YELP---Public service or big business

Beyond the Bull will no longer support YELP.  The city guide that claims it “helps people find cool places to eat, shop, drink, relax, and play, based on the informed opinion of a vibrant and active community of locals in the know” is not in the business of helping people.  It is in the business of advertising. 

YELP claims that an unbiased use of a very secret algorithm filters out reviews they consider to be unrecommended (aka filtered) in an effort to protect their readers from biased reviews that may be solicited or paid for by the business.  Is it true?  Who knows!

What I do know to be is this:

Shortly after Beyond the Bull received its third review (all positive) I received a phone call from an overly aggressive YELP representative who attempted to sell me advertising.  I declined.

The next day, two of the three reviews were moved to filtered status.  In other words, removed from the main page and only accessible if the reader knew enough to click on the filtered icon.  Since that time, Beyond the Bull received ten more highly positive, unsolicited reviews.  All ten were filtered (now designated as unrecommended). 

Recently, a two star (out of five) review was published.  Where do you think YELP’s algorithm placed it?  Yep!  Front and center.  Was it written by a “local in the know?”  No.  This particular reviewer has been registered with YELP since October with a whopping 2 reviews under his belt. 

This is not sour grapes.  I know some of you are thinking that I am just upset that Beyond the Bull received a two star review.  That is not the case.  Having been in the restaurant industry for decades, I know that sometimes good restaurants get bad reviews just like the best of literature, theatre or music.  What I am upset about is a business model that includes extortion, and that YELP uses that business model to unfairly solicit paid advertising from small business.  In my opinion, it is both irresponsible and criminal. 

Beyond the Bull submitted a request according to the YELP guidelines to close the account on 1/17/ 2014.  As of today, YELP has not yet complied.  For more BTB reviews, photos, location and information go to http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/158/1775983/restaurant/Greenville/Beyond-the-Bull-Central or https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheBull

EAT SMART, America!

Buon Appetito e Buona Salute, Chef AngelaB