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Uncle Stu
Ark-Pine Bluff Fan
I collect spores, mold, and fungus
Member since Aug 2004
28122 posts
| Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:00 pm)
So, couple days ago, I got some takeout from a new place that opened up recently(and before you comment, the whole concept is takeout)
There were some glaring issues that were not favorable, so I went onto Yelp and gave it a fair review..2 stars & some commentary
That's all besides the point..........
I get an email today from the owner (via Yelp), apologizing and admitting that mistakes were made and he offered a so-so explanation with an offer for me to give it one more try on his dime. But, what I couldnt help but notice is that "Jeff L" who sent me the email, just so happened to post a glowing positive review immediately after mine as if he were just some random customer...5 stars, the place is awesome, everything is perfect, etc, etc, etc......
What's Yelp protocol here? Shouldn't I call him out? It's bad enough we've got slackjaw companies like BaazarVoice that do nothing but post anonymous positive reviews all over the web. But when an owner so blatantly responds to me and then fake reviews his own place?? 
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Powerman 
LSU Fan
Corpus Christi, TX
Member since Jan 2004
115646 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:02 pm to Uncle Stu)
Was your review the first and only review?
Seems like he could have waited for your return business and allowed you to do a follow up review
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Souljah 
Southern Cal Fan
Audubon Park VIA Kingston,Jamaica
Member since Apr 2012
4269 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:05 pm to Powerman)
Dude, no etiquette. Tell it how it is brah. Don't you want your fellow mankind to not waste their sharings at subpar establishments?
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Uncle Stu
Ark-Pine Bluff Fan
I collect spores, mold, and fungus
Member since Aug 2004
28122 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:08 pm to Powerman)
There's now 11 reviews (I think I was #9)
6 are similar to mine...slightly different complaints, but along the same vein
2 are positive and seem very legit
3 seem 100% completely fake and just so gushing overwhelming positive....before "Jeff" even was a blip on my radar, my first reaction to the 2 other glowing reviews were "that's either friends &/or family" they sound so contrived
ETA:
quote:
and allowed you to do a follow up review
well, I did mention in my review that I would not likely be giving a 2nd chance 
This post was edited on 4/17 at 11:10 pm
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Napoleon 
New Orleans Saints Fan
La Nouvelle-Orléans
Member since Dec 2007
23911 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:40 pm to Uncle Stu)
On Yelp I have noticed a few places with negatives reviews usually have one review from a person who only has one review.
One of the best I have seen recently was for a place that had a review from someone who claimed to be a food critic, yet only had that one review.
Wish I could remember where that was..Somewhere in Metry..
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Gris Gris
LSU Fan
FEAR THE POWERS OF GRIS GRIS!
Member since Feb 2008
18065 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:43 pm to Uncle Stu)
That's pretty cheesy. I'd probably email him about it.
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Lester Earl
New Orleans Saints Fan
Flavortown
Member since Nov 2003
161087 posts
 Online
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/17/12 at 11:49 pm to Uncle Stu)
i wouldn't say anything.
i use yelp, but i dont think i take it that serious to call him out on it.
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iluvdatiger
LSU Fan
Ridgeland, MS
Member since Jan 2004
32512 posts
Online
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 12:12 am to Uncle Stu)
Go post your review on urbanspoon and tripadvisor and see if he does it there too. I would call him out on it
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DanglingFury 
VCU Fan
Living the dream
Member since Dec 2007
15999 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 8:21 am to Uncle Stu)
I'd take out a full page ad in the local newspaper, then I'd go to the TV stations to get this out there, and call him out. If I were you, I'd probably get the police involved too for obvious fraud on the owner's part. Hopefully that shames the guy into firing his staff, closing his doors, and killing himself for this affront to your sensibilities. Seriously, if I were you, that's what I'd do.
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RaginCajunz 
LA-Lafayette Fan
Gonzales
Member since Mar 2009
961 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 8:59 am to Uncle Stu)
I had a similar situation reviewing a coffee place in Austin on Yelp. I gave an honest review and the owner blasted me in email. He threatened to report my review, and that Yelp was "meant to help businesses, not tear them down" or some crap to that effect.
I scrolled down and his ONLY review was on his own place. I called him out on that and he backed down.
His name was "James L" oddly enough.
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LSUAfro
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
8582 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 9:02 am to Uncle Stu)
Tell me where this gem is Stu.
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notiger1997
Member since May 2009
17008 posts
Online
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 9:03 am to Uncle Stu)
Meh, you kind of expect that a good portion of the reviews on all of these public sites is by owners or there family just trying to pimp the place. It isn't worth getting worked up over.
Take the guy up on his offer to go eat free. If he does better, post a follow up. If he doesn't, rip his arse in a new review.
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LSUAfro
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
8582 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 9:08 am to notiger1997)
quote:
Meh, you kind of expect that a good portion of the reviews on all of these public sites is by owners or there family just trying to pimp the place. It isn't worth getting worked up over.
Which is why I generally don't trust reviews for anything on the web unless there is such a large sample it's unlikely the owner/friends posted them all.
quote:
Take the guy up on his offer to go eat free. If he does better, post a follow up. If he doesn't, rip his arse in a new review.
This is the approach I would take. Well maybe not rip the guy a new arse , but be honest in the follow-up review as well.
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Uncle Stu
Ark-Pine Bluff Fan
I collect spores, mold, and fungus
Member since Aug 2004
28122 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:17 am to RaginCajunz)
quote:
reviewing a coffee place in Austin
oh please tell me which one...was it Thunderbird off of Koenig??
quote:
Tell me where this gem is Stu.
183 & Mopac-ish
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RaginCajunz
LA-Lafayette Fan
Gonzales
Member since Mar 2009
961 posts
| re: Yelp etiquette help (Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:50 am to Uncle Stu)
quote:
reviewing a coffee place in Austin
oh please tell me which one...was it Thunderbird off of Koenig??
It was Strangebrew
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