1. this isn't like search results where there is an algorithm that returns the quality of review. by most standards one review is the same as the next. the ability for a business to highlight the review in which they feel puts them in the best light (read, actual review) seems like a legitimate compromise to me.
2. haha, oh man, i guess i can see how someone thinks im an employee, but in reality i'm an entrepreneur (yc w08 actually) who lives in san francisco. i like to have conversations with business people of all types, and it fascinates me that yelp is changing the fabric of small business. so yes... when i meet a restaurant owner i do ask them what they think of yelp. actually, a lot times they ask me, "how did you find us?" maybe i'm just too friendly or inquisitive?
full disclosure: i do have a friend and some acquaintances that work at yelp. running a startup in sf it's hard to not be connected to other startups in this city in some way shape or form.
3. i should have made this more clear, but i was speaking of jwz's "stuff" being baseless. it was 4am when i wrote that post so forgive me.
going through jwz's complaints he's essentially saying the reviewers are idiots. yeah, some are! so what! some people are idiots in real life too. the funny thing is it seems like yelp has spawned some healthy conversation about dna's bathrooms, specifically how much girls detest them for not having seats on the toilets (true).
extortion claims? granted if you don't agree with #1 then you may see direct sales as extortion, but i tend to believe it's not. i've never received a call myself so i'll reserve judgement until i do :)
Yeah this sort of direct sales may be good for yelp and good for businesses who participate. The point is its bad for USERS of the site, who many of us are. If true, then seeing no bad reviews, or a bunch of good reviews might be meaningless, so useless.
the favorite review is clearly marked. seriously - if the claims of reviews disappearing maliciously are true then sure let's hang yelp from the gallows. i do know for a fact that they're quite aggressive about anti-spam for being such a large site.
the fact is they've had such a positive effect on my life that i'm willing to actually hear the other side.
I agree. I've never gone to any place on Yelp's recommendation that was disappointing or grossly out of step with what the general review consensus was.
So shenanigans or not, IMHO Yelp is still a valuable resource.
I too don't really see a problem with a clearly marked, "highlighted" review. If Yelp is dropping bad reviews in exchange for sponsorship (or worse, writing fake bad reviews), I would take issue.
2. haha, oh man, i guess i can see how someone thinks im an employee, but in reality i'm an entrepreneur (yc w08 actually) who lives in san francisco. i like to have conversations with business people of all types, and it fascinates me that yelp is changing the fabric of small business. so yes... when i meet a restaurant owner i do ask them what they think of yelp. actually, a lot times they ask me, "how did you find us?" maybe i'm just too friendly or inquisitive?
full disclosure: i do have a friend and some acquaintances that work at yelp. running a startup in sf it's hard to not be connected to other startups in this city in some way shape or form.
3. i should have made this more clear, but i was speaking of jwz's "stuff" being baseless. it was 4am when i wrote that post so forgive me.
going through jwz's complaints he's essentially saying the reviewers are idiots. yeah, some are! so what! some people are idiots in real life too. the funny thing is it seems like yelp has spawned some healthy conversation about dna's bathrooms, specifically how much girls detest them for not having seats on the toilets (true).
extortion claims? granted if you don't agree with #1 then you may see direct sales as extortion, but i tend to believe it's not. i've never received a call myself so i'll reserve judgement until i do :)