I Was Approached to Give Good Reviews for [Free] Coffee. I [Really] Hate It.

Like seriously??

Good reviews matter to you? Be careful! Photo by Look Studio on Unsplash

“Would you like to give us a Google review? Just show it to us and we will give you a free cup of coffee!”

I was out with my team after lunch. We decided to grab a cup of coffee before heading back to our office. Isabelle noticed a new café and nudged us in that direction. We got seated in 5 minutes.

Posters and easels showed me the date of its grand opening. It was 3 days ago. I checked my phone. It was 145 in the afternoon. The crowd? Barely noticed one.

And then I Googled. Hundreds of reviews.

Interesting.

Buying reviews

It did not take long for the waitress to swing by our table.

She pointed to the QR code at the edge of the table where their online menu is hidden. And then, she said something bewildering.

“We are running a promotion now! Kindly give us a Google review, show it to us before placing the order, and you get a free cup of coffee on the house!”

Isabelle and Dora got excited.

Joe and Ithipol did not hear her. They were busy with their phones.