ADVERTISEMENT

The restaurant industry is saturated. People have plenty of options to choose from and businesses have to compete for every customer. When the fight is this close, something as simple as a negative online review can have serious implications for the future of an establishment. So when someone gives a restaurant a 1-star rating, some of them decide to respond in an attempt to fill everyone in on the big picture and protect their reputation. Or just diss the OP. Takeaway Trauma is an Instagram account that collects these savage replies. Since its launch in September 2020, the fun little project has acquired quite the collection! Here are some of its most popular ones.

Bored Panda got in touch with the person behind Takeaway Trauma and even though they want to remain anonymous, they agreed to tell us more about the project. "I'm a big takeaway fan and found myself going to order a delivery and thought I’d check the reviews of a particular establishment. After checking the good reviews, I thought I better check the bad ones also," the creator of Takeaway Trauma recalled its origins.

"I came across the most hilarious reviews and was genuinely crying with laughter. Without really thinking about it, I screenshotted the reviews just for my own personal use to send to friends, etc. People seemed to find them funny so I thought, let's try and curate these and create a page out of it!"

Looking at the images, one can't help but think that people could use a nice gulp of empathy before throwing accusations on the Internet. The creator of Takeaway Trauma shares this belief. "I think people should be more forgiving; people in general are so impatient and want things instantly," they said, adding that we live in a 'now' culture where everyone wants things straight away and wants them to be perfect. "As soon as these high standards aren't met, the natural human reaction is to complain."

ADVERTISEMENT

"I think a lot of the time, people give too much stick to takeaways, however, with that being said, some of the images of takeaway food I’ve seen really do look awful, so I think you can only really determine it on a case by case basis."

When they first started Takeaway Trauma, they would salvage reviews from TripAdvisor, Just Eat, and all of the main takeaway platforms. Now, however, the account has gotten so big that other people send them in. "I think takeaway reviews and takeaway culture will forever be a growing market so I won't be running out of content any time soon."

The numbers agree. In 2019, the global market for online-ordered prepared food delivery was estimated at $94 billion and it is expected to grow at about 9 percent a year, reaching $134.5 billion in 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

The submissions that end up in Takeaway Trauma's inbox still have to get manual approval, though. "I only post ones that I find funny," the creator of the account said. "If they don't resonate with me, I don’t think they’ll resonate with other people."

So far, they are not only funny but also are excellent proof that Wendy's PR team definitely has admirers in the corporate world as well.

#7

Yikes

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Beeps
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got into academy? Damn that’s gonna be at least another 3-5 years then!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Mind Reading The Stupid

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Al Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if the customer isin the wrong, calling them (or anyone else) stupid isn't okay. Given that kind of response can scare off future customers, it's quite ironic as well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Never Made An Order

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
littlesaresare
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How could they possibly know if someone on a review site has ordered before or not?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#28

Charred Round The Edge

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Elsker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see both points here. but maybe just inform people about the best amount of toppings and warning them that you have to overcook if they still want more toppings?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

High Five

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The least the customer could’ve done was put their outside lights on, tell him what the house looks like, tell him what kind of car is parked out front, or look out for the driver and flag him down to be sure he could find them. I mean, ffs, give the guy some help, instead of making him burn gas trying to deliver your food, if you know your house is hard to find!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Ah Yes Forgot Single Cream Is Vegan!! Thank U Xxx

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bender Bending Rodríguez
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This seems like misunderstanding. If replier is Indian, an not familiar with different dietary options, there are high chances they consider milk products to be veg option. Back in the days India only followed two dietary options Veg and Non Veg. Veg = Vegetables and milk products; Non Veg = Eggs, meat, fish. May be follow up request to omit cream may get you more accurate answer as if they can fulfill your request or not.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Disgusting

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
TinyFlame
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Wouldn’t Eat Here If U Paid Me To

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
cookie panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok first off, thats just messed up. you order at two am and expect it to be god quality?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

Do Not Expect Pizza To Be Red Hot On Wendy Day

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
#51

Sad Man

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#52

U Have A Fast Food Shop Thanks

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a problem with all online ratings. Competitors and disgruntled ex-employees can trash a business’ reputation online, in an effort to steal customers or just for pure spite. Instead of being petty, just work harder and better, and/or sell a better product.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#53

Because Of Missing Coke Ha Ha Ha Haaaaaaaaaaaaa

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes you wonder which kind of “coke” they were expecting with their order, doesn’t it?

View more commentsArrow down menu
#56

Bed And Breakfast Place In The Middle Of Nowhere

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
#59

Please Stay Away

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe there ought to be a separate ranking option for delivery? I probably would have added the comment about delivery as a "PS".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#60

More On The Side Of Cremated

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hugh Cookson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, as an ex courier amongst other jobs, I get this .... sometimes addresses are bloody impossible to find - one for instance was a woman who's house was off the main road, down a dirt track, then down another - gated - dirt track, up a badly rutted track (so bad, that I thought my exhaust was going to go), finally got there - an hour after leavibg the bloody main road - all to deliver a bar of fcking soap !!

#63

Use The Microwave Next Time Hun X

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
#64

I No U R After Some Things Free Or A Voucher That’s Why U Are Doing It

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
#65

Mr Robert

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
John Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the chips were still frozen because your driver got pulled over? Gotcha.

#67

Made Threats To Smash My Windows

takeawaytrauma Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda