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stephen d.

2
Level 2 Contributor

Contributor Level

Total Points
854

10 Reviews by stephen

  • Toluna

2/26/22

Used to be great. A lot of variety, redemption options, games etc but all of a sudden after 10+ years i had my account CANCELLED with the only reason given that it had been 'flagged' due to attempting to maintain the 'quality' of their data - no being advised (i had to chase them up), no being given access to the money i had owing to me, nothing...
The joke of all this is, they think there's 'high quality data' when say some surveys require a CEO level position to answer or someone on $100,000 income? As if people with naturally high incomes would complete 20 min surveys for roughly $1. The logic boggles the mind...
That said though, the time spent is NOT worth it & others have attested to this. Very little is paid for your effort. Add to this, there are MANY survey errors none of which you're compensated for so time simply lost.
Horrible all in all, like many survey sites these days... user loyalty means NOTHING to them - they'll use & discard you as they see fit (while getting free data out of you many a time)!

Edit: after writing what i have, customer service staff reached out to resolve the issues & my account was re-instated on a 'probational' basis so i think we would mutually like things like i've mentioned no longer relevant.

Tip for consumers:
use other sites, they have no loyalty to their users & what you put in is NOT rewarded sufficiently/adequately. sites like prizerebel do it better

Products used:
paid surveys, site games, redemption options

Thumbnail of user marianap41
Mariana P. – Toluna Rep

Hello Stephen,

Thank you for sharing your review. I appreciate your candidness and I am truly sorry to hear about your experience.

Our members' satisfaction is of utmost importance, however so is the integrity of our panel. To this end, we employ numerous automated checks to make sure that we are continuously achieving the high standard of quality that our clients expect. Unfortunately, it sounds like your account was caught in one of these recent checks.

However, we are not superhuman and we don't always hit the mark. For this reason, I would love to personally double check your account and provide you with a better understanding of what happened. I kindly request that you contact us either by email at support@tolunahelpdesk.zendesk.com, or via the contact form in the app or on the site at https://toluna.com/contactus; using 'Sitejabber review - follow-up' as subject. I will reply with more detail as soon as possible.

Best regards,
Mary

  • BookDepository

12/31/20

During my YEARS buying from book depository i've encountered generally good service all in all but then there has to be the experiences that really destroy all 'good' past experiences.
In this case, i refer to the dismissive conduct of a 'senior supervisor' 'Geraldyne T', who at no point attempted to convey compassion, understanding, or HUMAN empathy.
An item had not arrived, i ended up buying a replacement copy elsewhere. I was told to wait on the original item, then return it at my own cost in the middle of a pandemic (!) with total disregard to the mention of being on a low income disability pension & not wanting to risk health/well-being to return a BOOK (if/when it eventually decides to arrive).
I'd have to say, this experience has permanently tarnished my perception of this seller & i'd highly advise steering clear - particularly if you are someone 'vulnerable' or with disabilities - you will experience cold, discrimination & 'profits over people' motive.

**edit & most important**
In an act that really transparently displayed their true colours, i had TWENTY SIX emails of pending orders/pre-orders all cancelled!
Never have i experienced anything like this from ANY book-seller!
This is a massive warning to all those reading - raise GENUINE issues & if they don't simply shift the blame to YOU, they'll 'PUNISH' you the only way they can.
Horrendous conduct!

Tip for consumers:
buy elsewhere! kenny bookshop is pretty good, wordery & others

Products used:
books

  • musicMagpie

10/12/20

Horrible!
Have bought various times over the years (lured back only due to price or if they are the only ones selling a book at a reasonable price) but what was once fine standard wise has gone downhill in every way...
Items nearly always arrived damaged & NOT as described & to make matters WORSE, 'customer service staff' are dismissive & will at BEST offer only a fixed 5 pound refund or push to send the item back (even if postage puts you out double or more to do).
Points/facts raised will NOT be considered or addressed.
Horrendous all in all & can't say i'll ever use them again.

Tip for consumers:
buy elsewhere!!

