Yelp

12/9/2014 Updated review

Yelp! Can promote low carbon commuting by collect data & report when business have an electric vehicle (EV) plug either onsite or within 2-blocks and bicycle rack/storage on site. Thanks.

1/5/2014

Short-n-Sweet: Useful if you compare # of ratings with # of reviews.  Learn about great finds: salons, mechanics, snake shops, or haunted houses.  Other review sites can't keep up with Yelp!

Story-Time: My first review of 2014 should obviously be about something awesome, and what better thing to review than Yelp itself? (Thanks for the idea, Kenzie K. !)

Sure, there are imperfections:
1)reviews from "no-bodies" can be front and center rather than legit reviews from experienced and active Yelpers.  NONETHELESS, the more Yelp friends you make, the more likely they've been to plenty of places and THEIR reviews pop up first!!! So, start asking some "Yelp Eliters" to become your friend!

2) pictures galore of places can be annoying if you really just wanted to see what the vibe of the restaurant is rather than the food, but you can't find any pics readily available.  I don't know how to help you there, but one way is to click on the photos button of the restaurant and you'll get to see lots of photos as thumbnails rather than having to scroll one by one.

3) Little corrections are not made in a jiffy.  The paid Yelp team might have some sort of rss feed that lets them know whether a Yelper has submitted a major correction such as "Business closed" or "New Business."  But little things like a very specific location of a business, or a place's exact name are things that I don't think you'll find changed anytime soon.

So, those are 3 things I could think of as legitimate imperfections.  Other complaints do not have substance.

1) "Yelp events are hard to get into."  How bad do you want to go?  There are plenty of CMYEs and UYEs that I find this statement hard to be sympathetic toward.  Check out the Event tab at most twice a week and you'll be in the know, like a superstar. ;)

2) "Yelp is unfair to some businesses."  It's public based, so if the public is not liking a joint, then that place is not reaching out as needed.  And if you like the business and see the ratings are not good enough or fair enough, try helping the place out by holding a "UYE" for the place.  Who knows what perks you'll get by trying to be an active supporter of a business...they just might give you a marketing job!  Or at least sometime free everytime they see you.

These two points are some major ones I've heard about and I just can't agree with at all.

Yelp has really saved me.  I was on a road trip in the fall of 2013, and we had no clue where to stay along the way between So Cal and Yellowstone.  We were on a budget, but we were not going to only eat sandwiches or do any sort of camping.  Yet, we didn't just want to stay at the local chain places like Motel 6.  We wanted to support the locals, you know, spread some of our S"outhern California sunshine dough."  Believe me, Yelp helped me find some fantastic places to eat and sleep that I would have not chosen if I had only been given a picture of it.  Thanks to other Yelpers, I learned about some places having great customer service, and others to stay away from.

Thanks Yelp, for helping me explore even my own tiny neighborhood.  Thanks for helping me realize that there's so much more than going to the same locations.  Thanks for giving me some great insight on where to go on a Tuesday late night.

Thanks for making my life be a lot easier and adventurous.

6/19/2014

Yelp is creepy.  Definitely uses some strange automated algorithms, way beyond review filtering, even on Yelp Talk!  Unnatural flow, and the best businesses are still the ones you hear by word of mouth (not by review of internet) so yelp loses.

But, it still beats google reviews, which is becoming a giant supercomputer lacking common sense.  Yelp wins.

Just stop being a creep about it, please.  
Just because there is a bigger creep out there doesn't make it ok.
Don't automate my location, I travel to the middle of nowhere!

DO something about those creepy automated marketing spambots conversing with each other in the Sioux City Iowa talk.

And what is the privacy policy of personal messages?  Does anyone care?

There is definitely way more supercomputer intelligence going on in the back-end, more than most of these sociopathic socialites describing food.

Sometimes I feel like I'm entering a sci-fi horror movie when I sign onto yelp, instead of learning about where the best farmers market is at, or who gives the best back-massages.

when yelp isn't creepy, it's useful.

11/21/2014 Updated review

When asked to evaluate a Yelp review that violated Yelp guidelines, Yelp staff actually edited the user's review to make it slightly less offensive (though still in violation of Yelp protocol).   Yes, Yelp will revise a user's review rather than remove it in accordance with their guidelines!  

