ANDRE BEGIN

If you’re like me, you probably get a fair number of email requests from stores asking you to take a moment to provide a review of a product you’ve purchased.

Personally, I tend to delete those requests as soon as they come in, given other time-sensitive priorities I have on the go.

Ironically, when I am thinking of buying a product that I have never purchased before or from a brand that is unfamiliar to me, checking product reviews is a part of my research process. If the consensus is positive, that can help sway my opinion. That being the case, I think product reviews are meaningful and helpful; however, writing one has not been within my habit to this point. But never say never.

The most recent email request was probably the most unusual one I have received so far. I was asked to provide a review of my most recent purchase: bathroom tissue.

If only they knew what they were asking when placing such a request in front of a writer with a bit of a flair for humour. I truly could have some fun responding to a writing prompt like that, incorporating all kinds of toilet-humour puns. However, out of respect for the store, the product and the brand, I held myself back.

I realize that these requests are probably set up by algorithms, looking through my history of recent purchases and arbitrarily selecting a product. But bathroom tissue? You’d think that someone would have programmed a rule to exclude personal care products like that. Is it a product that really needs discussion or elaboration?

Maybe it’s just me, but discussing my relationship with my toilet paper crosses the line into oversharing.

Curiosity got the best of me, wondering if anyone else accepted the invitation and wrote a review. To my great surprise, almost 200 people did. For the most part, the reviews were simple, nothing too graphic… thank heavens!

A lot of them were from people who were fans of the brand, sharing their appreciation for the consistency in the quality.

Others raised points that I hadn’t quite observed myself, but I fully respect their position and their right to express their observations and opinions.

I still find it interesting that 200 people had a different perspective on boundaries than I do, as well as the comfort level and the free time on their hands to share their observations on bathroom tissue. It’s not a judgment, just an observation and frankly, a bit of a surprise to me!

I honestly commend and applaud those who take time out of their busy schedules to leave ratings and reviews. Without them, research into products or brands I hadn’t tried before would be a greater challenge and purchasing them would be more of a gamble.

For that reason, I appreciate their generosity and willingness to help their fellow shoppers find products that might be right for them. Bravo!

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André