Products used:
books

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
  • Powell's Books

9/8/20

At one point the site used to be really good - great/friendly customer service, excellent quality items & reasonable prices.
What came next within the last year or so at least (should i speculate whether this has been a blatant attempt to maintain maximum profits during 'covid'?), standards COMPLETELY dropped.
Items in such poor condition they would not even make a charity store being sent (severely water damaged books at times, books looking like a dog has eaten them, books with loose pages/binding, books with significant creasing, etc)!
To make matters worse, these books have usually been listed in their 'standard' condition (which appears to be akin to 'good or very good') while they SHOULD'VE been correctly listed as 'less than standard' (a condition the site claims to have).
Refunds have been reluctantly/grudgingly given in cases like this - seemingly with no genuine understanding of the inconvenience of then needing to source these same books elsewhere - which can be made infinitely harder if a 'rare' book!
In fact, customer service staff (usually higher staff members such as 'ashley' their 'customer care MANAGER'), attempt to remain tactful, while coldly 'polite' - without actual empathy/understanding/humanity - only profit motive.
Wouldn't it be thought that a GENUINE, HONEST & ETHICAL business of ANY kind not only 'own up' to their own slipped standards & poor customer service but also adhere to THEIR 'guarantee' (listed prominently on their site)?
No, instead, i had a newer order cancelled, ALL blame put on me for the 'increase' in refunded items (not ONCE addressing the MASSIVE, worrying drop in quality of items).
Laughably, i was told:
"... it's become clear that we're unable to meet your condition needs. Due to this, and the fact that such a high rate of refunds has become cost-prohibitive for us, we're unable to continue shipping orders to you."
BIG problem is, they don't even meet THEIR OWN 'condition' standards - not specifically MINE!

Here's their general condition that they claim to have/follow:
"Standard
What does "Standard" condition mean at Powell's? Books in good or better condition, free of writing or other markings in the text (with the possible exception of a previous owner's name in the front). The great majority of the books in our stock fall into this category. In short, when a book is listed as "Standard," you can expect it to be a high quality copy."

"All our new, used, and out-of-print books are in good reading condition — guaranteed.
We recognize that ordering used books on the Web, sight unseen, requires trust. If you've ever tried to sell us your old books, you know firsthand how tough our standards are (haha - we wish!). By enforcing strict quality guidelines, we can guarantee that every book we sell, new or used, is a good reading copy."

A LOT of FALSE/FRAUDULENT/DISHONEST claims made on their website - insult to injury, one of the worst is:
"We're nothing without our customers. Powell's would not be the destination it is now without its loyal customers." - CLEARLY COMPLETELY FALSE, unless you're a customer who is fine with near throw-away/give-away items amongst ones that DO fit their (meaningless) 'standards'.
Based on the proud history of this store displayed on the website, personally, i'd say the store's founder/s would be rolling in their graves to see just how their 'family business' is being conducted AND how their 'loyal customers' are treated!
STAY WELL AWAY!

Tip for consumers:
don't use it! THEIR book standards/conditions (essentially from staff themselves), MEAN NOTHING!!

Products used:
books

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
  • My Opinions

7/28/19

Used to be a good site - well paying & regular surveys. Had my account 'terminated' twice (once the ONLY thing i did was redeem my balance in paypal 'rewards') & the second time for no reason at all aside from the generic 'violation' of their 'terms & agreements' or answering the surveys fraudulently/incorrectly which i did not.
If anything, the surveys offered many a time do not pay even after completing the whole thing honestly!
I would never recommend such a fraudulent site - worst part is, they keep whatever you've accumulated if they decided to 'terminate' your account randomly!
Stay away, there's much better!

  • ThriftBooks

5/31/19

Horrible!
- prices fluctuate significantly (items i had in the cart got significantly more expensive when left there for a few hours).
- items not as described
- customer service poor - i was told to return a item for a 'full refund' (when not as described) even though i live overseas & the shipping cost makes it an impossibility. I'm appalled that any thinking person would even suggest it!
When offered a refund for a book that was not at all as described, i was offered 15%(?) - practically EVERY decent seller/site is fine to take full responsibility & compensate with a FULL refund without the joke of 'returning the item'
- items arrive late (so their delivery estimates even during the covid situation are STILL inaccurate/flawed, but as a CUSTOMER, you're expected to be understanding & supportive of THEM(?)
Not impressed at all & would NOT recommend to ANYONE.
Want a better option? Go with powells books - their customer service standards are MUCH better as are the conditions of their books (which are nearly always BETTER than what they're listed as).

