Don't buy these – Verkkokauppa.com reveals the year's worst products, led by a Nokia phone, an electric scooter, and four pairs of headphones.
Press release, 27 November 2024
Verkkokauppa.com has once again listed this year's most returned and lowest-rated products* to help consumers make informed buying decisions during Black Friday, the busiest season in electronics retail.
Verkkokauppa.com's 2024 lists of most returned and lowest-rated products include a Nokia phone, an E-Way electric scooter, and the "world's best frying pan."
“We want to help consumers buy high-quality products that meet their actual needs. That’s why we closely monitor customer reviews and return rates for individual products. If a product's return rate becomes too high, we remove it from our selection entirely,” says Johanna Stenbäck, Sustainability Manager at Verkkokauppa.com.
For example, over 60 percent of Sennheiser wireless earbuds have been returned. The same product also appears on the list of lowest-rated items and has already been removed from Verkkokauppa.com's selection.
According to Stenbäck, Verkkokauppa.com's overall return rate has remained very low throughout the past year. The company's total return rate is only 1 percent, consisting of 0.7 percent for unwanted purchases and 0.3 percent for warranty returns.
Nokia phone tops the list of lowest-rated products
A Nokia feature phone is this year's lowest-rated product.
“A poor review doesn't always mean the product is low quality. It might have been used for the wrong purpose, or expectations simply weren't met. For instance, Nokia feature phones are solid devices for those familiar with the operating system. However, if a senior user receives one without proper guidance, they might find it tricky to use, leading to a bad review. This feedback is vital for us to improve our product descriptions. Customer reviews are an essential part of product information and should definitely be read before making a purchase,” Stenbäck says.
According to Lauri Kutila, Brand and Communications Manager at Verkkokauppa.com, many customers put significant effort into writing detailed reviews. These can even reveal clever alternative uses for poorly rated products.
“The Blackstorm gaming floor mat, found on the lowest-rated list, has been described as completely unfit for purpose and incredibly flimsy. One reviewer even suggested it’s best suited as a mat for a cat's litter box,” Kutila says.
Kutila notes that products that are the first in their category or feature entirely new functions, operating systems, or pilot technologies also tend to receive more negative reviews.
Top 10 most returned products
| Product: | Return rate: | Product category: |
|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 - wireless earbuds | over 60 % | Headphones |
| Airam Rocky Solar LED hanging lantern with solar cell and battery | over 50 % | Lighting |
| E-Way E-5045 electric scooter | over 50 % | Electric vehicles |
| WD Red Pro 20 TB SATA NAS HDD 3.5" hard drive | 45 % | Hard drives |
| ProCaster TW-10 Shield true wireless Bluetooth sports headphones, gun metal grey | 45 % | Headphones |
| Koss BT190i Bluetooth earbuds, black | 43 % | Headphones |
| Severin KA4851 FILKA 5-in-1 coffee maker with thermal carafe | 31 % | Coffee |
| Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium capsule machine | 29 % | Coffee |
| AMT Gastroguss The World's Best Pan - frying pan, non-stick coating, 28 cm | 28 % | Frying pans |
| ProCaster 65SL901H 65" 4K Android LED TV | 28 % | Televisions |
Top 10 lowest-rated products
| Product: | Average rating (scale 1–5): | Product category: |
|---|---|---|
| Nokia 105 4G (2023) Dual-SIM feature phone, black | 1.33 | Phones |
| FoneKit Full Cover tempered glass, Nothing Phone (1) | 1.50 | Phones |
| Kingston NV2 2 TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 1.61 | Components |
| Whirlpool SW8AM2DWHR2 refrigerator, white and Whirlpool UW8F2DWHBIN2 upright freezer, white | 1.67 | Home appliances |
| Kingston XS2000 external SSD, 4 TB | 1.82 | Peripherals |
| Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 wireless earbuds, black | 1.86 | Audio and Hi-Fi |
| HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Gaming Mouse, black | 2.00 | Peripherals |
| Xplora X6 Play watch phone, black | 2.17 | Watches |
| Lenco CD-300 portable CD/MP3 player, black | 2.25 | Audio and Hi-Fi |
| Blackstorm Dark Circle Floor Mat, black | 2.33 | Gaming |
*Verkkokauppa.com collected data between 23 October 2023 and 23 October 2024 to identify the most returned and lowest-rated products of the year. Each returned product on the list has sold at least 10 units, and each rated product has received at least 5 reviews. A Wilfa blender was removed from the list due to a reporting error.
Additional information
press@verkkokauppa.com (Ulkoinen palvelu)
Verkkokauppa.com
Verkkokauppa.com is Finland's leading online retailer, offering a wide range of products from home technology to leisure and business needs. Operating since 1992, the company is one of the world's oldest online retailers, combining e-commerce and physical stores into a seamless omnichannel customer experience. Verkkokauppa.com's four megastores are located in Oulu, Pirkkala, Raisio, and Helsinki's Jätkäsaari district. To deliver an exceptional customer experience, the company delivers products to your door in as little as one hour, around the clock, using automation and robotics. Verkkokauppa.com employs approximately 600 people, and the company's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
