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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to be forced to leave 5* review?

121 replies

Marooney · 18/04/2024 11:33

I've had an expensive cosmetic treatment (microblading). After the first session they whatsapped me to ask me to leave a review, and I said I would after the touch-up session when the treatment would be complete.

Just had that last session, and on my way out the lady asked if I'd leave a review, and could she show me how to do it via Google maps rather than Google. No problem. But then she thrusts my phone back into my hand with 5 stars selected and motions me to sit and write it there and then. I said no thanks I'll do it in my own time and she said I might forget! Anyway she was friendly enough when I left but I'm really annoyed now. I probably won't leave any review rather than mentioning it as I'd like to return for future treatments. AIBU?

OP posts:
strawberryandtomato · 21/04/2024 15:08

@Marooney ahhh well in that case, yes you're right. Very pushy! And annoying!
I'm a small business, reviews help SO much. But I never ask! 😂 maybe I should

Original poster
Marooney · 21/04/2024 15:02

strawberryandtomato · 21/04/2024 13:19

Well I wouldn't have handed it to you with o my 3 stars selected. You liked the treatment. Help a business out. Why be petty. You haven't stated in your OP that you didn't like the service.
Businesses reply so much on reviews and google makes it so hard unless you pay extortionate fees

Show quote history

By default there is nothing selected, i.e. the reviewer has to choose before posting, so there was no risk of me accidentally giving 1 star if that's what you're saying, your first sentence isn't clear.
As I've said in subsequent comments it's not a small business and they have over 1500 reviews, average 5 star (I know why!).
If I had been politely asked to leave a review I would have, and probably a 5 star one at that. But to select 5 stars under the guise of showing me how to use googlemaps reviews and motion me to sit down in the foyer while standing over me is a step too far; that is not what a review system is for.

OP posts:
Whatifthehokeycokey · 21/04/2024 14:30

Very pushy of her.

Womblingmerrily · 21/04/2024 13:27

I had a similar experience in Tim Hortons.

A staff member was walking round the restaurant with a tablet - she stopped at my table and asked if I wanted to leave a review. I said I might do so later and she was pushy saying she could help me do it now. I declined.

She then went over to a father and daughter - the father agreed to a review and she stood over him whilst he wrote it and then checked it on her tablet. She offered the father a free drink which he said no to. She then asked the daughter (who was about 11/12) whether she wanted to leave a review as well - the child agreed and then once checked was offered a drink, which she accepted, having clearly understood this was available from the offer to her father.

The staff member steadily went round the whole restaurant this way.

I don't think this is an ethical way to go about things, particularly asking children.

menopausalmare · 21/04/2024 13:22

My local Ford garage rang me for a follow- up to a car service and told me to review them and pretty much told me to give 5 stars.
I refused.
The woman seemed quite put out.

strawberryandtomato · 21/04/2024 13:19

Marooney · 18/04/2024 11:33

I've had an expensive cosmetic treatment (microblading). After the first session they whatsapped me to ask me to leave a review, and I said I would after the touch-up session when the treatment would be complete.

Just had that last session, and on my way out the lady asked if I'd leave a review, and could she show me how to do it via Google maps rather than Google. No problem. But then she thrusts my phone back into my hand with 5 stars selected and motions me to sit and write it there and then. I said no thanks I'll do it in my own time and she said I might forget! Anyway she was friendly enough when I left but I'm really annoyed now. I probably won't leave any review rather than mentioning it as I'd like to return for future treatments. AIBU?

Well I wouldn't have handed it to you with o my 3 stars selected. You liked the treatment. Help a business out. Why be petty. You haven't stated in your OP that you didn't like the service.
Businesses reply so much on reviews and google makes it so hard unless you pay extortionate fees

exomoon · 21/04/2024 13:16

stoneyfaces · 18/04/2024 11:38

she might have just wanted you to do it whilst it was open in case you couldn’t find the section again? I think you’re overthinking this a little 🤷🏻‍♀️

It can be difficult running small businesses and clinics- reviews are incredibly important

Please don’t justify the unjustifiable, it just puts people off small businesses.

Lurkingandlearning · 21/04/2024 13:16

I doubt I would have thought of it, but I’d like to have asked if I should include “really fucking pushy about getting a review “ in the review

IncompleteSenten · 21/04/2024 13:16

Mugaloaf · 21/04/2024 13:10

I've had the same in a cafe.

