How to ask a customer for a product review

Timing comes first

Ask only after the parcel has reached the customer and she has had a chance to use the product. A review request that arrives while the order is still in transit is irritating. One that arrives a day after delivery may be too early for products people need to try, such as skincare or a plant. For most items, a few days after delivery is a fair starting point. For food, a day or two is enough. For something that takes time to show results, wait longer.

You can check delivery in your admin orders list before sending anything.

A polite template

Here is a message you can send on WhatsApp. Change the names and details.

"Hi Meera, this is Anita from Anita's Candles. Your order should have reached you a few days ago and I hope you are enjoying the lavender candle. If you have a minute, I would love to hear what you think. Honest feedback helps me improve, and helps other shoppers decide. You can leave a review from your order page here: [link]. If anything is not right, just reply to this message and I will sort it out. Thank you so much!"

What makes it work:

• A real name and a short introduction, so she remembers who you are.
• A friendly check on how the product is, not an instant demand.
• A reason for asking that is honest.
• One clear step to take, with the link.
• An invitation to raise a problem privately, so unhappy customers reach you first.

What not to do

• Do not offer money, discounts or freebies in exchange for a good review. You want honest feedback, not a purchase of praise. Offering a thank-you for any review, whatever it says, is different, but keep the wording neutral and check the rules of any platform you use.
• Do not pressure. One reminder at most.
• Do not ask only the happy customers. Selecting who may review skews the picture, and customers can tell.
• Do not promise how many reviews you will get. Some customers never write one, and that is fine.
• Do not write reviews for customers and post them as if they came from them.

Read why you should never fake reviews for your store.

Where the review goes on Varchas Stores

I checked how this works in the storefront and admin code. Once an order is marked delivered, the customer can review each item from her order page. Her review does not appear straight away. It waits in your admin Reviews screen, where you can publish or reject it. You can also add a review you received somewhere else, such as a WhatsApp message, but it is posted as the store, so only add reviews the customer has agreed to share.

Our post on customer reviews on your own store walks through that screen.

Short follow-up version

If you prefer a briefer message:

"Hi Meera, hope the candle reached safely. If you enjoyed it, would you leave a quick review here: [link]? And if something is off, tell me and I will make it right."

More ready-to-use wording is in review request message templates for WhatsApp and how to ask for reviews after delivery.

When the review is not glowing

Thank the customer, whatever she says, and respond calmly to criticism. A fair reply to a critical review often earns more trust than a perfect rating. See how to reply to a negative review professionally. Keep asking steadily and honestly, and your reviews will grow at their own pace.