4 ms·

Isn't it also possible that when you buy that plan from Yelp, they push your company more and that leads to more negative reviews along with positive ones? But

Isn't it also possible that when you buy that plan from Yelp, they push your company more and that leads to more negative reviews along with positive ones? But as part of that agreement (they might not tell you they do it), they hide the negative ones (all or some, or maybe even only temporarily) so that your company thrives. If you thrive, Yelp thrives because they want your business to keep paying for Yelp and you are probably less likely to cancel if you see a bunch of 5 star reviews and few negative ones. And maybe after a certain time they stop hiding the negative ones, or it could be as cynical as what the OP is sorta implying -- that Yelp begins showing all the negative reviews they were holding back once you stop paying? I'm not sure I believe Yelp is writing fraudulent negative reviews for companies because it would be so easy to prove and would be, well...fraud. But hiding negative reviews that were written by real people as long as you are paying Yelp does seem like something a company could justify to itself, however unethical it still is in my eyes.

DamnInteresting 9y ago
> Isn't it also possible that when you buy that plan from Yelp, they push your company more and that leads to more negative reviews along with positive ones? But as part of that agreement (they might not tell you they do it), they hide the negative ones (all or some, or maybe even only temporarily) so that your company thrives. Sure, it's possible that perverse incentives would drive Yelp to such rationalized missteps, my argument is that it would be easy to prove if it's true. But none of the complaining businesses have offered proof, only conjecture. I'm not "calling bullshit" here, I'm just asking for evidence in a scenario where evidence should be easily accessible if it exists. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that.

DamnInteresting 9y ago

> Isn't it also possible that when you buy that plan from Yelp, they push your company more and that leads to more negative reviews along with positive ones? But as part of that agreement (they might not tell you they do it), they hide the negative ones (all or some, or maybe even only temporarily) so that your company thrives. Sure, it's possible that perverse incentives would drive Yelp to such rationalized missteps, my argument is that it would be easy to prove if it's true. But none of the complaining businesses have offered proof, only conjecture. I'm not "calling bullshit" here, I'm just asking for evidence in a scenario where evidence should be easily accessible if it exists. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that.