15. Subway
> 2023 Harris Poll Reputations Score: 68.2
> Change in rank from 2016: down by 2
A lawsuit brought against America’s eighth-largest restaurant by sales in 2021 claimed Subway misled the public about its tuna products and that testing showed the items contained animal proteins such as chicken, pork, and cattle, and not “100% tuna” as advertised.
According to the website Eat This, Not That!, the company’s standards have been declining since founder Fred DeLuca passed away in 2015. Citizenship, character, and culture are the areas where Subway falters in the Axios Harris Poll.
14. Comcast
> 2023 Harris Poll Reputations Score: 68.0
> Change in rank from 2016: down by 2
Telecommunications companies are usually among the businesses with the worst reputations, and Comcast is among them. Its score of 63.5 in citizenship is its lowest in nine categories on the Axios Harris Poll.
Over the years, Comcast has been accused of throttling competition, displaying confusing pricing, having shoddy customer service, pursuing an aggressive customer retention policy, and stifling use of the internet.
13. Wells Fargo & Company
> 2023 Harris Poll Reputations Score: 67.8
> Change in rank from 2016: Up by 4
Banks are generally unloved by consumers, and Wells Fargo is no different. The public was shocked by the revelation in 2016 that Wells Fargo had created millions of phony accounts and opened them without the account holders’ knowledge.
Other scandals followed, including charging hundreds of thousands of borrowers for auto insurance they did not need. In 2018, the bank launched a marketing campaign to emphasize the company’s commitment to re-establish trust with stakeholders.
In May 2023, the bank agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a lawsuit accusing it of defrauding shareholders about its progress in recovering from a series of scandals over its treatment of customers. Wells Fargo’s lowest grades are in citizenship and character in the Axios Harris Poll.
12. Dollar Tree
> 2023 Harris Poll Reputations Score: 67.3
> Change in rank from 2016: down by 15
Dollar Tree plunged the most in ranking of any company on our list. The company grades low in character, culture, ethics, and products and service. Like other dollar stores, Dollar Tree has expanded dramatically, and cities such as New Orleans, Atlanta, and Cleveland are seeking to pause the growth of dollar stores in their communities because of store saturation. Customers have complained of rude service and filthy stores.
11. Family Dollar
> 2023 Harris Poll Reputations Score: 65.6
> Change in rank from 2016: No change
Culture, citizenship, and products and services are categories where Family Dollar falters in the Axios Harris Poll. Customers have complained of rude service and unposted prices for products. Like other dollar stores, Family Dollar has deeply penetrated lower-income areas and is said to be a magnet for crime. OSHA officials have said Family Dollar has “a history of not taking the safety of its workers and customers seriously.” Several former employees have sued the company. Family Dollar also had to temporarily close hundreds of stores in early 2022 due to rodent infestation.
