Nathan,

The new "in" thing in marketing is asking for reviews by various vendors.  Reviews take my time up, and no one has thought of the fact that our time has value.  So I think this is one way to say, I appreciate your time.  A

Why not? What's wrong with a bit of incentinve? Companies do it all the time.

It's an incentive to share a review but should not depend on what the review says.

People aways respond to FREE offers.

The reviews are honest, it's getting them to do them that takes work.

It's totally fine as long as they get the card regardless of the review.

Great idea.

Does he/she dictate what they say?  If not, then it is a marketing strategy and obviously he/she is hoping for good reviews. Millennials check out reviews and it is important that we have good ones to be noticed in this market.

YES! Because in property management all you get is pounded, so a few positive comments are worth the cash!

It would encourage landlords and tenants to submit the review, so sure. 

It is hard to get people to take the time to leave a review...that said, I've never done this as it smells of "paying for the review." I've been able to get enough reviews by just reaching out to past clients soon after a transaction has closed. 

Law of reciprocity, people will naturally submit favorable reviews when offered a treat.

Sure

Sure it's ok, in fact Real Satisfied does just that only it's a $10 coffee card. They have to up their game.

It is fine if it works for him. This offer would not appeal to me.

You ask "Why?".  I say "Why not?". 

I'm with Nina Hollander answer to your question.

Everyone is asking for reviews EVERYWHERE, and I just delete or move on.  But in your case, hopefully they will with the benefit of a coffee card.

If it works for him, why not...

Nothing wrong with that!

Big businesses offer to put you in a drawing if you fill something out for them.

Eve

Creative

I don't see anything unethical about it.

just a form of marketing

I don't see anything wrong with it.. if its not based on a good review then you are just compensating them a bit for their time.

Yes, I agree. My phone repair guy gives $5 discount if you leave a Yelp review, he has 1000s of reviews! Little things can make huge difference. 

That's ok to me. Most people are too busy to write a review so this is to say thanks for your time. Of course, the review should be truthful.

I would question the accuracy of these no matter how they are obtained

yes

I don't see any problem with that...

I think it is a good idea.  Pretty cheap for a testimonial.

Interesting question,  Will have to see what others have to comment.

Everyone has their own methods.  I don't concern myself with how others handle their own marketing operations.

This is VERY common outside of real estate.  I've had many "submit a review and be entered to win a $100 Amazon/Visa/Store/... gift card" emails from supplement companies and such.  Got a hat for leaving a product review at the Olympia Expo last year and later a shaker bottle and a t-shirt along with a bunch of samples to try and review (plus there was a contest with it).

I see nothing wrong with someone offering $5 for a review.  They aren't specifying that it has to be a positive one.

Nathan Gesner Some people need an incentive to motivate them to submit a review. If it works, why not.

Anyone can make up or influence character references, testimonials, reviews and all the rest making them suspect and over-played...case in point here

Nothing wrong with this activity if it succeeds.

I think if he is sharing the bad with the good then it is an excellent way to get feedback. 

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with it, but for me personally it makes me a little uncomfortable.  I actually fill out survey and feedback forms almost any time they are sent to me.  But, I went to a new chiropractor on Monday and they were great.  4 star I'd say, only because they have some dingy furniture they need to replace and they have some significant misspellings on their website.  Those don't factor into my opinion of the doctor, but are bad impressions that I had.  I actually want to tell them about them.  However, they sent me an online request for a review and offered a free 30 minute massage for that review. I know they want a stellar review, not one saying they have dingy furniture & don't know how to spell and because they gave me an incentive I'm uncomfortable with the whole thing. I may do the review still and not accept the massage, but I'd have the review done already had that not been an incentive.  I doubt the majority of people over think it like I do though, I bet more reviews come in for the coffee card than if there weren't one, :-) Kasey

I don't see a problem with it. They are asking for our valuable time to review. They are not asking only for A+ reviews. (There was a builder that will only accept A+ review, which I thought it was totally dishonest)

   I've given fast food gift cards to Tenants for agreeing to cooperate on showings.  It works.

I don't see any problem with this.

I don't have to bribe my customers for a review

What is his link, i could use a $5 coffee card...  the bottom line is he his buying good reviews

Who doesn't like a cup of coffee?

I believe it is a gesture of RESPECT understanding that TIME is ones most valuable and squandered asset.

Most agents do the same thing, except we call it lunch, and is well above $5.

When CFO Publications asks me to complete their trends survey, participation comes with a $250 price tag.

It is $20-40 per review. Many restaurants and private business use these Craigslist professional reviewers.  

TV news caution against Yelp reviews most  ***** rave reviews are faked.