending. If I ate out somewhere and the price was good, food was good, everything was as ordered and the staff were nice, why would I rate it anything other than a 5? My experience couldn't be better so why rate it a 3 "just in case" or to uphold an arbitrary scale of "well 3 is good so you're getting a 3"
Swimming_Crow_9853@reddit
I reviewed something once at 3 stars which I thought was a fair review and the hotel owner had to reply to my post saying why I was being unreasonable.
aconsideredlife@reddit
Some people never rate anything less than 4/5 or 8/10. It drives me mad.
Shadow-sight@reddit
Asking for your email in store for a digital receipt - I recently brought something in New Look and when they asked for my email, I asked for a paper receipt, store assistant looked annoyed and said “we still need an email address” ??? I said I’m not giving you my email and got a huff and an eye roll.
I appreciate that managers are probably on to them about getting emails but its put me off ever going back.
yukyum@reddit
New Look and Next refuse to give student discount unless you give your email address at the till. The cunts.
MingePies@reddit
Is that all they ask for, or does it have to be tied to some prior registration? My thought process being I could simply provide a john.smith@university.edu email to get a discount.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Or ac.uk!
yukyum@reddit
Showing the Totum card should be enough (New Look confirmed this on the Twitter a couple of years ago) but some branches insist on an email address so they can spam you. Depends how much you want to push it in store.
MingePies@reddit
Thanks. In all honesty I’m not a student, I was just considering if I could blag stuff for less.
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
You still have to show your student card as well as providing an email address to get the discount.
Android_slag@reddit
Make another account that's just for this kind of junk and enjoy telling them too. (Name)_spam junk@ provider. Com
Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit
Got a pushy one once. I told them I don't want to give an email and a paper receipt is good enough, they insisted 'you HAVE to'.
Then I suddenly remembered 'I Don't have an email address and don't use email, so you will HAVE to give me a paper copy'
bessvix@reddit
When paying by card at many a major store, the machine asking you if you ‘want to donate to charity’. Can’t even buy some bread without getting electronically chugged.
SmartSweetnSassy@reddit
the rise in subscription models is doing my head in. I am becoming much more analogue as a result and trying to move away from digital. I got my grandmothers old record player out of the loft and am having fun buying old records online. I also got a dvd player and am trawling the charity shops for films I love
RedTheWolf@reddit
Yeah, I feel super smug that I kept my DVD collection now. I so nearly got rid of it, but instead of selling them to CEX or whatever, I got some big CD folders and kept the discs and got rid of the boxes.
I can now just watch my Jonathan Creek and Red Dwarf DVDs in peace, without subscribing to anything!
SmartSweetnSassy@reddit
I sold all mine to CEX and got rid of my CDs... stupidly! so now I'm backpedalling really quickly! I honestly did not see the subscriptions coming.... enjoy your collection, smugness fully deserved
RedTheWolf@reddit
Hahaha thanks, I do feel even smugger now 😁
srm79@reddit
Calling the GP surgery to ask a specific question or cancel an appointment and you have to listen to 15 minutes of what to do if it's an emergency or covid procedures followed by how to book an appointment online and how to see a physio and, and, and, etc... When you know non of these things are relevant at all and you can't skip it - then they answer and drop the call and you have to start all over again! Maddening! 🤣
SnooGrapes2914@reddit
Not sure how universal it is, but I'm currently getting 4-5 voicemails a week from some company or another acting on behalf of to get me to switch to a smart meter.
If I wanted one, then I'd bloody well have one, phoning me every day is not going to convince me to get one
mbfos@reddit
I can sign up in seconds on their web site, but to cancel I have to phone and sit in hold for eternity.
EmDaae@reddit
I hate when they are pushing you to download their app to be able to make a purchase. I also hate when you have to sign up to their loyalty card to make a purchase.
MidnightRambler87@reddit
Upselling in general.
If I want the extra service or product I’ll ask.
OrangeSodaMoustache@reddit
Depends what it is. I'm not buying the goofy pen at Clinton's when I just came in for a birthday card, but if I'm buying a laptop and they say they are also selling matching cases, yeah sure, why not, I do need one.
quite_acceptable_man@reddit
Unfortunately it works. If it didn't, businesses wouldn't make their staff do it.
Own-Heat2669@reddit
Expired offer prices on shelf edge labels.
Then you get home and have paid full price for something you probably wouldn't have bought without an offer to lure you.
Asda do this constantly and I'm guessing with impunity.
