10 Seats For Two Drinks? Bacolod Café Gets Review-Bombed After Asking Group to Leave

(SPOT.ph) A small coffee shop in Bacolod gained big support online after sharing they were review-bombed by what they think is a group of kids they had politely asked to leave their cafe. The kids occupied 10 seats and ordered only two drinks during their entire stay. It's no lie that people sometimes troop to a cafe to sit for hours, maybe get some content for their feeds, and chill or study, but that also means knowing where to draw the line, yes, or having a little delicadeza even as a customer. Just take a look at what happened to SLO_BAR café.

Also read: What Happens When an Influencer Demands Freebies?

From five-star to one-star and five-star again real quick

In a social media post dated December 10, Slo Bar lamented how some "non-paying customers" had written statements online criticizing their service. Though the cafe did not go into detail, the post said: "It pains us to get a mob of bad google reviews from 10 unsatisfied kids saying that our staff were rude and that our food was bad when they occupied three tables and only got two drinks."

What exactly did these reviews say? "Customer service is not good, train your staff to treat customers kindly. You're in a business wherein you face a lot of people, learn to at least be nice," said one in a screenshot that has spread online. More comments in the same vein followed. “bad service and rude!!!!!" added one. “They shut the doors [rudely] at my friends without informing them first,” wrote another.

In defense of their staff—lead barista Ninin, and Summer and Kyle, both working students—SLO_BAR said they are only trying their best to keep the cafe in order. "Ninin's one of the most humble people we know and we wouldn't let a group of kids tell her otherwise. We trust that her responses are always rooted in instinct and respect."

More than a message to call out some customers' bad behavior, the cafe's social media post sounded like an appeal for future guests to see things, too, from the restaurant business's perspective. "How do we approach non-paying customers, (mostly students) who want to be seated? We know that they only want to hangout for free and shoot their personal content, but to what extent must we share our space to please these guests?" 

Following the social media post, SLO_BAR café received a lot of online support. 

As of publishing, the one-star ratings the reviewers left have been deleted on Google and replaced with five-star scores coming from loyal fans of the café. One comment even said, "SLO_BAR is an amazing place to have coffee. It’s always a lovely stay because of the cozy & homey feeling it makes you feel. Peach Sparkling Americano FTW!"

Opposite to the now-deleted negative feedback, another commenter wrote: "In a world dominated by chain coffee shops, this local gem stands out for its authenticity, exceptional coffee, and the warmth of a community-focused environment. If you appreciate the artistry of a well-brewed cup and crave a welcoming space to enjoy it, this coffee shop is a must-visit."

Ready to be seated?

Answering "Are we staying inside a coffee shop for too long?" is a tricky question. It may not be as much of a big deal for bigger coffee chains like Starbucks, but one thing is clear as day: For smaller businesses in the F&B industry such as SLO_BAR café, each seat occupied matters. What you occupy as a non-paying customer can be occupied by a person willing to shell out money. At the end of the day, a business thrives and survives on paying customers. As they say in their Instagram post, "Other small cafes would understand. It is basic etiquette for any place to reserve their limited space for paying customers."

"SLO_BAR isn't a fast food chain, it is our home," said the cafe's Instagram post. "If you support small businesses, buy from them. Create meaningful reviews, express your sentiments to the staff, and treat their spaces with empathy. You have the power to be kind."

We agree totally. You need to buy from small and medium-sized businesses if you want to show your support.This is the way you can claim your seat and peacefully take a sip of your drink. You can sit down and linger in their space, for sure, but know when you need to make way for those who can keep the business—and the people who depend upon it—alive. Wherever you go, whether you're paying for a service or not, it's common human decency to ensure you know how much space is your right, and abide by it. 

Hey, Spotters! Check us out on Viber to join our Community and subscribe to our Chatbot.