Speaking of unprofessional, for the last two weeks, an employee from Yelp has been calling my business (sometimes 3 times in a busy afternoon) "to help you address any concerns about your profile" and represented himself as customer service.   Turns out he was not customer service, but marketing.  Misrepresent much?   Not only could he not help with with profile questions, he claimed he could not forward my call to customer service.   The Yelp email address he provided was incorrect as well.  Legal and customer service should be as responsive (though more accurate and honest) as marketing.  

How can I speak directly with an actual customer service rep at Yelp?  Graham C - can you help?

11/11/2014

Like all things on the Internet, yelp will surely fall off and die out.. And I can't wait. It does nothing for our society besides turning everyone into squealing pigs.

12/28/2013

I have finally made it...with 3 days to spare... and what better review to be my 100th of 2013 than Yelp itself.

It all started on a sunny SoCal day in 2009..... was it really sunny? possibly.. but it was in January... so maybe not? I digress. My motivation to start reviewing came from having a horrible experience at a restaurant. Sadly, outing the restaurant was my only way of dealing with the way I had been treated and deep down I hoped to save some other poor soul from the same experience. Prior to that I had used Yelp on and off, primarily to find a place to eat when in an unfamiliar area.

Fast forward to March 2010 when I was invited to be Yelp Elite. whaaaat?! I would get perks for just doing what I had been doing: writing reviews? I learned a little more about the Elite squad and became excited to join this community of Elites. And it felt cool when other people oogled that red badge. It's nice to be the object of envy every once in awhile.

Then the addiction began. Checking in became a must...everywhere. Reviewing at times became a chore (but only because school consumed my life). I had the privilege of attending Elite events. I trusted Yelp for all my dining decisions.

At times I heard negative things about Yelp. Taking advantage of small business owners, fake profiles with fake reviews, filtering reviews, etc. Maybe I am trying to be ignorant to these things, but maybe I am also immersed in the real Yelp community where these things don't belong. I have yet to have my own reviews filtered or taken down. Yelp may have its faults, but it also has real users and reviewers!

Fast forward again, I moved into the Yelp Broward Palm Beach community and my experience with Yelpers has only gotten better.

Shoutout to great CMs I have had the pleasure of meeting: Hazel Q, Ryan C, Johnny T, and Blue A. It would take too long to name all the other great Yelpers I have met along the way.

I had a thought the other day... Think about how many bad businesses you would have patronized if Yelp never existed, or how many good ones you would've missed out on! Cheers to more fun adventures in 2014, Yelp!

Yelp 100 Challenge.. Complete!

12/13/2014

Thank you Yelp for doing that type a service for our community.

7/28/2014

I wanted to change my name on yelp. I live in a small community where my real name and first initial are really obvious. I'd like to give my genuine opinion anonymously. Is that so bad? I didn't appreciate the passive-aggressive douchebaggery I received while changing my name. See below:
 "Change my real name. (I realize that Yelping under a fake name is neither useful, funny nor cool, and certainly is not very Elite!)"

Not very "cool or elite" yelp...

7/22/2014 Updated review

These mentally impaired individuals find it amusing to delete legitimate reviews for the sake of promoting business. They claim "honesty" and they essentially cannot be paid off, so why were a few businesses I work with essentially "strong armed" into a contract, and once it was refused a majority of their positive reviews were mysteriously removed the following day, and the negative ones remained. I find that very suspicious. Oh, and did you know that if you have not made more than 10 reviews within a very short period of time, they will count your review as invalid and remove it. "Honest" my ass! These idiots are no different than the corrupt corporate morons who care more about money than integrity

6/24/2014

As I review the reviews, of this reviewing website called "Yelp", there is a mixture of reviews. I am going to write solely on my experience and opinion. I am going to touch base on how Yelp affected my life in three aspects: mind, body, and soul.

Yelp has affected mind: peace of mind on where to eat, go, and drink. Thank you fellow Yelpers with all of your knowledgeable insights about where to park, what hours to avoid, what to order, how to eat the dishes, how to tie my shoes, wash my hands, bathe my dog, and love my wife. The opinions of these Yelpers are endless and with that, I have obtained an endless amount of resources for my every curious need.

