Checking online star ratings is now just a couple of thumb taps away for everyone. But quickly scanning which barbershops appear at the top of search results in your city and picking the one with a slightly higher rating isn’t enough. You need to dig a little deeper.
Genuine reviews on Google
When it comes to online reviews, the number of ratings often matters more than the final score. It’s also more reliable to pay attention to reviews with written feedback. A good practice is to check the ratio of text-based reviews to simple star ratings. If you’re looking for a barbershop in, for example, Prague, you might want to give slightly more weight to local reviews and focus on detailed foreign reviews that include descriptions and even photos. Many Prague barbershops, especially those in tourist areas or those that accept walk-ins, cater to a cosmopolitan clientele, but the internet has taught us that even five-star ratings can be bought.
What can’t be bought, however, is a good reputation. And as we all know, the best recommendation often comes from family or close friends—people we trust to tell the truth. Most of us have probably experienced a situation where we followed the advice of someone we know in real life while completely ignoring online reviews (and that’s perfectly fine).
Tip:
If no one in your personal circle visits a barbershop and you live in a larger city, a good alternative is to look up newspaper articles (yes, even those infamous rankings) to read about the best-rated spots from a (more or less) independent source. However, always check the date of publication. A barbershop that was at the top 10 years ago may have stagnated, relying on the momentum of past glory, while newer, more progressive establishments with a strong focus on ongoing staff education have taken the lead.
