Restaurants pay for fake YELP reviews

[Jenise]

http://eater.com/archives/2013/05/13/shady-craigslist-ad-offers-cash-for-fake-yelp-reviews.php

No way I'd do that for $50. I have my integrity.

$5000, on the other hand....

Does this mean that someone actually reads internet comments?

[Robin Garr]

I don't think this is exactly news, is it?

Still, I'd carefully consider the source. We just recently got a local branch of Eater.com, and folks hereabouts spontaneously dubbed it "Wanker.com." Hold the reliability, super-size the snide.

A few years ago we got burned by several glowing Yelp reviews for an Italian place in Indy. From the decor to the service to the food the "customer" raves absolutely in no way resembled what we saw or experienced. I e-mailed the restaurant and told them that they should have the misleading reviews removed, but never received a response. I now pay no attention to any of the on-line review services. Friends and family rarely let me down when it comes to recommendations... well, friends rarely let me down anyway.

[Jenise]

I don't think this is exactly news, is it?

Still, I'd carefully consider the source. We just recently got a local branch of Eater.com, and folks hereabouts spontaneously dubbed it "Wanker.com." Hold the reliability, super-size the snide.

That YELP is full of reviews that aren't exactly objective, no. That restaurants advertise and pay for fake reviews? Call me naive, but yes. As for eater.com, I enjoy it a lot. Sure it's snide, that's what captures people attention in this new internet world. But however its done, it supplies me with news and information about the restaurant scene (in Seattle) that's not available to me anywhere else. Since you run your own restaurant review and chat site, I can understand why you wouldn't welcome it--were I you, I wouldn't either. But here we don't have a Robin Garr alternative, so eater's a big help.

If we are traveling to a place where we don't know anyone, we will check out online reviews to see what is popular with local foodies. That being said, I trust Open Table a lot more than Yelp, Urban Spoon, Trip Advisor, etc.... At least with Open Table you can verify that the people reviewing actually ate there. It is amazing how many people come to a restaurant just based on what they see online - many customers in the restaurants I have worked in say they found us from online review sites. Doesn't surprise me that some shady places are willing to pay for extra good press.