In ancient Ur, around 1750 BCE, a dissatisfied customer named Nanni had his complaint etched into a clay tablet, now housed in the British Museum. The message, catalogued as UET V 81, accuses merchant Ea-nasir of delivering inferior copper ingots instead of the promised grade. Nanni’s messenger had been treated poorly and sent through dangerous territory. The tablet captures the breaking point of a long-strained business relationship, not just a single bad order.
Archaeologists later found more grievances against Ea-nasir in his own home, reinforcing his reputation as a repeat offender. However, scholars note that only the customers’ side survives; the merchant’s defense remains unknown.
While writing predates this tablet by centuries, Nanni’s complaint is the oldest recorded customer complaint. Its themes-wrong product, rude service, public shaming-are indistinguishable from modern online reviews. The medium has changed from clay to cloud, but the human impulse to document and broadcast disappointment remains unchanged.