He handed the phone back to me after selecting five stars and telling me what to write...

Were you tempted to change it to one star and type
Took my phone and attempted to force me to leave a 5 star review.

Mugaloaf · 21/04/2024 13:10

I've had the same in a cafe.

He handed the phone back to me after selecting five stars and telling me what to write...

sassyclassyandsmartassy · 21/04/2024 13:10

As a small business owner I love a review and I am so pleased when they are super good, which is a real boost for the team, and am truly grateful someone took the time when it happens. As such we do ask for reviews, but we are not this pushy for exactly the reasons you give here, I would never want someone to feel that pressured or choose their stars, although we have had weird experiences where we’ve gotten less than 5 and yet it’s been a lovely review, which is just random, so maybe she’s had that in the past which has prompted this, who knows?

Also I am always mindful of that age old adage that people will talk about poor experiences way more than good, so I can understand a business trying to promote leaving a good review, even if I don’t think handling it this way is right.

edited for spelling and readability 🤦🏻‍♀️

Emmz1510 · 21/04/2024 12:01

Does she get to see who is leaving what rating or is it anonymous? I would leave her 4 stars, especially if you liked the treatment. That acknowledges you were happy with the service but also send a subtle message that you won’t be brow beaten into leaving 5 stars and hopefully she won’t do it again and you can give her 5 if you want to.

albatrossjoe · 18/04/2024 15:30

We had a carpet fitter do similar to us recently, he then emailed and text me asking me to remember to do it. He has loads of 5* reviews, which is why we used him. Now we see why. We decided not to leave a review at all due to his incessant pressuring, we've also now got problems with the carpet so he wasn't that good a fitter anyway. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I'd definitely not leave her a good review based on her behaviour, so cheeky and pushy!

Tophelleborine · 18/04/2024 14:56

I don't leave reviews at all unless I especially want to (something was really good or really bad). I don't see why I should do companies' marketing for them.

steelseries · 18/04/2024 14:53

Soon this will be illegal. Proposed legislation (the digital markets, competition and consumers bill) specifically prevents the commissioning of fake reviews. Businesses already also have obligations to make sure info published doesn't mislead or deceive consumers.

ButterflyKu · 18/04/2024 14:49

I HATE stuff like that. It’s one thing to say, ‘if you’ve had a good experience with us, please leave us a review,’ and something completely different to show how a customer needs to leave a review and what the review should be. Very strange. If I wanted to go back I just wouldn’t leave a review at all

whynotwhatknot · 18/04/2024 14:46

no i dont like that-i dont mind being asked to leave a review its fine more than hhappy but i wouldt be pressurised and it would put me off going back

eurochick · 18/04/2024 14:44

I'm utterly fed up with businesses chasing reviews. There is no way someone that pushy would get one from me.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 18/04/2024 14:40

Don’t leave a review at all.If you go back and she asks you again , just say you prefer to do things like that at your own convenience.

Original poster
Marooney · 18/04/2024 14:39

aurynne · 18/04/2024 12:00

...so continue with her. Do you think she's going to screw up your eyebrows next time if you don't leave a 5* review?

Show quote history

Honestly, based on the whatsapp interaction I've had with this company I do think it might affect what availability they have for me, and I live out of town so it's already a hassle. Looking at their replies to the (very few) unfavourable reviews I get a bit of a bad vibe..

OP posts:
ArcticBells · 18/04/2024 14:34

YANBU. Don't feel pressurised.

Jk8 · 18/04/2024 14:33

Surely you'd just change the stars on it (& do it infront of her)

Original poster
Marooney · 18/04/2024 14:33

MorningSunshineSparkles · 18/04/2024 14:07

What’s the issue with leaving her a review if you really like what she’s done? The stars are already highlighted, you need to adjust the rating. And if you’re paying for a service that you’re that happy with you’ll be going back to use it again then surely leaving a review isn’t a big deal?

Leaving a review is no problem at all and I'm happy to do so, but the entire concept of the review process is that it's the client's own opinion. At no point had I said to her anything like "I'd give you a 5 star review!" in which case I would have found her prompting it on my phone cheeky but funny, and gone ahead with it

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 18/04/2024 14:31

X post. 😁

I wonder how many of them are people who felt too awkward to say no.

IncompleteSenten · 18/04/2024 14:30

"and she has over 1500 reviews!!"

And now you know how!