5 ms·

> They simply grew tired of the constant advertising inquiries from Yelp and what he dubs “blackmailing” and review manipulation. Sidenote: A judge recently rul

> They simply grew tired of the constant advertising inquiries from Yelp and what he dubs “blackmailing” and review manipulation. Sidenote: A judge recently ruled that Yelp has the power to manipulate reviews. Hold on. So let's say I run a highly-ranked software review website. I then proceed to "manipulate reviews" to force software developers advertise with me in exchange for not floating negative reviews to the top and not "filtering out" good ones. Do I get Yelp's business model right? Ethics aside, how is this NOT the by-the-book racketeering?

look_at_me_ 12y ago
This is pretty much what the BBB does and probably what Angie's List does as well. It's an old business model for the review industry.
- beachstartup 12y ago
  old business model counter-example: consumer reports
- gohrt 12y ago
  Do you have any evidence supporting your claims, contradicting what BBB and Angie's List say about how they operate?
  - genwin 12y ago
    On BBB, it's an easy Google search.
  - jff 12y ago
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw
  - look_at_me_ 12y ago
    BBB is well known for pay to play rules, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau#Critici.... They attempt to keep the image of the organization pristine by tamping down on the pay to play when it's aired out in public, but the fact that it's a ongoing problem at multiple offices for many years before anything is done shows just how much they care. It's only speculation about Angie's List, which is why I said "probably." If you look at their business model, they get money from all sides -- consumers and businesses -- which leads to inherit conflicts of interest.
timr 12y ago
No, you don't get it right. Apart from trying to filter spam, Yelp doesn't "manipulate" reviews. The judge was saying that Yelp has the right to filter out reviews that it believes to be fake or spammy.
- seanflyon 12y ago
  > Apart from trying to filter spam, Yelp doesn't "manipulate" reviews. Many restaurants have claimed that yelp has offered to remove negative reviews in exchange for money. Some also suspect Yelp of writing those negative reviews.
  - timr 12y ago
    Lots of people "claim" lots of things that aren't true. What proof do you have, other than unsubstantiated rumors?
    - seanflyon 12y ago
      You made a factual claim with out any supporting facts. I pointed out that your claim was not established fact. I am aware that "I'm only asking questions" can be used to cast unwarranted doubts, but in this case the accusers are reputable and numerous enough that I think we should not pretend they don't exist. For example: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/yelp-and-the-business-of-extortion-20/Content?oid=1176635 http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/yelp-and-the-business-... http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhandy/2012/08/16/think-yelp-is-unbiased-think-again/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhandy/2012/08/16/think-yelp-i...
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
- yupmetoo 12y ago
  Also consider the ordering of the reviews - yelp can show them in whatever order they like, so you can be a "3.5" restaurant with a full first page of 1 and 2 star reviews, regardless of whether those reviews are newer or older or have been voted up or not.

look_at_me_ 12y ago

This is pretty much what the BBB does and probably what Angie's List does as well. It's an old business model for the review industry.

beachstartup 12y ago
old business model counter-example: consumer reports
gohrt 12y ago
Do you have any evidence supporting your claims, contradicting what BBB and Angie's List say about how they operate?
- genwin 12y ago
  On BBB, it's an easy Google search.
- jff 12y ago
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw
- look_at_me_ 12y ago
  BBB is well known for pay to play rules, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau#Critici.... They attempt to keep the image of the organization pristine by tamping down on the pay to play when it's aired out in public, but the fact that it's a ongoing problem at multiple offices for many years before anything is done shows just how much they care. It's only speculation about Angie's List, which is why I said "probably." If you look at their business model, they get money from all sides -- consumers and businesses -- which leads to inherit conflicts of interest.

timr 12y ago

No, you don't get it right. Apart from trying to filter spam, Yelp doesn't "manipulate" reviews. The judge was saying that Yelp has the right to filter out reviews that it believes to be fake or spammy.

seanflyon 12y ago
> Apart from trying to filter spam, Yelp doesn't "manipulate" reviews. Many restaurants have claimed that yelp has offered to remove negative reviews in exchange for money. Some also suspect Yelp of writing those negative reviews.
- timr 12y ago
  Lots of people "claim" lots of things that aren't true. What proof do you have, other than unsubstantiated rumors?
  - seanflyon 12y ago
    You made a factual claim with out any supporting facts. I pointed out that your claim was not established fact. I am aware that "I'm only asking questions" can be used to cast unwarranted doubts, but in this case the accusers are reputable and numerous enough that I think we should not pretend they don't exist. For example: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/yelp-and-the-business-of-extortion-20/Content?oid=1176635 http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/yelp-and-the-business-... http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhandy/2012/08/16/think-yelp-is-unbiased-think-again/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhandy/2012/08/16/think-yelp-i...
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
yupmetoo 12y ago
Also consider the ordering of the reviews - yelp can show them in whatever order they like, so you can be a "3.5" restaurant with a full first page of 1 and 2 star reviews, regardless of whether those reviews are newer or older or have been voted up or not.