A cafe in Aberfeldy, Scotland, has sparked a fervent debate on social media after responding fiercely to a one-star review from a dissatisfied customer. The reviewer had taken to Facebook to voice their annoyance over the cafe’s tardy opening time of seven minutes, awarding it a dismal rating of 1/5 for food, service, and atmosphere.
In a bold move, the cafe, known as Habitat Cafe, shared the review on its Facebook page, complete with the reviewer’s name intact. Their response was equally blunt, labeling the reviewer a “muppet” for their perceived overreaction to the minor delay.
The cafe’s response ignited a firestorm of commentary on Facebook. Many reviewers flocked to the cafe’s defense, bestowing it with five-star ratings and expressing support for the owner’s stance. One reviewer quipped, “Keep up the good work mate. Beautiful cafe. Hope you open on time,” while another remarked, “5* for me. The fact they opened slightly late just built up my appetite that little more. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
However, not all reactions were positive. One Facebook user sided with the original reviewer, criticizing the cafe’s dismissive attitude and suggesting they “take the criticism and learn from it.”
Undeterred, the cafe continued to engage with reviewers, emphasizing the need for empathy and calling out reviewers who wield negative feedback as “weapons in [their] tiny world of vindictiveness.”
The post has since garnered significant traction, with nearly 6,000 likes on Facebook. The incident has highlighted the power of online reviews and the importance of customer service in the digital age.