Yelp has affected my body: if my body is a temple, it is a church full of gluttony and binge drinking. I have always had a hunger for exotic foods and thirst for deep drinks. Thanks to Yelp, I now have the paved avenues to access these self-loathing, intangible, perishable, sins in my life. I love every yellow-brick road that I now strategically venture down.

Yelp has affected my soul: I am now enlighten by the new-found recommendations, tips, bookmarks, compliments, and if all else fails, go to "Jumbo's" for a first date. This community has lifted my soul and made me a more open-minded individual.

With this said, Yelp is filled with like-minded, thirsty, hungry, curious, know-it-all critiques such as myself and we speak our opinionated minds. This is a place to read stories of the good times and bad. This is a website with a vast variety of authors from all types of race, age, gender, and ethnicity. This is a place where each ONE of us has a voice. Until next time my friends, Cheers! And SYOY!

PS. I'll give this a five-star rating from a four-star if this does not get filtered. So sad that this is my only leverage.

7/17/2014

Yelp actually sux in many different ways.  The way they police the comments lacks in my American freedom called my freedom of speech.  They have idiots take down posts for personal feelings and leave up ones from people who are generally disgruntled from a personal experience that doesn't pertain to the business, just individual people.  I do know how to use the app, but being as how some of my posts I saw as important information have been deleted, I wonder how many others have suffered the same, and what don't I know about certain businesses that I may have known?

11/7/2014

Yelp,

You have broken my heart. I didn't want to believe that you pandered to advertisers; that you were a profit driven machine which gnaws through unsuspecting consumers who take the time to write reviews in hopes of helping their fellow man (or airing dirty laundry, seeking catharsis, who knows what else). You are. SHAME on YELP. No wonder Yelp gets 2 stars on Yelp.

After receiving notice that my review of Goldrush Getaways had been removed "because it lacks a first hand customer experience" when IN FACT, there were no less than 2 first hand experiences, I now believe what I had hoped was pessimistic conspiracy theory. They are still doing it. Pandering to the economic dregs to turn a profit. Sorry your stock's down 40%. You get what you pay for.

Having to change our phone number to avoid robo calls from Goldrush Getaways sure does feel like a first hand customer experience.

Signed,
A Former Yelper

11/9/2014

I'm an avid yelp user. Not long ago I was threatened by one of yelps users because of some photos I have on my profile in my support of Israel,  I will never be intimidated by anyone, unfortunate that I have to carry my 357 magnum every where I go. :( THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN! :((

10/21/2014 Updated review

Yelp is a form of cyber bullying! Anonymous people can write mean things about anybody or anything. We try to stop bullying in schools and with children yet adults turn around and bully on the internet  Also, they are breaking their own policy about paying for reviews.  They sponsor events and parties with free food, drinks, swag for their Elite Yelpers. Those businesses throw events for Yelp to get reviews.  Isn't that considered paying to get reviews?

10/25/2014

I love their filter system. Best way to "BULLY" a small business into agreeing on paying hundreds of dollars to advertise for them and leaving all good review on your profile. Opened my shop 3 weeks ago, and got 8 good reviews and only 3 show, and theirs guys that have an active account that reviewed my place, and still got taken down. Thank yelp. That's the perfect way for me to say no to you guys when you call me asking if I'm ready to advertise.

5/30/2014

Wow! This experience has scraped the bottom of the barrel.

For the last year I have advertised with Yelp.  My reviews are all filtered (thank you mystery algorithm) and I can't get any customer service.  I call and email for days for help...nothing but crickets.  All that for $4200/year!  

Now that my contract is ending, it has been impossible to cancel my contract.  There certainly isn't a button to quit.  And this "email based company" that doesn't respond to phone calls has a "5-7day" response time for emails!

I can't believe it.  Worst business choice I made in 2013.

12/7/2014 Updated review

Im not convinced that Yelp has credibility. I usually dont agree with other Yelper's reviews when it comes to restaurants.

