Yelp Behaves Deceitfully

As a writer, words move me. I’m often known to say “I take sentences said to the surgery room”. What I mean by that is I am (at least I try to be) surgical with words I let out and the movements and mannerisms I exert which compliment them and help to drive or deliver my message or point across to people.

I wrote about Yelp a while back and how they are useful for us web savvy individuals looking to gain knowledge/intelligence pertaining to establishments we are considering patronizing. That was a few years ago.

Since then, apparently, what evidence has made clear is the use of deceitful tactics by Yelp in-order to trick the average web surfer dude. Extremely defamatory, slanderous and libelous content (a good percentage of which is simply idiots venting because of other underlying problems/issues/events in their lives) allowing, even deliberately channeling the hate-filled release of what equals the wrath of the devils sensei to any average mom and pop establishment somewhere.

Proof they’re devious? Sure. Think back at an establishment you’d like to review. Break the norm and share a positive experience, keeping in mind, you are feeding healthy green growth vitamins to the company you are reviewing.

Perhaps a neighborhood deli, a random restaurant, wtvr. Now, write your review and submit it.

After submission you’d probably want to go back to the businesses page and take a look at your review. Well, this is where it get’s deceitful on Yelp’s part.

When you go to the page right after reviewing it, you will see, prominently, right on the top of the list, the review which you just posted.

Great, right?

WRONG!!! It’s a lie.

Open an incognito or private browsing window and go back to the Yelp page where you just left a review.

And, it’s gone!

So, this here is an example of the deceitful tactics used by Yelp to manipulate the masses into thinking their reviews matter when they leave them on the pages of these businesses.

Do they matter? Depends.

Does the business have enough reviews to dissipate the effect of one?

Does the business pay Yelp as a merchant member?

If the answer to these two is Yes, then your review means jack.

Join WiserOps on our quest to find a solution which motivates consumers who don’t feel like they need to write a review, because a positive experience is expected and is the norm, no further action is seen as necessary by customers. However, the natural vengeful instinct that is intrinsic in human nature, motivates those which might have been slightly peeved because of a broken nail when installing their new furniture.

~ Gil Rozenblatt, Managing Director, WiserOperations (A WiserOps, INC. Company)

Originally written on Medium