Pub and restaurants visits are back on the agenda, but many families and friends have already had words over a poor recommendation.
New research from Checkatrade reveals that almost a fifth of Brits have fallen out with loved ones and pals over a dodgy suggestion - whether its a dining experience or a reliable tradesperson.
Despite the family tension, the study of 2,000 adults found that almost half of people believe that using third party review sites is an easier and more efficient way to get trusted recommendations. However, in spite of using review sites, a fifth of people don’t always leave a review online even if they had a positive experience.
Checkatrade teamed up with psychologist Dr Becky Spelman to reveal why recommendations are so important when it comes to deciding who to trust.
She said: "Brits appear to be reluctant to regularly post reviews online following positive experiences, yet they trust third-party sites with a wide range of reviews.
“This contradictory behaviour indicates a discord in expectations (for other people to share reviews/recommendations) versus actions (reluctance to share their own reviews/recommendations), which suggests more needs to be done to help Brits understand the value of an honest recommendation.”
When it comes to specific occupations, 64 per cent of people claim they’d be more likely to trust a tradesperson if they are verified by a third-party site and have excellent reviews from other people online (66 per cent).
The research also revealed that showing up on time, making eye contact and being good communicators were key trustworthy attributes on a first date. While just six per cent would trust a date who had dirty fingernails, a further 41 per cent claimed it would make them distrust hospitality workers and hairdressers (39 per cent).
Mike Fairman, chief executive of Checkatrade, said: “Whilst we all hold our preconceptions on who and why we should trust, these research findings show there isn’t just one thing that constitutes a universally trustworthy person.
"But using third-party sites which review their tradespeople such as Checkatrade ensures you are taking adequate steps to use recommendations you can rely on.”
