For subscribers
Has the 5-star review lost its value?
When companies incentivise five-star reviews by dangling discounts or freebies, they risk eroding trust in the whole review ecosystem. Is there a better way?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
There are myriad ways businesses curate a favourable online presence.
ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO
Follow topic:
A Google score of 4.7 out of 5, amassed from around 400 reviews, is a respectable rating for any F&B joint – enough to make this picky foodie decide to give this Thai basil pork rice stall a try.
But the ruse was revealed when I visited the stall in an Ang Mo Kio coffee shop in July. Next to its brightly lit, attractively photographed menu was a sign advertising a free upsized portion in exchange for a five-star Google review.
