I.
The first time I ever looked for reviews on a product, I was not even remotely interested. After reading several news reports that were highly critical of the “predatory” payday loan industry, I wanted to understand the perspective of typical borrowers. What did they think of a financial product, which consumer protection advocates say the federal government should ban or heavily regulate? I figured that the vast majority of reviewers would be hostile. What were their most frustrating experiences? Who took the brunt?
The first dozen or so reviews that I read about one of the largest payday lenders in America were astonishing. Not only did they express genuine affection for the employees, but also the business itself. The general tone of the reviews puzzled me, so I scrolled through the comments. After reading dozens reviews at one website, I switched to another, and continued reading until hundreds of reviews were read on several platforms. The payday-loan sector was criticized by enough reviewers to…
