Is there anything worse than waking up to a 1-star review? Especially when it’s fake, unfair, or from a customer who never even visited your shop.
The first instinct for every Kiwi business owner is to find the "Delete" button. You scour the Google Business settings, you report the review, and you wait. And wait.
But here is the hard truth: Google rarely deletes reviews. Unless the review contains hate speech or a clear conflict of interest, Google tends to side with the user, not the business owner.
So, if you can't delete it, does that mean your 5-star rating is ruined forever? Absolutely not.
You can't subtract the negative, but you can dilute it.
The Mathematics of Reputation
Google’s star rating is just a simple average. The more 5-star reviews you have, the less power that one 1-star review has.
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Imagine you have 5 reviews and one is negative. Your score drops drastically to 4.2.
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Now imagine you have 50 reviews and one is negative. That 1-star review is mathematically invisible. Your score stays high.
The bad review gets buried at the bottom of the pile where new customers won't even scroll to see it.
The "Flood" Strategy
The only proven way to fix a bad online reputation is to flood your profile with fresh, positive feedback from your happy customers.
The problem? Happy customers are quiet. They leave the shop, enjoy your service, and get on with their day. Unhappy customers are loud—they rush home to type out a complaint.
To win, you need to make it effortless for the happy ones to speak up.
How to Automate the "Flood"
You shouldn't have to beg for reviews. You just need to catch your customers at the right moment using smart NFC technology.
1. For Cafes & Retail: Catch them at the counter. Don't let them walk away without tapping. A Google Review Counter Stand placed right next to your EFTPOS machine prompts customers to tap and rate you while they wait for their receipt.
2. For Tradies: Catch them on the job. Once you finish the build or fix the leak, don't say "I'll email you a link." They will forget. Tap your Review Mate Wallet Card on their phone before you get back in the van. You get the 5-stars instantly.
3. For Offices: Catch them at the door. Use a Wall & Door Plaque on your exit door. It serves as a final reminder to happy clients as they leave your premises.
The Bottom Line
Stop wasting energy fighting Google Support to delete one bad comment. It’s a battle you likely won't win.
Instead, drown out the negativity. Turn your silent, happy customers into your loudest marketing team.
Ready to bury that 1-star review? Shop the Review Mate Collection and start collecting 5-star reviews on autopilot.