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Ask HN: Anyone else notice how useless Google Maps reviews have become?
I'm a "local guide" with their reviewing system, and it seems they have shadow-banned nearly 90% of legitimate reviews I've left over the years. It's quite alarming, because it seems any business can just flag a negative review now, and have it taken down to boost their overall rating, while obviously allowing companies to have 1 review accounts leave a fake 5-star rating. It has completely removed my trust in their rating system after witnessing this.
- reify 2y agoWho on earth bothers to use google maps any more? They are so retro 1950's. Organic maps on me blower and openstreetmaps on the old Puter. Blinding mucker!
- mPReDiToR 2y agoThis isn't just GOOG products, it's everything with a review. It's cheaper to buy a thousand five star reviews than improve your service to the point where honest reviewers give you top marks. The review/stars system is not fit for basing decisions on. Unhappy people are more likely to leave a review in frustration and one bad review outweighs twenty good ones. The deck is stacked poorly. I do leave reviews when I'm happy about a place, but I try to make it obvious I've been there and am relating an experience rather than just tapping a star.
- maelito 2y agoI wonder why there is no review system between friends. Friends' advice is a very good metric. Add in some discovery mecanism to avoid loops, and you've got a cheap and trusted system.