12/3/2014

I have 38 amazing reviews and picture of hair that i have done on my clients and Yelp keeps the one bad one on top of my business page. The review barley talks about my work and the girl made up so many lies about me.  I don't get it... I work hard and very educated in my art and its very difficult to contact them.

7/9/2014

I wrote a detailed explanation of proof I have that Yelp DOES allow businesses to manipulate reviews and they keep deleting it. I am tired of playing games with them. The site is not some place of unadulterated opinions, they are a pay to play getup in the simplest form of the phrase & the fact that my old review of them was deleted twice is testament to the fact.
Funny that this post (that does NOT include the irrefutable evidence of their manipulation of reviews) is allowed to stay up. As soon as I start dropping facts and names it gets deleted. Pathetic and sleezy.

11/26/2014

Guys no one is getting back to me about a business riding roughshod on YELP. Somehow they have been able to remove my review and a picture i took and posted to their business page. No one at YELP has gotten back to me. Can someone please help?

1/6/2014

Never did I anticipate yelping would ever become a hobby. It was merely the google of dining. After a hard break up, however, I went through a period of rediscovering myself. That's when yelp really came into the picture.

What did I love doing? Do more of it. Live with a no regrets philosophy, get out more, befriend more people, purge the sadness, and live more happily.

Yelp, I realized, became the embodiment of things I Iove- taking photos, writing, and dining. So with every hang out from then on and with every new place ventured, I wrote about it. It also became a medium where I could practice my writing- something my major has little to no room for. Have you noticed after a long hiatus from writing that you often have terrible writer's block? Truth be told, I'll never know when a future elective will call for an essay, so ranting about places has also doubled up as medium to avoid a terrible case of ol' writer's block.

In the meantime, it's always a pleasure to see any FUCs given to any reviews as all entries are nothing more than a fun pastime. Glad to have helped people in anyway. The biggest kick I get out of yelp is when classmates tell me they've actually discovered me here. Guess yelping is a cool hobby after all. Thanks yelp for helping me continually grow, discover new places, and befriend more people :)

6/4/2014 Updated review

I just informed Yelp about a person who created a fake profile to slander my business, and I have proof of this.

They responded saying that the negative review will stay.

I have 20+ Reviews of clients who took the time out to share their positive experiences with my company, most we're filtered and they were all 5 star reviews. Yelp decided to keep 2 of the 5 star reviews. And kept the 1 star review they they know is of a fake person- bringing my rating down to 3.5 stars.

Yelp sucks big balls.  The people who make decisions regarding the filtering process are smart... GNAAT (Borat accent)

10/30/2014

I just dealt with the RUDEST person from yelp who was trying to sell advertising for yelp. After telling him I wasn't interested and didn't need to give a reason he said, "I'm just going to keep calling you until you give me a reason. Why would you say No? You don't even know anything about the program. 30% of people don't give a reason and we just keep calling even when they say no." I ended up hanging up on him.  You guys really need to change your strategy on this.

10/28/2014

I have tried multiple times to dispute to YELP's support team about a clear violation of a user. Yelp has just ignored me and I have even referenced their guidelines what parts are violated. I am surprised that they are not following their own guidelines.

6/10/2014

I posted pictures of a paint job that was ridiculously sloppy.  The painter contacted Yelp to complain.  They took my pictures down saying

Hi there,

We're writing to let you know that we have removed your photos of ADS Painting. Business photos and captions should be broadly representative of the business, however you're welcome to share your personal experiences in your written review.

Thanks for using Yelp!

Regards,
Rosaline
Yelp User Support
San Francisco, California

There were/are no other negative pictures of the business mentioned so what defines "broadly representative?"  This was my experience and I post them to qualify my statement so you know what I'm talking about. But apparently if you complain enough, Yelp will fold.

All I can say is that is the last time I bother posting a review.

12/31/2014

First, I fully expect you not to recommend this  On what basis did you delete ratings of this review. I have screen shots of those.  Consumers, please note that many of those who responded to my review are individuals who are compensated by Yelp, the so called Elite members. They receive goods and services in the form of monthly gatherings, free alcohol, products....well just check under their link for the benefits they reap for their efforts here. Totally biased.

The FTC has received more than 2000 complaints from business owners for claims of extortion for this company.

