We work hard to exceed our clients’ expectations and take excellent care of the pets entrusted to us. Client feedback is important to us as we want to know how we are doing. More importantly, feedback is important to potential clients looking for a pet caregiver. Some clients have never used a professional pet sitter, so any information they may gain from our current clients is especially useful.
Positive reviews from Google, Yahoo, Yelp, Angie’s List and others has helped us gain new clients. We value these reviews very much.
A few months ago, we got a call from Yelp. They wanted to sell us their special services. We listened to what they had to offer, and even took an hour to watch their video. It was impressive. In the end, however, we decided not to enroll in the program because of the high cost ($350/month). We are a small business and simply cannot afford this. We kindly told them we were no longer interested after the price was given at the end of their presentation.
Shortly after we decided not to enroll in the Yelp advertising program, they removed our one visible 5 star review. I heard they used such tactics, but I was hoping they would leave us along. We went on the Yelp website to see if we could determine why it had been removed. We found no answers, but we did discover there are not one, but four reviews Yelp has not displayed. The reason given is that the Yelp users have not reviewed enough other businesses. We find this very frustrating, but are not surprised.
We decided to display the reviews on our website for all to see.
Here they are:
Good article. I can’t wait until the American public gets clued in to Yelp’s practices. Their ratings are based on whether or not a business chooses to pay them for their services.
I have several reviews that are not visible as well. To be honest, I don’t care because those that have review me will gladly send another testimonial to be placed on a reputable site.
I personally do not use Yelp for any reviews of those I choose to do business with.
Thank you Michelle. We are up to 55 – 5 star reviews and 0 showing.
Bravo for taking a stance against these blackmailing tactics. I also have had five star reviews removed from Yelp after declining to advertise with them at a cost of $300.00 a month. The latest review was from a client who appears to be a regular poster on Yelp. Nevertheless, two weeks after she posted her review Yelp banished it to the “not recommended pile.”
Thanks Wendy. Very frustrating!