I have to rant a little on the entitled trend of leaving permanent negative reviews for businesses.
Poor ratings cost businesses money and customers. In extreme cases it may be fair they can have an impact, but I also think there should be a time limit for how long a review should stay posted so the punishment doesn't grossly outweigh the crime.
While you have every right to voice your concerns on products or services you receive through online reviews, you're not obligated to just because an website gave you a soap box. They become a permanent record on the Internet and can cost businesses a lot of money while chipping away at goodwill. Review sites offer businesses no opportunity for redemption. There's no mediation process, and no way to alter the review through changed behaviour or services.
Instead of leaving a permanent negative review, I think you have these options:
- Accept that most people are doing the best they can and understand things can't always meet your expectations and no company can be expected to anticipate what your particular version of the perfect experience will be, let alone deliver on it.
- Try to resolve the issue directly with the business. Or don't. Is it really that important for you to lambaste a business because your meal took five minutes longer to get to your table than you expected? Move on, don't worry about it.
- If you must leave a review, put a time limit on it. Set a reminder in your phone to take down the review after three months or six months if you want to be a total dick.
You're not so awesome that you should anoint yourself judge, jury and executioner doling out permanent punishments to businesses. These reviews have an absolute impact on the bottom line of the company and the morale of the employees, and frankly, it's unlikely you have all the information required to fairly crucify a company.
If you have littered bad reviews around the Internet for various businesses, please consider taking them down. You've made your point.
Yelp, Google, etc. should automatically expire all reviews, good or bad, after a set amount of time.