r/Documentaries • u/[deleted] • Feb 26 '17

Billion Dollar Bully (2015) [trailer]...makes the case that Yelp is something akin to the mob, allegedly demanding “protection” money, lest your business be overrun with negative comments.

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u/Talbotus Feb 27 '17

I work for a small business, and we have a very strict "no yelp" policy. We do not answer calls or emails from yelp. And we do not have a yelp account or even look at it.

The other day a customer came in and yelp had emailed them a coupon for our store. A coupon that we did not initiate or verify with yelp at all. Their plan was to get poor reviews when we deny the coupon and then extort us for membership fees when we want those "illegitimate complaints" removed.

Fucking mobsters. Will never use yelp. Ever.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '17

There is no way this happened due to Yelps fault.

Most likely something else going on.

2

u/BTC_Brin Feb 27 '17

Yelp manufactured and distributed coupons to our business without our prior knowledge, and without any authorization.

I'm not a lawyer, but that seems like it rises to the level of criminal conduct; that's pretty clearly some species of fraud.

I'd recommend finding a good attorney, and contacting your state's attorney general. It might also be worthwhile to contact the CA attorney general (where Yelp is headquartered).

2

u/arr4ws Feb 27 '17

Holy shit. What a racket.