9 Unpopular Opinions About Shark Tank, According To Reddit

Considering Shark Tank has been on the air on ABC since 2009, there are plenty of episodes for viewers to peruse. While doing so, though, many will naturally develop some opinions that are outside the norm.

Shark Tank fans tend to be divided on which of the main Sharks is the best: Kevin O’Leary (“Mr. Wonderful”), Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, or Lori Grenier. However, there’s a near-unanimous consensus that Corcoran falls on the lower end of the list. Regardless, not every unpopular Shark Tank opinion is about the Sharks themselves.

Lori And Barbara Aren’t Fair

K3R3G3 had something to say about Lori Greiner and Barbara Corcoran: “The sexism from Lori and Barbara is, at times, unfair and always annoying.” Greiner is well-liked by the collective, with many going so far as to call her one of the best Sharks on Shark Tank.

But apparently, this Redditor disagrees with the masses’ take, as they’ve lumped her in with the far less popular Corcoran. It’s also hard to pinpoint where the accusation about Lori’s sexism comes from. She’s never shown herself to be anything outside an equal opportunity investor.

Mr. Wonderful’s Metaphorical Stories Are Amazing

Not everyone likes Kevin O’Leary and his tendency to be abrupt, but even fewer like his long, seemingly off-the-wall metaphors. But the same Redditor, K3R3G3, has a soft spot for them. As they said, “Mr. Wonderful’s metaphorical stories are amazing.” If anyone has the best reactions to Shark Tank‘s funniest pitches, it’s Mr. Wonderful.

Most Redditors point to O’Leary’s brash attitude to be one of the show’s highlights (within reason), while others tend to see him as an attempt to replicate the success Simon Cowell found with his harsh persona. But even O’Leary’s fans aren’t always thrilled with his tendency to interrupt the pacing of the show by going on long tangents (often in the form of a metaphor). Regardless, this Redditor gets the appeal that O’Leary’s metaphors bring to the table.

The Shot Clock Is Terribly Unfair

A couple of Redditors feel that the show’s Shot Clock strategy instills too much stress in the show’s participants. As bigmckhou said, “I don’t like the Shot Clock either. I think it is terribly unfair when all the Sharks go out and the one remaining Shark cuts his offer. That is pretty cold.”

But Redditor Amarsir countered with a defense of the strategy: “The shot clock is a fair way to see if the entrepreneur a) is willing to commit and b) knows a fair deal when they see it rather than waiting to see what happens…” Essentially, the Shot Clock is a way to determine an entrepreneur’s level of seriousness when it comes to jumping into business with a Shark. If they can’t deal with a high-pressure situation in the Tank, how could they do so out in the world?

There Should Be More Revisiting Failed Businesses

The success stories on Shark Tank are reassuring and exciting. But the failures can be quite interesting. As one Redditor said, “I wish they did follow-ups on some failed businesses.” The best part of a particularly misguided pitch on Shark Tank is the savage quote from Kevin O’Leary it will inevitably generate. Even still, there’s interest in what happens after he and the other Sharks circle and attack.

But several Redditors pointed out that the show has done this, at least once. As JoeA1992 said, “Mix Bikini, those two dummies who rented out an entire nightclub and paid for the party with Barbara’s investment. It’s under a different name now and they’re gone.” Basically, the show has done what the first user wants, but most rejected pitches on Shark Tank stay that way and fade from public consciousness, so revisiting them wouldn’t prove compelling to the viewer.

Robert Shouldn’t Pull Himself Out Of Deals Just Because The Pitcher Consults Other Sharks

One user, _TheConsumer_, doesn’t like how Robert Herjavec offers deals. “Robert will say ‘I made you an offer. You’re listening to other people. I’m out.’ It’s a bit annoying.”

But another user, jedre, hopped to Herjavec’s defense: “Robert has said that most often when he’s offered exactly what the pitch was for, or darn close to it. If I have a person what they asked for and they looked around for something else, I’d be pi**ed – because that’s basically saying ‘no I didn’t want it from you.'” The responding user has a logical and reasonable point, it’s hard to want to do business with an individual who is not grateful.

The Tank Is Pointless Because Even A Failed Pitch Gets Exposure

Some fans don’t even think a deal in the Shark Tank is necessary for success. As Pyre 2001 said, “If you have a remotely decent product you should not take a deal. The exposure alone from being on the show could get you a better deal elsewhere or get you the sales you need.” The Sharks are known to pass on both good and bad pitches and their business acumen isn’t always enough to guarantee the correct decision. But even the rejected pitches still got to have air time on a major network, and this user believes that’s enough.

But the truth is that, while there are some exceptions, most products don’t leave the ground after the entrepreneur exits the Tank. Therefore, almost every fan would disagree with the suggestion that the participant should pass on a Shark’s deal.

The Sharks Are Impatient And Should Allow People To Call Significant Others About Deals

One Redditor thinks the Sharks should allow participants the option to call their families. As jbaugues puts it, “I don’t like that Sharks punish people for leaving the tank or asking for a better deal. This is their life and leaving to call someone or discuss with their partner is not terrible.”

But Redditor Jedre again came in with a refutation, “There have been a good number of offers where the Sharks let them go out to make a call without any hesitation…If they’re calling a partner or someone important in the organization to ask if they’re approving a structure different than anticipated — they’re absolutely fine. If they’re going out to ask their dad or friend for advice, they want them to make a decision.” The responder is absolutely right, everything is situational, and the Sharks want to see that someone they’re doing business with is mature enough to get their product or service off the ground and running.

Mark Cuban Is Overhyped And Has A Frustrating Attitude

One Redditor, rnjbond, takes issue with the way Mark Cuban operates on the show. “I get that he’s the wealthiest of the regulars, but his attitude on the show has, at times, been frustrating. He can be patronizing and condescending. He claims expertise in all areas of technology, but he’s shown some weakness in areas outside of his comfort zone.” The same Redditor then qualifies their comment a bit by stating they still respect the man, but wish he would regain the behavior he displayed in the show’s early seasons.

But a now-deleted user replied with, “Cuban’s advice when he’s out is frequently pretty good or interesting.” And the responder has a point: Cuban is not trying to be condescending or patronizing, he’s trying to provide insight (for free). Furthermore, saying Cuban has shown weakness in areas outside his comfort zone isn’t the jab it’s intended to be. Everyone shows weakness when operating outside their comfort zone, and billions of dollars won’t change that.

The Food Pitches Aren’t So Bad

Shark Tank has variety, but not always enough. Pitches tend to range from clothing to food items to streaming services then back again. It’s a common complaint that the pitches need to be a little more diverse.

But original poster Onyx09 disagrees with one part of the common complaint, saying, “I actually enjoy food pitches.” To each their own, but it seems most fans would very much enjoy seeing fewer pitches for edible items in a given episode.

About The Author

Ben Hathaway
(302 Articles Published)

Ben Hathaway is a Senior Writer (Lists) for Screen Rant. A former Therapeutic Day Treatment counselor, Ben is now a career writer. When not working, he is writing and self-publishing (on Amazon) novels under the name Scott Gray. In his spare time, he’s reading on the porch or watching every film under the sun. Ben can be contacted at [email protected].

More From Ben Hathaway