Cafe’s reply to my review - is it any wonder places are struggling?

[KatieWa]

I reviewed a lovely cafe I visited last week whilst on holiday in Devon. I was really complimentary about the breakfast and said we found the service to be friendly and efficient. My review ended by suggesting the sign above the door isn’t overly appropriate - it stated ‘nobody leaves sober’. As someone who has a family member who has had numerous alcohol issues over the years I found this poor taste, and diplomatically worded this in the review.

The owner (publicly) replied to my review and said that’s the first feedback they’ve ever had about the sign and suggested everyone else has had a sense of humour when they’ve seen it.

I don’t think it’s a situation to make light of - is it any wonder the sector is on its knees struggling currently with this sort of attitude from a business owner?

Of course. My reply said "we will now think about making changes..." It didn't say any changes would be made.

However. If the business wants to make it clear they will not make changes they could phrase it
"...after much thought we have decided to continue with the sign in place for now, but will continue to review the situation...." or something like that.

Reviews should always be professional and if I ever read defensive replies from companies it puts me right off the company....

(sorry wrote this up thread but forgot to quote your comment treesandsheep)

Alcohol kills more people than all other drugs added together. 2.6m people globally, so alcoholism is rife. It's not laughing matter if you have experience of how it kills people and how alcohol abusers/alcoholics live.

That said the sign is funny. @KatieWa we all need to put into proportion our own experiences. Not everything that we fi d offensive really is offensive. It is likely yours is the first comment on the sign. And the owner is right, most people will find it funny.

You have given an honest review and I think the comment about the sign is fair. Loads of people don't or can't have alcohol and you wouldn't expect a café to be a drinking den. I wouldn't expect to see that sign in a pub either, mind.

The sign is totally naff, you are right to say so and they have the right to defend it if they want to. But I would certainly think less of a place that responded like that. Lack of sense of humour is a standard response of someone who regularly offends people.

Well the sign the OP is talking about is just a cheeky little nudge to come and enjoy a tipple. If you don’t like something it doesn’t mean it’s a personal dig at you.

Life is pretty fun and jolly if you just lighten up a bit.

Why is the comment fair - It’s a play on words on the double meaning of the word sober as (as you right point out) cafes are not drinking dens but are places people go to socialise and feel better and not leave ‘solumn or sad’

My life is fun thank you. I don’t know why we live in a society where having an opinion or thoughts about something means you need to “lighten up”. So condescending.

Do they serve alcohol?

Not a great sign.

But you could have mentioned that privately to them before you left. Is it any wonder that places are struggling when customers criticise every detail on the internet without speaking to the owners..

But their response would not have put me off visiting so no, the fact that they responded to you will probably not contribute to the collapse of the hospitality industry.

Why would a cafe have a sign saying that? Very odd.

The sign is horrible, as if drunk people are funny and you can't have a good time unless you're drunk. However, I think anyone who put a sign up like that in the first place was never going to see any other point of view.

I agree the sign is tasteless. I probably wouldn't dwell on it though.

It wasn't the only comment the OP made, she left a positive review and only mentioned the sign as a negative. The only requirements in giving a review are that you give an honest opinion.

Sober is hardly ever used except in the context of alcohol. If it's an attempt at a pun it's a bloody rubbish one and the OP has the right to express her views on the matter.

Chances are, most customers wouldn’t have noticed or paid heed to that signage. You might have been wiser to speak directly to the manager/owner and express your concerns that way rather than on a public domain.

There is this b&b we stayed few years ago and they answer every less than 5 star review. Someone might comment something quite innocent like "a bit slow service" ant the owner rapknds that they've reviewed cctv and give the time it took for the food to arrive. "food was a bit expensive, but nice" and they'll talk about COL. They don't serve traditional pub food so when someone points this out they will tell how many people love it and how their food is regarded highly. I find reading them hilarious and I won't go back there because of the owners responses.

I don't think it really matters if the sign is funny or not. I do think owners response was rude and unnecessary. Going after the sense of humour is a low blow and always ridiculous defence. I personally would find the sing fine, but the response from owner is a turn off. They should just leave it and let the customers draw their own conclusions. But it is their business and they have the right to response.

Do they serve them in the cafe? The only cafes near me offer tea and coffee 😂

Why though. The comment the OP made isn’t worth considering. Businesses in tourist hotspots get this shit all the time..exists for 51 weeks of the year perfectly fine someone turns up from up country, has opinions about how the business should be run to meet their personal requirements, leaves some remark on social media (often inc some statement that indicates the few hundred pounds they spent is propping up the entire county’s economy) then fucks off home. Typical tourist entitlement.

Loads down here do

Yet your opinion was important enough to campaign against a bloody sign!

The irony!

What a storm in a teacup! 🙄

Does the cafe serve alcohol? If not I’m not sure I get the “joke”.

I always read responses to reviews rather than the review itself and a sarcastic response will always put me off going to a place regardless of what the review was saying!

A cafe can sell alcohol too. Quite strange that you can't imagine that.

I'm kind of in agreement with another poster above....if it's a restaurant 'sober' is a strange term to use, and I'd take it its meant as 'feeling sober' as opposed to alcohol.

It's not particularly witty certainly, but nothing to get triggered about in my opinion.

As some one who doesn’t drink, some drunk people are, indeed, very funny.

The sign is clearly meant to be about extending hospitality, British hospitality is often equated with offering a drink.

i’m really not sure why MN has an issue with people drinking (well actually I have an idea). British villages and small town’s communities have often revolved round the pub/ meeting for a drink.

Theres been some utterly ridiculous posts on this thread.,

‘Sober is hardly ever used except in the context of alcohol. If it's an attempt at a pun it's a bloody rubbish one and the OP has the right to express her views on the matter.’

i actually described someone I know as being very sober and dour as they are very very serious so people do use it in the other context.

I actually think it’s really clever. We will have to agree to disagree. I’m not miserable so can have a wry chuckle at some things without going on a Mary Whitehouse crusade

I quite like business owners who give as good as they get in response to ridiculous comments. Would make me want to visit this place, in fact being a Devonian I’m keen to know where it was so I can offer my year round custom if local.

Most cafes get their business from passing footfall (ie nearest dry place when it rains, nearest place when you’re hungry or thirsty) and regular locals