Among the many articles detailing the 2000 complaints and countless other suits  is:

arstechnica.com/business….

This started as a simple request for an explanation as to why my reviews were unpublished. I now find out that certain legal entities believe they are related to a law suit you had against a law firm for filing false reviews, and my profile listed me as an attorney. The only other reason would be my disability caused you to treat me differently in exercising my right to free speech.  Ironically, I am a consumer yet it is the businesses that are yelling extortion.

Footnote: I took a screen shot and there were 5 useful reviews hours ago. Your so called Elite members have  used profanity in personally attacking me, and used "damn" in their responses. Also, no pic is necessary unless you are an elite member.  For the uninformed, you might get a real good idea of how unbiased the elite members reviews are, and how quantities of reviews are arrived at, by visiting the elite member page.  Personally, I can't believe that Jessica B, an elite member, who is supposed to stand as an example to all members, can say damn, and your last reviewer was equally as rude. Fact: On no less than a monthly basis, you provide get togethers at your expense with company employees and your Elite reviewers.  Unbiased?  I will try to learn something by carefully combing through your Elite team's reviews. My complaint that you collect money from businesses that advertise and yet supposedly provide independent evaluations is echoed in the 2000 complaints to the FTC.  I have saved a copy of this as well.  My review is that you have a carefully orchestrated feedback system with "assets" you have essentially cultivated loyalty from. You should inform the public when you publish their reviews that they have received compensation from your company and have a close and continuing social relationship with them.  Follow the BBB and Consumer Reports rules, but that would not be lucrative, would it!?

6/9/2014

I am very disappointed that YELP removed my review of my daughter's school. I am especially concerned as this school is a San Francisco gem! As a matter of fact, they have removed a number of positive reviews of the school and only promote the negative ones. I find that troubling and patently unethical.

I'd like to hear a response from YELP as my review did not violate their content guidelines. For that Yelp, you only receive one star from me.

10/31/2014

Ouch, just got phone call to pay for advertising for our yelp account. They said they will keep moving up down the list unless we pay for advertising. Not fair. Is this review even going to show up on YELPs review? or are they going to delete this?

9/18/2014 Updated review

when I recently drove to SoCAL for a vacation to eat the local cuisine and check out the local spots with my family. i completely depended on one iPhone app to help me find the closest espresso spot, the BEST ramen shop, the tastiest Korean BBQ, and the best taco shop.  
YELP
oh, and the essential stuff like nail salon, gas station, and directions and phone numbers of everything.
YELP
Haters gonna hate.
but this website and the APP made my vacation so much more enjoyable and less stressful.
mos def 5 STARS!

1/18/2014

There and back again, a tale of adventure by Michelle Baggins, of the Bagginses.

My yelp adventures brought me far and wide. To the best to the worst. And the ones in the middle. Yelp saved me a number of times.

My best yelp finds -"My Thai"  a small roadside Thai place in the middle of nowhere on the road to Hana. This adventure brought me the best shrimp pad Thai I've tasted in my life.

And what about that time I needed to entertain the kiddos and found Sun n Splash in Naples, Florida. That was because of Yelp. I would have never known.

What about  the number of times I've showed servers pictures of dishes posted by former diners, because the language spoken was not mine.

Yes Yelp, you're my right hand man. I don't know how I could live without you, really. How else would I find the places that are off the beaten path. With you, my precious, future adventures are waiting to be had.

5/30/2014 Updated review

Hey guys,

this is some dickhead's review of Katz's in NYC.

He didn't eat here. So it violates Yelp's guidelines.

I reported it, and they emailed me and told me they weren't going to remove it.

Here is said review -

"Ok. I'm going to review this place without actually eating in here. Not a good thing to do, I know.

This is the place that everyone recommended to us before we came to NYC. It's where that scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed (yes! THAT scene!).

We decided to go on a Sunday at 2pm, which I suppose isn't the best time to go as it was heaving.

We thought it was going to be a diner. It isn't. It's a cafeteria. You go in, get given a ticket. You go down the line and choose what you want. You then find a table. Eat your food. Queue at the massive line to pay for your food.

