I’m going to share a story today, one you’ve probably never heard before.

It’s about the ancient world of customer reviews.

Our story takes place in the bustling markets of ancient Mesopotamia, where a copper merchant named Ea-nasir is about to receive what might be the world’s first recorded bad review.

And it’s absolutely savage.

Meet Ea-nasir

Picture this: It’s around 1750 BCE in the city of Ur. Traders are hustling, donkeys are braying, and Ea-nasir is busy selling copper ingots to eager customers. In theory, these copper ingots were supposed to be top quality. Shiny, sturdy, worthy of a craftsman.

In theory.

Now, enter our hero: Nanni, a customer expecting premium copper for his money. What he got instead was sub-standard copper.

The Clay Tablet

So what did Nanni do?

He carved his negative review into a clay tablet. A permanent, eternal complaint that archaeologists would dig up nearly four millennia later.

The tablet essentially says:

“Ea-nasir, the copper you sent me was garbage, your workers treated my messenger terribly, and you’ve wasted my time. This is unacceptable.”

It is, in short, a masterpiece of ancient rage.

Can you imagine being so mad that you chisel your complaint into wet clay?

Customer Service, Mesopotamian-Style

In today’s world, a bad review might get you a coupon or a “We’re sorry to hear this” email.

But Ea-nasir had no customer support team. No refund bot. No “How did we do?” survey.

He had a clay tablet delivered to his doorstep.

Imagine Ea-nasir reading it:

“Low-grade copper? Rude staff? Public embarrassment? Fantastic. Just what I needed.”

And since Trustpilot wouldn’t exist for a few thousand years, Nanni didn’t even have to hold back.

What This Teaches Us

If there’s one thing this ancient meltdown teaches us, it’s that customer frustration is timeless.

Commerce has evolved. Humans have not.

Whether your complaint is typed angrily on a phone or etched violently into clay, feedback matters. And the principles of customer service — honesty, quality, respect — are truly ancient.

Why This Matters Today

The next time you get a harsh review or a demanding customer message, remember:

  1. At least they didn’t write it in clay.
  2. At least archaeologists won’t dig it up someday.
  3. And at least your name isn’t Ea-nasir, aka history’s first officially roasted merchant.

The Takeaway

Let’s give a respectful nod to both men: Ea-nasir, the original “bad seller,” and Nanni, the patron saint of dissatisfied customers.

Their 3,700-year-old dispute reminds us that feedback, even when harsh, is part of the journey. And sometimes, it makes for a great story.

If you were Nanni, how would you have handled it? Would you send another clay tablet … or go full Mesopotamian Karen?