Trustpilot announcements
|August 31, 2023
New data from Trustpilot reveals the biggest customer service keyboard critics in the US
NEW YORK, USA, August 31, 2023 – New data from global review platform Trustpilot has found that grumbling ‘Johns’ take the top spot when it comes to those names leaving the most one-star ratings — with names* traditionally associated with men more likely to air their grievances than those associated with women.
In an era where online reviews now help guide what we buy and from whom, Trustpilot has analyzed its platform — which hosts more than 213 million reviews — to reveal the nation’s loudest complainers. Analysis of US reviews on the platform has found that names typically given to men make up 10 of the most frequent one-star reviewers, with Johns topping the list, having left 8,648 such reviews since the platform first launched in 2007.
David and Michael are the second and third biggest providers of negative feedback, with 7,370 and 6,530 single-star reviews apiece. Eleventh-placed Lisa is the most prolific traditionally-female name, with Sarah following closely behind at number 12.
A deeper dive into the loudest voices across Trustpilot’s retail categories found that these names have emerged as the most prolific voices of criticism, holding businesses accountable and influencing thousands of consumers’ decision-making, by posting reviews across a range of retail sectors — including Electronics & Technology, Home & Garden, Money & Insurance, Shopping & Fashion, and Beauty & Wellbeing.
However, whereas John tops the list across Electronics & Technology, Business Services, Money & Insurance, and Shopping & Fashion, people named Lisa are the biggest complainers within the Beauty & Wellbeing category.
Carolyn Jameson, Chief Consumer & Trust Officer at Trustpilot, said: “Despite 73 percent of consumer feedback about businesses being positive, 14 percent still give a one-star review of their experience with businesses on our platform. It’s vitally important that businesses engage with the negatives, showing consumers that they are keen to rectify the potential issues and improve from the feedback they receive. Consumers don’t expect businesses to be perfect, but they do want them to care and to make them feel valued and listened to. With the right approach, businesses can turn 1-star Johns into 5-star Marys, who are among those who write the most positive reviews.”
Top reviewers’ names leaving the most one-star reviews:
1
. John
2
. David
3
. Michael
4
. Chris
5
. James
6
. Mike
7
. Mark
8
. Robert
9
. Alex
10
. Paul
11
. Lisa
12
. Sarah
13
. Steve
14
. Sam
15
. Daniel
To find out more and read the full list, visit our blog.
*Reviewers on Trustpilot do not need to use their names as display names to use Trustpilot (e.g. many use simply “customer”).
-ENDS-
Methodology
Insights were drawn from aggregated consumer review data held by Trustpilot. The lists of top complainers, reviewers who left 1-star reviews and top praise-givers — reviewers who left 5-star reviews — were generated using Trustpilot display names, broken down by market. Each review’s status had to be active (no deleted reviews were included) and encompasses all-time review numbers. This data was pulled in May 2023.
About Trustpilot
Trustpilot was founded in 2007 with a vision to create an independent currency of trust.
A digital platform that brings businesses and consumers together to foster trust and inspire collaboration. We are free to use, open to everybody, and built on transparency.
Trustpilot hosts reviews to help consumers shop with confidence and deliver rich insights to help businesses improve the experience they offer. The more consumers use our platform and share their own opinions, the richer the insights we offer businesses, and the more opportunities they have to earn the trust of consumers, from all around the world.
Over 213 million consumer reviews of businesses and products of over 893,000 domains have been posted on Trustpilot, and those numbers are growing by more than one review per second.
Trustpilot has over 850 employees and is headquartered in Copenhagen, with operations in New York, Denver, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Berlin, Vilnius, Milan, and Amsterdam.
