Free side with 5 star review - Acceptable?

Larkosh on 09/01/2023 - 11:07

I ordered pizza from a popular chain restaurant. When I went to pick it up, there was a sign saying "Give us 5 star rating on google and grab a free side".

Is this illegal, unethical, or acceptable? I don't see an issue of a company offering something in return for an honest review, but to specify a 5 star review just doesn't sit right. And unless you've been there before, you would have to leave a review before eating the pizza. I would say it's working because the past month they have heaps of 5 star google reviews with no description or additional information.

FYI - Although the offer of a free side was tempting, but I didn't leave a review.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Empharand on 09/01/2023 - 11:10
    +6

    Yeah I would agree that it's unethical and morally wrong when you take into consideration businesses actually trying to earn reviews based on their great service and food without bribing their customers.

    Nothing against businesses having a sign saying 'Please don't forget to leave us a positive review' around the dine-in areas but to essentially bribe people for a 5-Star review? The issue is people will do it and won't think twice because of free food….

    I'd be tempted to leave the review, get the free side and then remove the review as a massive F YOU to said business (More specifically the owner) - Obviously that's unethical (Per se) but so is baiting people for a 5 star review

  • Cheaplikethebird on 09/01/2023 - 11:13
    +15

    I would do the 5-star review, get the side, then later change to 1-star and state that they're offering freebies for 5-star reviews.

    • arkosh on 09/01/2023 - 11:15
      +16

      Yeah, I'm thinking I'll leave a 2 star review and attach a photo of the sign.
      *2 stars because it is good pizza still.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 09/01/2023 - 12:44

      @Cheaplikethebird; That's truly giving them the bird.

  • bobbified on 09/01/2023 - 11:16
    +1

    "Give us 5 star rating on google and grab a free side"

    I would say it's borderline "unethical", but if someone actually had a problem with them, they're 5 star review wouldn't be that easily bought with a "free side".

    • Cheaplikethebird on 09/01/2023 - 11:22

      The odd 1-star won't matter if they have dozens of 5-star reviews, they'll still be at the top of the list when searching for pizza in that area.

      • bobbified on 09/01/2023 - 11:40
        +2

        I'm a bit in two minds about this actually.

        There seems to be more of a tendency for people to make the effort to go online and leave a negative review after what they deem as a 'bad experience' because it didn't live up to to their expectations. So the reviews are often disproportionate.

        The majority of people who have a positive experience won't normally leave a review (because it's often what one should expect) so I think the "free side", if anything, will encourage people in this category to leave a review. I don't think it's a big enough incentive (vs those that might offer a $50+ voucher or something similar) to sway the actual review too much.

        More people leaving reviews means that the ratio between the number of customers that have had a bad vs good experience is a little more realistic.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 09/01/2023 - 13:18
          +2

          Yeah I agree and I do feel for restaurants whose success can largely be decided by these review sites but I think the 5-star requirement is where it crosses the line. Just offer a freebie for a review then let the quality of your food and service ensure it's a good review.

  • geek001 on 09/01/2023 - 11:18
    +1

    I have seen this. Highly rated restaurants, but if you read the reviews, there are multiple 5 star reviews giving you the actual review with a note saying that the 5 star is for free side or small dessert. So it is important to read the reviews rather than just going off ratings.

    Also grey area, asking your friends to give you 5 star ratings. It is sometimes obvious in the reviews that the poster is friends with the owner with lines like "you know who this is from", etc.

  • CyberMurning on 09/01/2023 - 11:29

    i had bought something from ebay (local seller) for around $200ish, they offer like $30 to give review, but the delivery is superb, the guy called once they dropped the item and took photo, packaging was okay, item is good and i got a bargain at that price even before the $30 so why not. until now i am still happy with it - (which is 2 years later)

  • pharkurnell on 09/01/2023 - 11:54
    -2

    People still believe online reviews? Fascinating! funny but fascinating

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/01/2023 - 12:00

    I would insta give a 2 star review for bribery attempt.

    • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 14:49
      +1

      Why not 1 star?

  • scrimshaw on 09/01/2023 - 12:21
    +14

    It's illegal. Not just unethical.

    https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/…

    • It’s against the law for a business to create fake or misleading reviews or to arrange for others to do so.

    Incentives are offered for positive reviews
    Businesses that offer incentives to people to write a positive review risk misleading consumers and breaching the law.
    Incentives include offering discounts or free gifts.

    Incentives offered to customers to provide reviews must be:

    1. applied regardless of whether the reviewer leaves a positive or negative review
    2. clearly disclosed so consumers know the review was incentivised.
    • cookie2 on 09/01/2023 - 13:47

      Interesting, i didn't know this at all. I just assumed unethical and dodgy.

      • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 21:10

        So you would have been correct, unless you assumed it was illegal?

    • SF3 on 09/01/2023 - 20:46

      review clearly disclosed so consumers know the review was incentivised.

      So, OP could write "Gave’em a 5 star rating on google and grabbed a free side, my real rating in my comments”.

  • ValueInvesting on 09/01/2023 - 13:11
    +3

    Any 5 star reviews given in exchange for a free side are prohibited by Google as it's considered Deceptive Content, specifically 'Fake Engagement'. It can be reported to Google via the maps app I think.

    Fake engagement
    Contributions to Google Maps should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business. Fake engagement is not allowed and will be removed.

    This includes:

    Paying, incentivising or encouraging the posting of content that does not represent a genuine experience.

  • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 21:02
    +2

    It is low for the restaurant to ask for a five-star review in return for a free dessert, but it is just as low to give said fake five-star review to feed your fat gut with a chocolate mousse/chocolate lava cake/Sara Lee strawberry cheesecake and then rescind/edit the review. I see that as a zero-sum game in terms of moral point-scoring. I'm just imagining someone tucking into a fast food dessert on their couch with the lights off in front of the tv eating it and laughing thinking to themselves "boy, I sure showed them by leaving a fake review and then changing the rating afterwards!"

    Why don't people just leave a one-star review calling out this behaviour, instead of leaving a five-star review so they can feed their fat arses and then change it again? That behaviour doesn't make you any better than the store IMO.

    I would just leave an honest review, like I usually do on Google Reviews. Reporting this behaviour is also another valid option and should be encouraged.

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