What’s Your Trusted Review Source? YELP’S CLOUDY HISTORY WITH CUSTOMERS
What review site do you use? Google, Avvo, or possibly even Facebook? Well, if you ask small businesses across the country what their thoughts are, you’ll run into one common conclusion: stay away from Yelp. Many organizations across the country have accused Yelp of extortion. Firms just like ours thrive on reviews as a way for people to inform themselves about the trustworthiness of a local company, and many owners argued that Yelp was holding positive information hostage. Here’s how. What’s Really Going on Here? Most major online review sources filter comments by date, showcasing the most recent observations at the top. One could suggest it’s the fairest way to go about the process, but that’s not how Yelp operates. Arguments state they filter their reviews by an algorithm that assesses reliability. On the surface, it sounds like a great idea, but in practice, many owners are crying foul play. I Scratch Your Back, You Scratch Mine? The allegations state Yelp showcases negative reviews at the top of the feed instead of positive ones, and to access the good feedback, Yelp requires payment for their advertising services. Once payment is confirmed, the reviews are supposedly reprioritized with praise at the top.
What Do The Courts Say? The accusations started in 2014 with the class action suit Levitt v. Yelp, which resulted in an investigation by the FTC. The FTC closed the investigation without taking action after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found no extortion or wrongdoing by Yelp and dismissed the case. The bad publicity seems to have stopped in recent years, and now more than ever, consumers are looking to Yelp for information about potential businesses. It appears that whatever complications caused by the initial suits have ceased, and the site remains a go-to option for those in need. We welcome reviews of all types because we crave feedback. If we’ve helped you reach a verdict or settlement, feel free to give us a review so others can see how we can get results for them.
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Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards
Roll this classic sugar cookie recipe into thin sheets and cut into rectangles for delicious valentines.
Ingredients
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2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
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2 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals. 4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6-inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.
Inspired by Bon Appétit
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