Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To leave a not-so-good review

73 replies

cleofatra · 25/02/2018 13:29

On a cafe's Facebook page- about their food? Or is writing bad reviews just petty?

I feel guilty now.
Does anyone else write reviews or do you just vote with your feet if you get a bad meal somewhere?

OP posts:

ArchchancellorsHat · 25/02/2018 16:31

If it's a fair review then yes, I'd leave it. I'd point out anything that went well as well as why you thought the meal was overpriced, rather than just saying it was shit. I've never been to a cafe where I'd expect to bargain over the prices, so they couldn't really have changed anything at the time. if that was the problem then I'd say so.

OtterInDisgrace · 25/02/2018 16:35

I’m always far too worried that if I sent back food or complained they would do something horrible to the new food sent as a replacement. So it’s a real problem because then you never feel able to complain!

CassandraCross · 25/02/2018 16:36

I've never had a problem telling a restaurant or cafe that, in my opinion, the food is not worth what they are charging me for it.

I love the idea that all these reviewers are doing some kind of public service to the poor unfortunates who may use the restaurant after them. If the restaurant is not made aware of the issues at the time, or even afterwards by a phone call, e-mail or letter then they have little to no chance to make changes for the benefit of all their customers. To leave a bad review in order to stop others using the restaurant without alerting the restaurant to any dissatisfaction you had smacks of vindictiveness, you want it closed down/put out of business because you didn't like it.

surreygirl1987 · 25/02/2018 16:38

Yes @otter - anyway read about the vegan restaurant scandal? I used to be a waitress and saw some appalling things in the kitchen regarding customers' food if they complained...!

I've only ever raised an issue if there was something (plastic or a hair) in my food, or when my soup was cold or if there was something missing. How would you complain about 'poor value for money' anyway?

surreygirl1987 · 25/02/2018 16:43

@Cassandra- many restaurants these days check their tripadvisor page so WOULD have the chance to make changes. It is just a public way of giving feedback. The It's review was on the facebook page. Odd if they're not checking that, surely?

Finally, if it really is a one-off, it is unlikely to affect their overall review situation as, if a decent restaurant, they are likely to have numerous positive reviews too. It's a question of balance. Of course, if ALL the reviews are negative then there is likely an issue. I tend to use tripadvisor more often than the Facebook page because most restaurants will already have some reviews on there so mine will fit in among them for a fair and balanced picture.

melj1213 · 25/02/2018 16:43

And I will have to disagree SurreyGirl - I have very rarely had unpleasentness come from a genuine issue with food served in a restaurant. It helps to be able to offer a specific reason why it wasn't good -
over or undercooked/too fatty/too dry/too bland or spicy/badly seasoned/not as described/too cold or hot etc - as that is constructive and they can work on issues rather than just "I didn't like the quality" as they can't help likes/dislikes. Also as long as an issue is raised respectfully - so not shouting and all guns blazing - then I have rarely had a restaurant be unreasonable or unpleasant straight off the bat, they will usually want to fix issues rather than piss off customers.

Raising it at the time and giving them a chance to rectify doesn't mean I won't also leave a review that outlines my experience but whilst that may not be favourable to the food it will be favourable to the restaurant and it gives potential patrons the knowledge that if they do have an issue with their service the restaurant will do something about it.

I tend to find that restaurants who make the effort to offer goodwill are either perennially bad restaurants who know that patrons are likely to complain and so have a blanket goodwill system in place - but then that would also be reflected in other public reviews - or they are a good place that has had a slip up in service levels and want to make it up to patrons who haven't received their usual high level of service. There are places I have been to and had bad service and I will never go there again because of their attitude after a genuine issue was raised and there are other places where I have had bad service but I still go there regularly because of how they dealt with the issue and their great customer service and I have never had an issue since.

Original poster

cleofatra · 25/02/2018 16:59

I always think if you complain at the site then it just looks like you are trying to get something for nothing.