No_Blackberry6291@reddit
Bloody hell I remember complaining to asda about this year's ago ! I wrote a letter (that long ago, before email and t'internet). They apologised, sent me some vouchers and said it must have been overlooked. Can't believe they're still getting away with it.
undoneyet@reddit
When a product is advertised to “simply” do something, this is often compounded when contacting a help desk to be told that all you need to do is “simply” check that you are using the latest firmware and if not upgrade your hardware. Simply is also often used when a company is actually getting you to do some work for the company, as in “Simply leave a review” but first “simply register” and “simply” respond to the email that was just sent. Oh dear that password has not been recognised “Simply” wait ten minutes and try again.
Jimmy90081@reddit
“Tell us about the approval process, who do you go to for this to be approved.”
impossiblejane@reddit
Everything on subscription. Want to buy a face cream, spammed with offers of subscription. Want to order coffee beans, subscription. Dog food, subscription. Then if you put the item in your shopping cart, some companies default to the subscription so before you know it you're getting dog food every four weeks. Sure they make it slightly cheaper for you but many make it so hard to cancel. I just want my dog food and coffee beans without being hassled to get it on subscription.
Hour-Estate-2962@reddit
Still having info about covid. Boots asked me to bring my own pen to an appointment and not attend if I'd traveled recently to one of a list of countries with high covid-19 levels - in 2024! Now obviously I just ignore it but it annoys me because does that mean all the other info in the email is also out of date?
So many places still have this on things like confirmation emails and it really annoys me even though it shouldn't really matter.
See also 'stand 2 meters apart' stickers and 'wear a mask' posters that are still up but completely ignored.
Gingy2210@reddit
Asking for a review and getting narky if you're honest, because their service/food/attraction was pants!
NoodleDoodlesocks@reddit
Demanding more from employees but not providing more staff because the staff that are there aren't doing enough to 'justify' hiring more staff.
SamVimesBootTheory@reddit
The increasing amount of places with tiered rewards schemes that rely on you spending a certain amount of money to 'unlock rewards'
Zubi_Q@reddit
Definitely asking to leave a 5 star review. Like, no? I'll do a review if I want to.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Any business that demands a 5 star review from me NEVER gets one. Ever.
Just-Standard-992@reddit
When you get a sales email and it has some form of "Would tomorrow at 10 be a good time to have a call about this new amazing feature you cannot miss? I'll send you an invite and we can reschedule if it doesn't work".
No. Tomorrow at 10 isn't a good time. There is no good time at all because I never asked you to call me to begin with. I'm not interested in your thing that I don't need, and I don't want to talk to you tomorrow, or ever.
It's not just sales people either, "customer success" people also do it all the time to try to hype you up about the shit they need to upsell.
I have one particular supplier that sends weekly emails like that, and honestly I cannot give 2 fucks about that company. I'm only working with them because only 3 companies supply the same service in the UK and we're using them all, but if I could, I would cancel the contract tomorrow, block them from everywhere and never even think of them ever again. That's how much it boils my piss.
Temporary-Zebra97@reddit
The recent annoyance with my car insurance, received a renewal quote, shopped around and found equivalent cover for £300 quid less a year, went to cancel auto renew on original policy, zero options on the website to cancel, have to contact them via phone or chat only for them to go through their lines of lets see if we can get a better deal and coming up with a quote £9 cheaper than their renewal price and pushing back back when I say another provider is still £291 cheaper.
stupre1972@reddit
"And can I have a name for your order"
NO Starbucks, you bloody well cannot - how about we try 'Sir'
Apricot_Oasis@reddit
I hate this one. I remember when it got brought in as a practice when my friend worked there, and she equally hated having to ask it. They also got told to say “I’ll just pop that on a loyalty card for you” if you said you didn’t already have one.
I went to Starbucks for the first time in a couple of years (I used to live near one and now don’t), and they appear to have upgraded the level of questioning to asking if I have the app. Add that to things like “do you want to try our special blend of coffee?”, I feel like I’m doing a quiz to get a fucking latte.
Larrypants1@reddit
Honestly I get this one. If there are 10 slightly different lattes waiting you want to make sure you get yours and a name is more personal than a number. Nothing is forcing you to give your real name, you can tell them anything you like as long as you answer to it
WhalingSmithers00@reddit
It's so you know it's your order. Give a fake name they won't ask for ID because they don't care.
Mediocre_Sprinkles@reddit
There's a pasta subscription company that every so often will spam me with calls, 2-3 times a day for a week or 2. Finally leave a message and they'll just say "hi we've changed a few things since you last used us, have a good day." I haven't bought from them in 4 years.
