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Yelp Website Accused of Extortion -- More Examples of Corrupt Review Sites

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JavaJones:
While I think the blog post and its example scenarios are compelling, if "all" that's going on is their automated filter "doing its job", then I might suggest their filter needs more work. It's certainly a tough job it has, and maybe an impossible one for an algorithm to do fairly. It's great that they're trying I guess, but I'm just not sure how reasonably certain they can be of its efficacy. How do they measure it? In the case of someone reviewing their friend's business, how do they know they don't also like the way they do business?

Many people structure their entire business world around relationships, reciprocity, even friendships, and many good, long-time customers become friends of the business owners or at least of employees. How do you fairly judge these reviews? Even in real-life, *knowing* the connections, how do you fairly judge!? If I hear such-and-such restaurant is good but I know that the person I heard it from is friends with the owner, do I think less of the recommendation? Probably, at least a bit. But then maybe I know the person recommending very well and know they'd be unbiased, as they've told me before that another friend's establishment is terrible, even though he's a good friend. Etc, etc, on and on.

So how do they reasonably expect a software algorithm to do this and not make *lots* of mistakes and piss people off? I don't know. But I recognize the difficulty of providing a review site without such filtering as well. My personal approach would be to allow up/down rating of reviews by visitors, maybe a "mod-point" like system as-in Slashdot, and then a "trustworthiness" rating that comes out of that and the algorithm's determinations, and a "trustworythiness threshold" that you could set while browsing reviews, again like Slashdot. Outright removing reviews just seems unfair and error-prone in the extreme. It's no problem if their algorithm weighs heavily in the decision to mod down a review or whatever, but to remove it entirely unless it's obvious spam (e.g. get viagra here!) seems presumptuous.

- Oshyan

JavaJones:
P.S. I know Yelp has a "flag" system already, but it's cumbersome and comment-based, and so difficult for an algorithm to interpret, and (likely as a result) it's widely regarded as ineffective.

Here's an idea for Yelp: come with a simply, easy, cost-effective way to verify that reviewers have been customers of the business they're reviewing. Some places I've heard of require you to scan a receipt or give a receipt #, which could obviously be error-prone or easily faked. If Yelp is serious about it, they should look into partnering with point of sale and reservation companies like OpenTable, issue a "Yelp review code" to each customer with their receipt, and then mark those reviews (when completed with the proper code) with a special "Verified Review" badge or something. Charge for the service, of course. Granted this would take a lot of effort and resources to make it happen, but it's worth considering and refining to a practical model I think. And if anyone has the clout with businesses to get them to implement something like this on a worthwhile scale, it's Yelp (or Google :D).

- Oshyan

Josh:
Am I the only one who feels this is reminiscent of betanews/fileforum? They seem to remove reviews or comments once a certain number of users email in complaining. I have tested this theory myself and watched as certain reviews that would be otherwise legitimate, are removed for nothing more than a complaint.

MarmotMan:
Belkin pleads for mercy over paid Amazon reviews deception

Unfortunately, forgery and extortion are common business practice with unethical businesses. MicroShaft and Outtel are famous for having "supply-line problems" with customers who have the temerity to also make computer systems using competitors' products. The only effective way to deal with these companies is to take your money elsewhere.

kartal:
One more example of why ad sponsored content or service can turn into another internet bubble. I have never used Yelp or any similar services on the internet and I am proud of my own intuition about these kinds of services.

from their official blog
"Myth #1: Yelp offers to remove or reorder reviews in exchange for money.

Truth: Yelp Sales Representatives sell sponsored search results, enhanced listings and targeted advertisements. Period."

This makes the case for me even more. When do you draw a line  between sponsored or extorted search result?

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