OP posts:

CassandraCross · 25/02/2018 17:32

I've never found that, I think it is all dependent on the way you approach complaining.

surreygirl1987 · 25/02/2018 17:34

@Cassandra- fair enough if you have never experienced that yourself...I guess we all have different experineces. However, I disagree that it's always dependent on 'the way' you complain. I don't think it's my fault for not complaining well enough thst I have had bad experiences. I agree with the OP actually.

PyongyangKipperbang · 25/02/2018 17:41

CassandraCross

I have worked in hospitality for years and have never come across an owner/F&B manager/head of wait staff etc who hasnt kept an eye on Trip Adviser. The very act of posting a review on there can be assumed to be informing the business. If they dont watch their reviews then more fool them!

PyongyangKipperbang · 25/02/2018 17:42

Advisor*

CassandraCross · 25/02/2018 18:01

I'm sure they do keep an eye on Trip Advisor, they have to as it has been used by people merely trying to get a free meal it's even been known for people to post reviews of places they have never been in. However, I still think the restaurant should be given the courtesy of hearing the complaint at the time face to face or very shortly thereafter by phone or e-mail rather than first being made aware of it on a Trip Advisor review. The restaurant could have done something at the time if they'd known about it and settled it to everyone's satisfaction.

CassandraCross · 25/02/2018 18:06

surreygirl1987 my point about the way you complain was in response to the OP's comment about wanting 'something for nothing' it was not directed at you nor was it to imply that a bad experience is a result of not complaining well enough.

Original poster

cleofatra · 25/02/2018 18:23

I'm so glad I posted this. So many different views. But mostly that you should really say something at the place.

OP posts:

surreygirl1987 · 25/02/2018 18:26

@Cassandra oh yes I know it wasn't directed at me personally! I thought your comment that it depends on the way you complain implied that it would be the complainant's fault if the complaint wasn't received well. However, if that wasn't what you meant then fair enough!

CassandraCross · 25/02/2018 18:28

No, never meant to imply that surreygirl1987 and apologies if that's the way it came across.

surreygirl1987 · 25/02/2018 18:33

No worries! Everything's open to individual interpretation!

PrimalLass · 25/02/2018 19:15

I have left a bad review about a local restaurant. The food was awful. They must know this as lots of other reviews say so.

Frazzled2207 · 26/02/2018 07:46

Well I've just started my own business and if someone left a poor review on my Facebook page that would be pretty disastrous for me. I'd also be gutted that the customer didn't complain to me directly first.

If you had complained and they still didn't sort something out then ywnbu.

A bit different though if it is an established business with hundreds of reviews.

halcyondays · 26/02/2018 07:54

A sensible business will check its tripadvisor page. Even very good places will probably get the odd bad review and people moaning on a business's facebook page is very common. If the place is good it will be balanced out by positive comments.

surreygirl1987 · 26/02/2018 17:26

Agreed

Mumminmum · 26/02/2018 18:12

I just had to write an email to a cafe. The male waiter was wearing his trousers down so low that when he kneeled to get something I got a view of his entire buttcrack. I didn't say anything as I was embarrassed on his behalf, but then my husband pointed out it was also unsanitary to have a butt out in the open so near the food.

MorrisZapp · 26/02/2018 18:26

I would absolutely leave a poor review. My job as a customer is to turn up, enjoy my food then pay. Its not my job to help you sort out problems in your business operations.

My dp complains all the time in restaurants and it makes me feel ill. I'd rather not go out than have to have an excruciating conversation with someone on bloody minimum wage.

If crap food has been put in front of me, it's already too late to rectify. I'll just want to leave. Surely the kitchen and the waiting staff will know what crap food is.

I'm happy to point out if eg the order is wrong, or if I'd like more chips or something. But poor quality for the price, what the heck are they going to do? Change their entire menu because the business owner has just suddenly realised how much they're charging?

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread