Worktop Reviews: Reviews of granite and quartz worktop installations
Worktop reviews?
I am a reviewer. I like reviewing stuff. I am a TripAdvisor stalwart, an Amazon regular and a Google and Facebook occasional. I’m not sure why I do it – it certainly isn’t just to complain as I am a very positive reviewer – I guess it is often a way of showing my appreciation to a good hotel or restaurant.
Me
I am a review reader. I read reviews. I take decisions based on my reading of reviews. And, in general, I am very pleased with the results.
I also work for a company that gets reviewed. I see the importance of good worktop reviews from the other end, and the seriousness with which we read and try to respond to anything negative. I know the satisfaction of customers publicly declaring their pleasure in our work, the misery of the very negative or even malicious review, and the frustration when some companies seem to be able to get 100% good reviews.
Worktop Reviews: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
At Affordable Granite, we are happy to say, the vast majority of our reviews, on all platforms, are very positive. We are proud of our record, and we are not scared of letting people read and evaluate for themselves.
Obviously, in among the positives, there are negative comments. To be honest, when I see no negatives at all in a stream of reviews, especially with a trade as complex as ours, I am suspicious as to just how the reviews came about. When customers make one or two critical comments within a generally positive review, we try to just take it on board, revising and honing our processes to try to avoid making the same mistake again. Sometimes these things hurt, but we try to learn and grow through them.
Very occasionally we get reviewed in a way that is totally negative. When this happens through Google or Facebook there isn’t a great deal we can do about it. Despite common perceptions to the contrary, companies can’t just take these things down! That kind of review is especially painful when we are pretty sure that it is either aimed at the wrong firm, or is even entirely fictitious, possibly written by a less than honest competitor. In that kind of case we try to write a courteous reply, and then forget it, knowing that attacks like that will soon be buried under positive reviews as they come steadily in.
Worktop Reviews: The Power of Google
The most powerful worktop reviews are probably written on Google. Not many people write them, we can do little about them, and yet they directly affect our exposure on this, the most influential of search engines. With the Search Engines having such power in business these days, and with Google so dominant among them, a solid base of good, positive Google reviews is critical for any company. Thankfully, that is what we have! 
Worktop Reviews: Checkatrade and other review companies
Our work is pretty specialised. For most of our jobs, we are the last link in a long chain of tradespeople; builders, joiners, plumbers, electricians have been and gone, or are still working around us, when we arrive to template and fit our solid stone kitchen countertops. Google worktop reviews are good, but we find it helpful to subscribe to the specialist trades review service, Checkatrade, as it gathers in one place so many companies in related trades.
We pay to be on Checkatrade. But don’t think that this means that the service can be twisted around our little fingers. We have to show proof regularly of our location, business status and insurance cover. We have to abide by a variety of internal rules. Best of all, the Checkatrade form which goes out with our final invoice paperwork provides a great template for customers to get a bit more specific than “Excellent! Great job!” and the like. Separate evaluations of our Reliability & Timekeeping, Tidiness, Courtesy and Workmanship clearly give a more nuanced view. And these are from real customers!
When negative worktop reviews come in (which is pretty rare) we are informed by Checkatrade, but we can’t prevent them being published. Sometimes we write a brief response, but this is rare. By and large, a few points of criticism help to give authenticity to the rest. We do NOT cherry pick who reviews us! When I see a big firm with a relatively smaller number of totally positive reviews, I start to wonder what is happening. With over 600 reviews posted, we know that some criticism is inevitable, but the vast bulk of positivity will shine through.
And actually, reviews that mention on a problem which is willingly and quickly resolved can leave an even better impression on the reader than simple ‘rave reviews’ that look shallow. 
Worktop Reviews: The Social Connection
Social media plays its part too. We have a few Facebook reviews, but it is recommendations in the local county or town groups (like “We love Surrey” or “Wallington”) that help us most. The same goes for other social media; one of our biggest word-of-mouth helps over the last few years has been Mums
Net. We did nothing at all to bring that about – none of us are on it, but customer after customer tells us that they first heard of us through that source!
Worktop Reviews: Please review us!
We live and work in a competitive market. We have many honest and decent competitors who are trying to do exactly the job we are. There are also cowboys out there, and people who seem to have no qualms about how they try to sink a rival, including writing fake worktop reviews. This we just have to take on the chin, but we really value genuine customer feedback, both privately and publicly. Please:
- If we do something – anything – wrong, in any part of our process, from quotation to templating to fitting to sorting out your final paperwork, please tell us. Personally is probably best, so that we can immediately put things right with you specifically, but we know that you may review us and absolutely have the right to do so.
- Please review us on whatever platforms you regularly use. It is all grist to the mill. If you have appreciated our work, and enjoy your stone worktops, please think about sharing the word via a Google review or a Facebook recommendation. And please fill in that Freepost Checkatrade form!
We are Affordable Granite, the leading installer of granite and quartz worktops in Surrey, Sussex and across the South East. For questions, queries and quotes connected with any aspect of worktop installation or kitchen design, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01293 863992 or by email on [email protected]
