Positive reviews can make your shop a local favorite, and the best time to ask is right at checkout. U.S. small and mid-sized merchants can easily gather customer feedback in-store to boost their online reputation and attract more visitors.
Why In-Store Reviews Matter
Reviews are like word-of-mouth for the digital age, building trust with potential customers. A whopping 87% of shoppers read online reviews before visiting half of the stores they visit (BrightLocal, 2024), so collecting them at the counter is a game-changer for local businesses.
Key Benefits
- Builds Trust: Reviews make your shop seem reliable, with 79% of consumers trusting online ratings as much as personal recommendations (Yotpo, 2024).
- Boosts Visibility: More reviews improve your ranking on Google Maps, where businesses with over 10 reviews get 35% more clicks (Search Engine Journal, 2024).
- Drives Sales: Positive feedback sways shoppers—stores with strong reviews see up to 18% higher sales (Retail TouchPoints, 2023).
How to Collect Reviews at the Counter
Asking for reviews doesn’t have to feel awkward. Here are four simple ways to do it:
- Use a Friendly Ask: Train staff to say, “Enjoyed your visit? We’d love a quick review!”—82% of customers will leave feedback if asked politely (BrightLocal, 2023).
- Set Up a QR Code for each of your employees in RAY: Print a QR code for each of your employees who handle customers and incentivize them. QR scans drive 25% more reviews for small shops (ReviewTrackers, 2024).
- Offer a review station or hand out review cards: Place a tablet or sign with review instructions or give customers a small card with your review link are also easier ways than chasing reviews online after customers leave.
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Tools to Streamline Reviews
RAY makes requesting and managing reviews a breeze by tracking feedback and keeping your Google Maps profile sharp. With RAY, you can:
- Generate unique QR codes (available June 2025) for each team member to personalize the review experience and track who’s driving the most feedback.
- Centralize all reviews across platforms like Google and Facebook in one dashboard, making it easy to respond and monitor sentiment in real time.
- Track performance trends by employee, location, or time period to identify what’s working and where to improve.
Whether you run one shop or several, RAY helps turn reviews into a reliable growth engine for your business.
Conclusion
Collecting reviews at the counter is a simple way to build trust and draw more customers to your shop. A few easy steps can supercharge your reputation for U.S. merchants. Request a Demo and see how you could set up a QR code for each of your employees.