Client Asking Me To Write a Negative Review About Another Company

[danielgb123]

Hey guys,

Got a bit of an issue with a client.

They're main sales comes from eBay. Recently one of their products took a huge dip in sales as a result of a competitor entering the market and incorrectly advertising the product as being better than it actually is at a BETTER price. Obviously the client is distressed, and wants me to help out.

He's asked that I write a negative review about the other eBay product (it has a trademarked name), to dissuade buyers if they search for reviews on the product. Obviously I've instructed him that this is illegal without factual evidence that they are not advertising and suggested him to buy the other companies product and 'out' them on a big forum or something of the like. I've also recommended he report them to eBay, but they're not having any of it.

Do you guys have any suggestions as to what I can do? I don't really want to write a review which is pure speculation and based off his word.

Regards

 

[lucasbraydon]

Well if the client is not willing to report it to eBay than it just shows that he has no grounds to be reporting the other guy on. So your client is just a hater.

 

[Veyron]

If you don't feel it's right then don't do it. Writing a negative review on them would be just as bad as what they're doing and I wouldn't stoop to that level. Regardless of what your client thinks, advise them that correct, legal and responsible way of handling this matter is to simply report them to eBay if you feel their action(s) require a report and if they're doing something wrong, then they'll be properly handled and dealt with by eBay.

Veyron

 

[radarsurge]

sounds like capitalism at work to me. If I were you, I would rework the pitch to make your product sound better instead of bashing theirs. Most of the products I've encountered across the board are identical, it's the better sales team that wins the day.

 

[danielgb123]

Well if the client is not willing to report it to eBay than it just shows that he has no grounds to be reporting the other guy on. So your client is just a hater.

His point seems fair - in that you need a number of people to report an eBay product and a fraudulent report needs to be filed.

If you don't feel it's right then don't do it. Writing a negative review on them would be just as bad as what they're doing and I wouldn't stoop to that level. Regardless of what your client thinks, advise them that correct, legal and responsible way of handling this matter is to simply report them to eBay if you feel their action(s) require a report and if they're doing something wrong, then they'll be properly handled and dealt with by eBay.

Veyron

He's making it adamant that he wants something done about the situation.. despite my pleases against it.

sounds like capitalism at work to me. If I were you, I would rework the pitch to make your product sound better instead of bashing theirs. Most of the products I've encountered across the board are identical, it's the better sales team that wins the day.

Believe me, their eBay page is about as good as it gets - the graphics greatly surpass those in the niche, and they've worked the hell out of their sales pitch - what they have is good. I see two issues, however. The product that has surpassed them is ranking higher for the particular search term in eBay, and the products surrounding them are advertising (falsely) better features at a lower price.

They are greedy though IMO, and I think they want too high a mark-up margin for the market they're competing in.

 

[pixelgrinder]

Seems like a dishonest way to operate. I would tell him no. If the seller is selling an inferior product and/or lying in the product description, it will resolve itself after people start leaving negative feedback.

 

[danielgb123]

Seems like a dishonest way to operate. I would tell him no. If the seller is selling an inferior product and/or lying in the product description, it will resolve itself after people start leaving negative feedback.

The thing is, for the particular product you wouldn't be able to tell from eye or without proper knowledge that the item isn't as advertised - you'd need to take apart components of it. My client knows the maximum the wholesaler can produce, and the competitor is advertising more than that what it is not in fact true.

I definitely agree that is is dishonest, and entirely disagree with this approach. I'm a improve your own business to better your competitors, as opposed to negating your competitors efforts.

 

[Beven]

At the end of the day you have to make the decision as to whether going against your morals outweighs the benefits of the cash you'll receive.

 

[fenafillah]

as i know if you do this on BHW you got banned so...

 

[Tommy Lawrence]

I used to see this with my YouTube videos all the time. Strange elements writing negative review comments to dissuade potential clients. Eventually I was forced to disable automatic commenting on my videos and instead moderate all my comments manually. Fucking haters scared of competition!

 

[SerpEvil]

people is doing everything for money these days .....really sad

 

[aka sam]

If I were at your place, I would never do it.

Suggest you the same!

 

[BloodLord]

Why cant the client write the review and report them and you focus on improving things the legal way?

 

[turdface]

I would drop him as a client.

 

[masterjani]

I myself did turn down many of these offers. Whenever a client ask me to do something negative, i will search and find out the truth before acting upon. Money is not the end of the world.

 

[hes21]

How much is the item in question?
Find 5 people who would know the product well enough to discover the deception. Ask them to buy it and you'll reimburse them if they agree to leave feedback on what they discover.

 

[n0money]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in this post on this website?

 

[tompots]

If you don't feel right by doing it, then don't do it.

 

[Alpha.]

If you're having doubts, the money offered can't be worth it. Easy as that!

 

[danielgb123]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in this post on this website?

In that it's a blackhat tactic? I'd regard it moreso as illegal (fraud), than blackhat.

@Everyone else: I'll continue the relationship with this client, considering he doesn't cause me any hassles other than this request and is always on time with payment. I've decided to take other means to help rectify this issue.