  • Tictacarea

5/31/19

I'd read some of the negative reviews from others (more in relation to shipping speed when bought as a gift) which i considered but i went ahead with the order anyway based on all the good reviews.
I found the prices were excellent, communication pleasant, friendly & polite & shipping speed totally fine.
Questions i had were answered promptly & in a more 'human' way than most companies out there.
I managed to track my order until it arrived & when it did, it was wrapped nicely that it would've been more than presentable as a gift.
The watch itself was in perfect condition.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy again in future if the need arises & i'd say to others that the site is a safe bet.
Very pleasantly surprised overall - one of the better experiences i've had buying online.
Thanks juan :)

Thumbnail of user juanangelh
JUAN ANGEL G. – Tictacarea Rep

Thank you so much for this awsome review, it is highly appreciated by all our team at TicTacArea.com. I has been an honor to serve you well :))

Wob
  • Wob

2/9/18

Horrible...
Search results are inconsistent (title/author search doesn't always work), customer service poor, books listed a lot of the time in better condition than what is received & when brought to the attention of staff (after close to a week of not having an email or emails answered) you are essentially given 2 options: 20% refund (in their words, 'as a gesture of goodwill') or return the item (at your own cost & high cost of postage) to receive a 'full' refund.
I steer clear now based on all of the above. Prices were once good & quality fairly consistent but now it appears staff wash their hands of taking responsibility of items falsely advertised in a certain condition.
Not good & disappointing considering this site WAS quite good overall.
You're not a 'valued' customer as i've found so buyer beware...

  • Better World Books

11/15/17

I was a frequent buyer from betterworldbooks for years.
At one point their value, customer service & standard of books was great but in time, i was sent more often than not books nowhere near the condition they were listed as - add to this deliveries that ALWAYS arrived later than the estimated period & experiences with one staff member in particular who attempted to shift the blame to me (& dodge responsibility) despite my providing photographic evidence of poor condition of what was received.
Clearly, customers are NOT valued - only your MONEY is.
On my final purchase for example, the inside covers (front & back) were stained dark yellow as if it had been pissed on! Yet the book was listed as 'used-good'. Disgusting...
Suffice to say, standards got horrible & i will not be returning as a customer.
To sum up, many other online used book sellers do it better & the standard of the books is also much better.
If you ARE a current buyer/customer, i urge you to check the the condition of the books you receive against their book condition standards - it's clear that they do not expect you to do this based on my experiences calling them out!
Avoid 'betterworldbooks'...

  • AwesomeBooks

10/16/13

I have to say this is one clear case of cheap prices not indicating quality.
Customer service is generally poor - polite but hardly effective. I've found myself repeating questions/concerns on many occasions. I've also had staff border rude/condescending.
Book quality ranges from fine to books that can be damaged/not as described or not arriving at all...
It really is a gamble & that said, safer options lie in more established sites...
They're pretty much all for show & deep down lack genuine human respect, honesty & the ability to value customers.
Buy elsewhere if you don't want inconsistency... it's not worth the risk

Tip for consumers:
know your online/buyer rights. don't be afraid to speak up if you receive items that are not in the condition they were advertised in. don't let them deflect blame/responsibility when there's issues. many complain of the SAME issues despite the country

Products used:
books

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

stephen Has Earned 34 Votes

Stephen D.'s review of Wob earned 4 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of AwesomeBooks earned 6 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of ThriftBooks earned 2 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of Tictacarea earned 3 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of musicMagpie earned 3 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of Better World Books earned 4 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of My Opinions earned 2 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of Toluna earned 6 Very Helpful votes

Stephen D.'s review of Powell's Books earned 4 Very Helpful votes

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