Businesses fundamentally don't understand how the average person approaches online reviews. Unless you are a "Local Guide" on Google Reviews, you are probably not going to leave a review for a service unless it's a 1-star or a 5-star experience. That doesn't leave a lot of nuance for business owners when analyzing their reviews; It's either the greatest establishment on earth, or it's a pig sty. Consequently, business owners will do anything to ensure they get as many five-star reviews as possible.
One waiter recently got stuck in a baffling situation involving this very quagmire. A manager wrote on a dry-erase board:
"This week, I will be writing up those that are not mentioned 5-star reviews."
They asked the citizens of Reddit if this is illegal, which it, unfortunately, isn't. Legality aside, what a horrible way to run your business! This system is so easy to manipulate that it's almost hysterical.
