Seeking approval

Have you noticed that the simplest transaction today comes with a request for feedback? I went to a new doctor recently for a preliminary visit. Within 24 hours, I had an email asking me to rate my visit. Since there was really nothing to rate, I ignored it, only to receive several more requests until I finally gave a routine positive response. I suppose I should have expected the survey, since I was transferring from another practice but I would have preferred to wait until I could make a more meaningful comment! I am currently seeing a Chiropractor three times a week for treatment and they ask for feedback every single time! 

A few days ago, I contacted an online retailer with a question about the availability of a product. They responded promptly and politely that the product was not available. Next day, I received a request for feedback on the customer service I received. What was I supposed to say? I wasn't happy with the answer but it was delivered in a courteous manner. Does that count as satisfied? I'm sure I don't know!

When I get yet another request for feedback, I groan, and  unless I have strong feelings about the service I received, I will try to ignore the request. I often wonder what businesses do with all this data. Do they run it through a computer program and spit out a chart (in which case, there is no point to leaving comments) or do they employ someone to go through the information? How will feedback be used?  Will bad reviews lead to some poor, low level grunt losing their job? Everyone has bad days and I prefer to be kind. In the photography world, a bad review or a negative post on Google is usually an attempt to get something for nothing. It's amazing how often someone will post about bad pictures and poor professional conduct, then turn around and ask for all the digital files in compensation!

Maybe the search for feedback data has gotten a little out of hand. Do we have to seek approval for every interaction? Is feedback is about improving the customer experience or deciding who to blame?  My mother used to tell me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all", which I think are good words to live by. Let's resolve to build up rather than tear down, give genuine positive feedback when called for and, when all else fails, pick up the phone to resolve our differences rather than making a nasty post on Google!