About Posting Reviews of Businesses (good and bad)...

[beachmouse]

I can't remember slamming a local business, but I'm not shy about giving mixed reviews. So I'll continue to say that Nick's in the sticks has indifferent sides and starches but that their excellent hand in fish and shellfish preparation makes up for the lousy buns, or that I liked Stinky's fried shrimp but didn't care for the gumbo there because I'm in the if it doesn't have roux, it's just another soup camp. And I'm perfectly happy to cheerlead for businesses I think offer good quality and value and that I want to see thrive.

End of that day, I see it as a question about whether the bigger responsibility is to the business or readers here, and I'm in the camp that leans toward other readers. I like to refer folks from Chowhound over here for restaurant reviews because their Florida section seems pretty Miami/Orlando/Tampa-centric. I want those readers, who dearly want to find the best places to eat in an area, to feel like this board helps them do that.

And when it comes time for things like medical care or home improvement, I put a lot of stock in referrals, and this board can offer up some good suggestions that I might not hear from coworkers.

 

[GoodWitch58]

BMouse, I don't disagree about Nick's, the seafood is the best, the rest, well, it depends....but, the other week I had some killer mustard greens!

I think they came straight from their garden--and that made up for any soggy fries that I have had in the past!

 

[Susan Horn]

I don't think it is accurate to say that he is trying to hide his criticism by using this board.

Apologies to GEO if that's what my post came out sounding like, and to GoodWitch, and anyone else who read my post that way. I meant the comment more generally about anonymous posting, not about GEO's in particular.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Apologies to GEO if that's what my post came out sounding like, and to GoodWitch, and anyone else who read my post that way. I meant the comment more generally about anonymous posting, not about GEO's in particular.

No, Susan. I was not responding to your post..I think we were typing at the same time. LOL.

 

[SneakyPete]

I agree GoodWitch. Geo is hardly anonymous! From reading his review (and I think anyone who USES a service has a right to review it), or we can call it his "experience," with the store in question, it sounds like he received spectacularly poor service. And from reading the following posts, it sounds like he isn't the only one. These people who have posted their negative experiences have done us all a service. I can only hope that the owners will read up and improve their business accordingly.

In general, I think all of the reviews on this board are quite positive. Posters seem to have no problem taking the time to rave about their great experiences with local businesses, service providers, and restaurants. In fact Geo's initial thread was almost hijacked by posters who spoke out about how much they love the local USPS and another competing provider. So, it isn't that this board is just a place for negative nellies and whiny babies.

While we are all here to support local businesses, there are some businesses that are run poorly and need improvement. I enjoy reading the good and the bad. We all make mistakes. We all have a bad day. In the end, I'll make up my own mind about which businesses to support, and one negative review isn't likely to sway me one way or the other...a whole slew of them, probably.

In my business, I take negative feedback to heart. It hurts. But it is important. You always hope the negative feedback will be face-to-face rather than on a public forum, and that you will have a chance to make it right if you can -- sometimes (rarely) you can't, but you must always try. In Geo's case, however, it must have been very clear to the business owner that he was unhappy. They knew he was upset, didn't try to make it right, and instead responded to his ire with attitude. In customer service land, that's a big no no. One way or another, violators will be punished. It's the law.

 

[Kurt]

Anonymity on the internet is misunderstood. There is a difference between a poster with less than 20 (or 2) posts or so who post negatively, and posters who have quite a few posts and have a reputation and are known quantities, good or bad.

It doesn't matter if I go by Kurt or "My Dog Skip". It is what I write and what you know about what I have written before that is important. It helps that we have hard-working staff and moderators, and great contributors who also help moderate. This helps keep things in proper perspective. On the internet, as in life, you have to learn to become good judge of people by using reason and careful consideration without overreacting.

The truth is, most of us are anonymous to each other in "real life". The people we know well and trust are the people whose opinions we value and benefit from. Even so, I love having reviews for a product or service from 142 customers on sites like Amazon or Ebay. Other than opinions from individuals I trust, there is real value in consensus for me, and something I think we can achieve on this site.

More often than not a certain degree of anonymity is freeing and can be a good thing. I would rather someone tell me the truth even if it hurts, than have someone lie to me with a smile. If you prefer "polite society" , and people who hide their true opinions and feelings, then you're probably unnerved by the internet.

I find it amusing when people complain about this forum because the content is 99% "run by the inmates".

 

[Geo]

its simply a way of trying to be the nice guy after smearing a local small biz.

If you'd read between the lines you'd find this thread is me telling business owners to be aware that I and many others have zero intention of discontinuing our sharing of experiences patronizing their businesses online- the good, bad and ugly. I haven't made any apologies here...

people are tough behind a computer. no company should be smeared on a public form from a single persons alleged experience. and one can bet that the smearer is likely not a business owner themselves and havent a clue what it takes these days to stay afloat and how frustrating it could be to be smeared on a public forum by one disgruntled person. its wrong all day long-period. and no, im not the owner of any of these businesses is play.

I am neither anonymous nor hiding behind a computer. But clearly you do not know me based on your post...

My name is George and my avatar is my photo. The business owner has my first and last name, address and phone number (they reminded me of this after I told them I was going to tell everyone about my poor experience)...

For the record- I have owned a small business and am getting ready to start another one. So I know a thing or two about struggling to stay afloat and I know even morso about the importance of customer service and how to handle complaints.

 

[Will B]

For the airline industry, statitistics show that if a customer has a particularly good experience he or she will tell 3 people. If they have a bad experience, they will tell twelve. I remember these back from the days before the internet exploded so I'm sure the slant is even more skewed to the negative, now.

Truth be told, news travels fast. I think all Sowal businesses can glean a lot of info from the forum both good and bad. How they choose to use it is what sets businesses apart from each other. I have seen some businesses thank the posters for their comments and use the info to make a better product, and I have seen other businesses use the info to start full fledged arguments. Those that learn and grow are the ones that we will be doing business with in the future because in the long run they will be the establishments still in business.

Note to all you businesses out there...
Don't castigate the negative comments if they are legit. They may make you mad in the short run, but if they do, indeed, reflect an issue, please learn from them and grow.

 

[NoHall]

Apologies to GEO if that's what my post came out sounding like, and to GoodWitch, and anyone else who read my post that way. I meant the comment more generally about anonymous posting, not about GEO's in particular.

What she said. I certainly wasn't trying to criticize him personally, either--just respectfully disagreeing. Geo has a lot of good things to say.

 

[Samuelsgran]

Someone recomended Shorty's on this forum awhile back. We took our family and it was GREAT. The best lime soup and cheeseburger ever.The prices are good.We plan to try Pizza by the sea next.......