I email and tell them to leave me alone and they reply saying of course sorry we won't bother you. 6 months later they're back at it.
MJLDat@reddit
You can subscribe to pasta?
Mediocre_Sprinkles@reddit
They sent fancy fresh pasta and sauce in the mail every week Nonna Tonda
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
I still get periodic calls from Hello Fresh, and I unsubscribed eight YEARS ago...
olivinebean@reddit
Charity donations on the card machine
Fuck off with your tax relief bullshit you greedy bastards
BALLCLASH@reddit
Oh and the review thing - I've noticed bars/restaraunts are starting to get really bad for this, Beer Halle are still asking for a review on the pint I bought from there two years ago, that's why I've just stopped giving my email out when asking for a receipt.
Warfieldarcher@reddit
I don't give my email address to anyone. If asked I just pup in something like fuck@off.com
quite_acceptable_man@reddit
Yeah, you stick it to that minimum-wage employee who has no say on the corporate policy around collecting email addresses. That'll show 'em.
Larrypants1@reddit
Anyone who works on the phones knows how annoying those spam calls advertising international payment or currency exchange services are. I work in the accounts department and luckily the customer service department field most calls but the odd one sneaks through and they are so rude and so relentless when you tell them no. I have started saying we don't have currency payments even though the company has the word international in the name.
Asleep-Software-4160@reddit
Sainsbury's putting adverts on their hand scanner. Fuck off!
annedroiid@reddit
Getting emailed a one time password to login instead of just letting me use my actual password. I know it's easier for some people but I have a password manager and would rather just use that.
FreeBogwoppits@reddit
Emails sent from "No Reply" addresses. So if I have a question about the email I have to either find an email address or re-shape my question into their formfil.
Solo-me@reddit
Automatic service charge on pub and restaurant bills .
Or
Asking for the bill in a pub after having food and they just tell you the total, not providing bill with brake down of dishes .
ChelseaMourning@reddit
Pressure selling in shops. A polite “hello” is all I need. If I need you, I’ll find you. Don’t follow me around trying to push me to buy shit I don’t need. I worked in retail for a decade and absolutely hated this aspect. Also, just print me a receipt. You don’t need my email address or phone number when I’m buying a pack of envelopes or some socks.
Mark_Such@reddit
Uber, pay to speed up finding a driver, once you decline they say that the Uber is 2 mins away! So they know that there is a driver, yet they deceive people to pay. Even when you pay for the monthly Uber subscription. Also when booking a journey, from my account (which have Uber one) and my friend’s account who doesn’t have it, they give me a higher price despite showing that they offered me a discount, whilst my friend who is booking the exact same journey at the same time gets a lower price without a discount, make it make sense.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Have not used Uber for some time now, but the tactic you've mentioned doesn't surprise me...
Mark_Such@reddit
They keep getting worse and worse. Honestly if I had a better choice I would have never used Uber anymore. Even when ordering through Uber eats, they promise you to get free delivery over £15, yet they include extra charges under different titles.
WorldAncient7852@reddit
Businesses quoting prices to retail customers and THEN adding VAT. I asked for an estate agent valuation today and was quoted £180 pus VAT. F**k you Myrings of Harrogate.
YouSayWotNow@reddit
I agree that I hate being chased and chased for reviews. I'm perfectly able to decide on my own if I'd like to give a review. If I'm very happy or very unhappy with a product or service, I'm more likely to do so. If it's acceptable but nothing remarkable, I probably won't.
I'm not sure of the relevance of what you bought the fabric for, though it's certainly a sad thing?
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
The relevance is that my friend miscarried the day after the fabric arrived; I can't even bring myself to open the parcel, let alone leave a glowing review.
YouSayWotNow@reddit
But how on earth would the vendor know that? Honestly, whilst I understand completely how devastating that must be, it doesn't change the fact that the vendor either did or didn't deliver a good quality product.
That said, as I said, I hate when vendors chase and chase. You are not obliged to review them whatever your reason might be.
MisterWednesday6@reddit (OP)
Oh, they got a very calmly worded review, not mentioning the incident I refer to here, stating that one review request was enough thenk you.
YouSayWotNow@reddit
Fair enough and yes, perfectly valid to mention that multiple requests for reviews was wholly unwelcome! :-)
NorthernOverthinker@reddit
Having to order my food & drinks on an app in a pub and then having a service charge added to my bill.
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