[DizzyDoo]

My dentist here in Canada has signs up that advertise that you get a free electric tooth brush if you leave a 5 star review on Google. I've not done that, it seems quite wrong, but I would imagine this is also very much against Google's policies? I was surprised how clear and obvious the signage was.

Seems to have worked though, the dentist's office has lots of 5 star reviews.

[r3trohack3r]

This sign always has the opposite desired effect on me. If I see a sign trading for 5-Star reviews, there isn’t any way for me to tell which reviews were written for a free burrito. So I immediately discredit all 5-star reviews the restaurant receives.

[mellosouls]

I do this anyway, I just don't trust rating systems so tend to remove the top and bottom marks.

Obv not a perfect solution and unfair to those who aren't gaming but over the top 5 star and bitchy one star reviews even when genuine aren't always that representative.

[notahacker]

Even without people gaming or buying reviews the 2, 3 and 4 star reviews tend to be more thoughtful about what is and isn't good about the product.

One of the reasons why the "5* rating or your driver gets fired" norms encouraged by the likes of Uber are so awful.

[abyssin]

Last week I returned a borrowed suit and I was afraid to be late because it had been more than a week. The owner of the place told me it would be fine if I left a 5 stars review. Now I’m wondering how common this gaming is.

[newsclues]

People will give up passwords for a cheap pen. Free stuff is a hack for many peoples minds.

There is a reason salespeople will bring you a coffee and donut.

[petercooper]

Bit of a tangent, but there are further psychological reasons why hot drinks are used in sales situations: https://news.yale.edu/2008/10/23/hot-coffee-we-see-warm-hear...