Some Thoughts About... Online Restaurant Reviews
Here in the greater Atlanta area, we have an online review site called
kudzu.com, with which you can write in to share personal experiences and opinions about all kinds of businesses and services. They often run promotions over the radio to encourage participation. For example, my wife wrote ten reviews and received a $5 gasoline card- pretty good deal! I've yet to participate, although whenever I have a negative experience with a retailer, I think about it.
So, yesterday I was checking out some of the local restaurants. There is one I often drive by, their marquee advertises a lunch special, and I've thought about stopping for a meal. This site offers 18 customer reviews, many of them positive. However, a couple grabbed my attention:
ericpierce2 shared the following insight 11/5/2007-
Our waitress was in desperate need of additional help. Due to her being the only one working service was very slow. Also she worked up a sweat which we saw drip into several people's food.(However, he gave it 2 stars! What in the world would a restaurant have to do to garner a 1 or 0 star in his rating system?
)sherrickahudson passed along the following experience from 12/29/2005-
The food is pretty expensive and the last we went, there was hair in our drinks. There was also hair in the replacement drink. Needless to say we left.
(Yeah, the bums probably did not even leave a tip!
)I do not know the stories behind such reviews. I do know it seems to be human nature to forget to praise good service, and yet to be sure to make note of bad service. And I also know that either of these bad reviews could be motivated by less than honest intent. You get fired, or turned down for a date by the waitress? A bad person can always attempt to get even by writing a bad review. It seems to me, in analyzing such review sites, it is best not to put too much weight upon individual opinions. Instead, consider overall averages and trends.
Still, tonight I think I'll dine somewhere else.
06.13.08 (1:17 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
OldSchool (
reply)
post date:
06.13.08 (10:33 am)
Good idea.
I agree on the motivation factor.
I try to recognize good service or deeds to the same extreme that I recognize bad service or deeds. It is easy to do the latter, but I need to constantly remind myself to recognize the good.
You know yourself that it feels nice to get positive recognition or compliments, so do unto others...
Great post (as usual)
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
06.13.08 (11:39 am)
I just sent an e-mail yesterday to praise a customer service representative at a website for her efforts to satisfy me. It's so easy to speak out after bad service. We should attempt to also acknowledge the good now and then if we feel someone went above and beyond the call of duty.
posted by:
intricategirl (
reply)
post date:
06.13.08 (2:03 pm)
They say that a person who is satisfied with a company will usually not tell any of their friends. A person who is dissatisfied will tell 6 of their friends. Needless to say, it's easier for a company to get a bad reputation than a good one.
I try to balance it out. I think companies should know when they are doing a good job, and when they need improvement.
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
06.13.08 (8:34 pm)
Pastor Dave, this is off subject. Please forgive me for that. However, there is a book you MUST read. It's called The Shack by William P. Young. It's a very unique way to present the Trinity. Many in our town of 150,000 are reading it. Please read--its wonderful. It's very spiritual.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
06.13.08 (10:05 pm)
I tend to thank someone for doing a good job at the time ~ if I am disappointed with a place, I simply do not return.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.15.08 (4:48 pm)
Reply to: spook102956
I'll check it out. Actually, looked it up on amazon. Has very good reviews, and sounds like it would be a cut above most Christian novels which are not very good. Thanks for the recommendation.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.15.08 (4:49 pm)
Reply to: kgurl1166
Easy to do. Then, one day when that quiet and good person is no longer around, she/he is sorely missed.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.15.08 (4:49 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
Good habit!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
06.16.08 (5:53 am)
Hmmm. I'm always leery of online reviews. If I owned the restaurant across the street from one being reviewed, AND I wasn't ethical, might not I find hair in my drink AND, in fact, also in my replacement drink?
