35 review response examples you can copy
Updated · By the Mekomi team, who manage Google Business Profiles for local businesses every day
These are replies to Google reviews for every star rating and the most common types of local business, written by people who answer reviews for local businesses every day. Use them as a starting point, and edit each one to mention something specific from the review you are answering.
How to use these examples
- Change the details to match the review you are answering: the dish, the job, the staff member, the problem.
- Use the reviewer's first name if they show one on their review.
- Keep it short. Two to four sentences reads as personal; a long paragraph reads as a statement.
- Never copy the same reply to every review. Your customers notice, and identical replies make all of them look automated.
For the reasoning behind each reply, and what to do about fake or unfair reviews, read our guide on how to respond to Google reviews.
Replies to positive reviews
Happy customers still deserve more than "Thanks!": pick out the one thing they loved and say it back to them.
Short 5-star review
★★★★★Great service!
Reply
Detailed 5-star review that names a product
★★★★★The almond croissants are the best I've had outside of Paris. Flaky, not too sweet, and still warm at 8am. The cardamom bun is a close second. I'm stopping here every Saturday now.
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Repeat customer
★★★★★Been coming here for 6 years. They always find the part I need, even when the big box stores can't. Ask for help in the plumbing aisle, those guys know their stuff.
Reply
Praise for a named staff member
★★★★★Jenna at the front desk went above and beyond. My dog gets anxious in the lobby and she let us wait outside until it was our turn. Small thing, but it made a huge difference.
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4-star review with a small complaint
★★★★★Great gym, always clean and the trainers are friendly. Only wish there were more squat racks, there's always a wait after 5pm.
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Customer who came on a friend's recommendation
★★★★★A friend recommended them and now I see why. They walked me through every form and caught a deduction I had missed for two years.
Reply
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Replies to neutral and mixed reviews
A 3-star review usually holds both praise and a problem, so thank them for the first and own the second.
3 stars: fine but slow
★★★★★Food was fine, nothing special. Took forever to get our check.
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3 stars: good product, rude checkout
★★★★★Love the plants here, healthiest I've found in town. But the guy at the register was short with me when I asked about repotting. Took the shine off.
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3 stars: good parts, a few problems
★★★★★Room was clean and the location is great, but the wifi barely worked and the AC was loud all night. Fine for one night.
Reply
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Replies to negative reviews
Stay calm, apologize without excuses, say what you are changing and move the conversation off Google.
Slow service
★★★★★Waited 40 minutes for two coffees. Staff seemed overwhelmed and nobody told us what was going on.
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Too expensive
★★★★★$14 to clean one silk shirt?? Nobody mentioned the price until I was at the register.
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Rude staff
★★★★★The woman at the front counter rolled her eyes when I asked to return a lamp, and I had the receipt. Made me feel like an idiot.
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Wrong order
★★★★★Ordered a birthday cake that said Happy 40th Dana. Picked it up and it said Dina. The party was in an hour.
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Job done badly
★★★★★Painters left drips on the hardwood and missed spots behind the bedroom door. I had to touch it up myself.
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They never showed up
★★★★★Booked the 8 to 12 window for Tuesday. Nobody came, nobody called. I took the day off work for this.
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A review you can't find a record of
★★★★★Terrible. They overcharged me and the owner yelled at me when I complained. Avoid!
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A review meant for another business
★★★★★Worst pizza I've ever had and the delivery driver was rude.
Reply
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Replies to reviews with no text
A star rating with no words still gets a short reply, and a low one gets an open invitation to talk.
5 stars, no text
★★★★★(no text, rating only)
Reply
4 stars, no text
★★★★★(no text, rating only)
Reply
1 star, no text
★★★★★(no text, rating only)
Reply
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Restaurants and cafes
Diners mention dishes, servers and occasions by name, so your reply should too.
Restaurant: 5 stars for a special occasion
★★★★★The cacio e pepe was perfect, and our server Marco remembered it was our anniversary from when I booked. Best tiramisu I've had.
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Restaurant: hair in the food
★★★★★Found a hair in my salad. The server took it back but didn't seem to care at all.
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Cafe: takeout order missing an item
★★★★★Burgers are great, but they forgot the fries in my takeout order. Didn't notice until I got home.
Reply
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Dentists and medical practices
Privacy comes first: never confirm that someone is a patient or mention any detail of their care, even in a thank-you.
Dentist: 5 stars for a calm, friendly team
★★★★★Everyone at Brightside is so kind. I've always been nervous about the dentist, and they explained everything and never made me feel rushed.
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Medical practice: long wait and a surprise bill
★★★★★Waited 45 minutes past my time and the front desk couldn't tell me why. Then I got a bill I wasn't expecting.
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Clinic: hard to reach by phone
★★★★★Staff are nice but it's almost impossible to get someone on the phone to reschedule.
Reply
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Home services (plumbers, electricians, cleaners)
These reviews are about trust in your home, so name the job and the technician when it went well and own it when it did not.
Plumber: 5 stars for an emergency job
★★★★★Water heater died Sunday night. Luis was here by 8am Monday, explained the options without pushing the most expensive one, and had hot water back by lunch.
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Cleaning service: missed parts of the job
★★★★★Paid for a deep clean before move-out. The oven wasn't touched and the baseboards were still dusty. My landlord noticed.
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Electrician: good work, very late
★★★★★Good work on the new panel, but they showed up three hours late with no call.
Reply
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Salons and spas
Clients review the result and the person who gave it, so credit your stylist or therapist by name.
Hair salon: 5 stars for a stylist
★★★★★Brought in a photo of a balayage I'd been saving for a year and Tasha nailed it. Finally a stylist who listens!
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Spa: session cut short
★★★★★Booked a 60-minute massage and got 45. The therapist was nice but I paid for an hour.
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Nail salon: manicure didn't last
★★★★★Gel manicure started chipping after 3 days. Pretty disappointing for the price.
Reply
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Auto repair
Most auto shop reviews come down to honesty and time, so speak to both directly.
Auto shop: 5 stars for honesty
★★★★★Another shop quoted me $1,400 for brakes. These guys looked at it and said I only needed pads, not rotors. Honest mechanics are hard to find.
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Auto shop: all day for an oil change, then an upsell
★★★★★Brought it in for an oil change and they kept it all day. Came back with a list of $900 in 'urgent' repairs.
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Auto shop: great repair, dirty waiting room
★★★★★Car runs great now, but the waiting room was filthy. Trash everywhere and the coffee machine was broken.
Reply
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Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to use the same reply for every review?
No. Customers read your other replies, and a wall of identical thank-yous looks automated and makes every reply feel less sincere. Start from an example if it helps, then change it so it answers what that person actually wrote.
How long should a reply be?
Two to four sentences is enough for almost every review. Thank them, mention one specific thing they said, and for an unhappy reviewer, apologize and invite them to get in touch. Longer replies tend to sound defensive.
Should I reply to reviews with no text?
Yes. A short thank-you for a star rating takes a few seconds and shows everyone reading your profile that you pay attention. For a low rating with no text, add an invitation to tell you what went wrong.
Can I use these for Yelp or Facebook?
Yes. The wording works anywhere customers leave reviews, including Yelp, Facebook and industry sites. Just check each site's rules about what you can say in a public reply.