How to reply to a “too expensive” review: examples about price

Almost every business gets a “too expensive” review: a restaurant, a car service, a salon, a shop. Arguing with it is pointless, and staying silent is a waste: the review is read by people who are still choosing. Below: what really stands behind “too expensive”, how to build a reply, examples for different businesses and what not to write.

What stands behind “too expensive”

People rarely write only about the amount. Most often “too expensive” means one of these:

• the result did not meet expectations, and the price became the easiest explanation;
• the price was not named in advance, or the bill had extra charges;
• the person compares you with a competitor or an online price;
• the price changed since the last visit;
• they liked everything, but the amount still felt high: “expensive but good”.

The reply depends on what the author meant. So first reread the review and find what the price is tied to: the portion, an extra charge, the result.

How to build a reply

1. Say thank you and name the point. Show that you read it: “the price of the set felt high”, “the bill had a diagnostics charge”.
2. Explain what the price is made of. Specifically: portion size, materials, the specialist’s time, a guarantee. One or two sentences, without excuses and without “we have the lowest prices in town”.
3. Offer a next step. A direct conversation, another option on the menu or price list, or a promise you will really keep: for example, naming extra charges in advance.

The author is notified of your reply and, according to Google, can change their review after reading it. A calm, specific reply gives that a better chance than an argument.

Examples of replies to “too expensive”

Demo examples. Each one is a fictional situation, not a MapsReply customer story.

Restaurant, 3 stars

Tasty, but the portions are tiny for that money. We left half hungry.

Thank you for rating the taste and for mentioning the portions. We cook with fresh produce from local farmers, so a dish’s price depends mostly on them. If you want a more filling meal, ask your server to suggest a main course: they are bigger than the starters. We will pass your note on portion size to the chef.

Car service, 2 stars

They quoted one price, and the bill came out a thousand higher because of some diagnostics.

Thank you for writing. When the bill is higher than the quote, it is unpleasant even if the work was needed. Diagnostics should have been agreed with you before we started, and we will check why that did not happen. Please send us the order number so we can look into it.

Beauty salon, 4 stars

Expensive but good. The haircut has kept its shape for a month.

Thank you! A haircut that keeps its shape for a month is exactly what you pay for: the stylist’s time and precise work. We are glad the result was worth it.

Shop, 2 stars

The same item is 15% cheaper online.

Thank you for the review. Online prices can indeed be lower. With us you can look at the item before buying and exchange it in the shop. If price is what matters most, ask our staff about current offers.

What not to write

• Do not argue with the price judgement: “we have the lowest prices in town”, “you won’t find it cheaper”.
• Do not hint that the customer is “not your audience”.
• Do not offer a discount, bonus or gift for changing or removing the review. Google’s policies explicitly prohibit such rewards; see the guide on discounts for reviews.
• Do not promise compensation in public before you have decided on it.
• Do not quote prices or offers that do not exist or will soon change: the reply will stay up for years.

When to change the process, not the reply

If “too expensive” keeps coming back, the reply text is not the problem. What helps:

• name the price and possible extra charges before the work starts;
• add services with prices to your Google Business Profile: Google lets you give services descriptions and prices;
• explain on the bill or in a message what the amount is made of;
• have an affordable option for people who compare prices.

Calm replies to every review, not only to “too expensive”, show people who are still choosing how you treat customers. More examples are in the guide with Google review reply examples.

MapsReply prepares a draft reply to every new review in your tone, and reviews rated 1-3 stars wait for your approval by default. More about MapsReply.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Manage customer reviews, Google Business Profile Help.
2. Prohibited and restricted content, Google Maps policies.
3. Manage your services on your Business Profile, Google Business Profile Help.

The policies were checked against Google’s help on 5 November 2026.