Recover unhappy customers before they post.
A one-star review online stays for years. Starvo gives unhappy customers a private path first, so you can apologise, offer a fix, and turn them around before they reach Google.
The recovery loop
- 1. Detect. A 1–3 star rating triggers an instant email alert with the customer's comment.
- 2. Draft. One click drafts an empathetic reply tuned to the rating and topic.
- 3. Respond. Send a private reply or a discount/apology email directly to the customer (when they shared an email).
- 4. Follow up. On Pro and above, a 48-hour automated follow-up checks back with the customer if you haven't resolved it.
- 5. Escalate. At 24 hours unresolved, you get an escalation alert so nothing slips through.
Why this works
- Speed is everything. Customers who get a same-day response are dramatically more likely to update or remove a negative review.
- Tone is hard. AI drafts give you a calm, professional starting point even when you're angry.
- Receipts matter. Every recovery is tracked so you can see the rolling resolution rate in your dashboard.
Common questions
What is Starvo?
Starvo is a review management platform for local businesses. Customers scan a QR code, rate the business 1 to 5 stars, and Starvo encourages 4–5 star ratings to be posted on Google while routing 1–3 star feedback privately to the owner for follow-up.
Who is Starvo for?
Starvo is built for owner-operated local businesses — restaurants, cafés, hotels, salons, gyms, and clinics — who want a simple way to collect more public reviews and catch unhappy customers before they post a one-star review online.
How does Starvo work?
You print a QR code and place it on tables, receipts, or at checkout. A customer scans it, rates you 1–5 stars, and leaves a comment. Happy customers see a one-click link to your Google review page. Unhappy customers send private feedback to your dashboard so you can fix the issue first.
Is Starvo allowed by Google?
Yes. Google’s review policy requires that you must not selectively solicit positive reviews. Starvo shows the Google review link to every customer regardless of their rating — we just make it more inviting for the ones who had a great experience. This is fully compliant.
Isn’t this review gating?
No. Review gating means hiding the option to leave a public review from unhappy customers. Starvo never hides the Google review link — every customer at every rating sees it. We simply collect private feedback in parallel so owners can address issues directly.
Can I delete a private review?
Yes. Private reviews live in your dashboard and you can delete them. Public Google reviews can only be removed by Google — Starvo cannot delete them on your behalf, but you can flag them through your Google Business Profile.
What about spam or abusive submissions?
Each location is rate-limited per IP to prevent flooding. Submissions are also screened for length and obvious spam patterns. You can mark any review as resolved or delete it.
Will Starvo support WhatsApp review requests?
WhatsApp review prompts and follow-ups are on the roadmap. The current MVP focuses on the QR + private/public-routing flow. If WhatsApp is critical for you, email us — that helps us prioritize.