07/30/2024
Last week, I had a wonderful dining experience. The food was exceptional, the service was fantastic, and the vibe was just right. I popped into Google to leave a glowing 5-star review but...
When I was in there, I saw another reviewer's post from the week before.
The diner seemed to enjoy their meal but gave a 4-star rating.
Maybe they encountered a minor issue or were comparing the place to their favorite high-end spot.
Ratings are subjective, after all.
But: If a restaurantโor any business for that matterโ delivers exactly what it promisesโgreat food and attentive service in this caseโshouldnโt that merit a full 5 stars?
In my view, the rating should reflect the restaurant's promise and delivery, not an unattainable benchmark or to a standard not within the business category. It's sort of like comparing a pizza place to a high-end Italian restaurant.
Why does this get my goat? These ratings are a big deal for businesses. They matter because they:
1. ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐: to attract more customers who are looking for exactly what they offer.
2. ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ: so potential new customers are more confident in their choice when deciding whether to try the place out.
3. ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: a little positive reinforcement works on your kids, and it also works to reward businesses that consistently meet their promises, encouraging them to maintain their high standards
But not everyone ascribes to this philosophy--I've had this debate with friends who feel like giving 4 stars is "typical" and 5 stars is reserved for truly exceptional.
How do you decide your ratings? Do you rate based on the promise or what you expect?
Would love to hear your thoughts below. ๐ฌ๐
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