It really wasn't what we were expecting and as soon as we walked in and saw the chaos and complete lack of relaxing atmosphere, we simply turned around and walked out. We then got shouted at by an employee, asking what our problem was.

Not eaten here. Don't want to eat here."

What a great, honest review, Yelp.

10/31/2014

Their response to my complaints about a review is not thorough and it seems like an automatic reply. Any review about the business must be proved with a receipt or any info about the visit (total amount, date and time of the visit, foods items.....)

11/10/2014

I was not aware that my business was even listed on Yelp until I was contacted by one of their sales representatives. When I did visit our Yelp reviews, I found that my business had been given a 1-star review by someone who had never done business here and had given a completely fictitious account of an exchange that simply never happened.

In looking further, it seems that this person has only made 4 reviews on Yelp, and 3 of them were on the same day and for businesses over 1,000 miles apart. Our business is in NH, but this person posted reviews for a business in Florida as well as another in Minnesota. All 3 of the 1-star reviews were posted on 8-7-14.

I contacted the Yelp sales representative to see what could be done about this. Her response was only that the United States allows for freedom of speech, and that Yelp will not moderate individual disputes. She recommended that I neither contact the reviewer, nor comment on the review.

Not being one to let the fictitious post become a detriment to my business, I opted to "claim" my business page in order to respond to the review. Sure enough, businesses cannot respond to reviews without first posting a clear picture of the owner's face, yet Yelp will allow this faceless reviewer to post whatever they would like.

What is especially interesting is that 8-7-14 is the day that Yelp was sued by shareholders over their strong-arm tactics. The suit alleged that Yelp deceived shareholders about the quality of the reviews on its website and business practices including "requiring business customers to pay to suppress negative reviews." Could it be that Yelp employed these "reviewers" in order to solicit funds from my business and countless others? It certainly seems plausible to me...

I used to use Yelp as a resource, but now I see it for exactly what it is. The site is rigged so that they have complete control over its content, and so that only paying advertisers are rewarded. Without playing their game, there is nothing that a small business owner can do to combat blatant lies posted about their business. Yelp points to free speech to absolve them of responsibility, but does nothing when that free speech turns to libel or slander.

For those who don't believe me, simply take a look at the 6000+ suppressed reviews and the 1600+ reviews that they have removed about themselves, citing "terms of service" violations.

5/21/2014

So Yelp did it again to me! They hid the good reviews and brought up old negative reviews because I didn't place an ad with them. They called me about 100 times for about 1 year, and I didn't answer because at $300.00 a month for little to 0 ROI  wasn't a good deal.

Too bad for this company because had they had a God fearing CEO, this company would soar and become great because he would want to honor God by doing amazing customer service, and  being the light in his company.

1/8/2014 Updated review

Dear Yelp,

I love you. But you knew that already! Thanks for the Elite honor.

Cheers,
Ted

10/24/2014

You guys SUCK!!! WORST REVIEW WEBSITE EVER SEEN! You guys take off good reviews and want businesses to pay to get good reviews stay on! Hate you!!!

6/24/2014

Lame, who would flag that? How is this review not relevant to the consumer experience?  I would argue its at the very heart of the consumer experience - I am tackling the very questions that society should address more frequently.  When The Village was built, a primary concern was its impact on the environment.  Part of their development paid for these key areas I have sought to describe for the public's benefit.

In my opinion, Yelp should be more about making unexpected causal connections - not simply allowing the reductive ones.

Hi Dana,

We wanted to let you know that we've removed your review of The Village at Corte Madera. Our Support team has determined that it falls outside our Content Guidelines (yelp.com/guidelines) because it is not primarily relevant to a consumer experience.

We hope you will continue to participate on Yelp while keeping our Content Guidelines in mind.

Removed Content:
Eschew your habits of consumption and stroll in the marsh adjacent the mall. A great number of species are to be discovered nestled in this tidal flat of pickleweed. Even bring your dog along! Muzzy Marsh is a fine setting for a walk-with-binoculars and picnic. Arthropods, anatidae, accipiters, and meadowlark populate this lovely habitat with an antipodal view of Mt. Tamalpais and San Quentin State Prison.

Regards,
Freida
Yelp User Support
San Francisco, California

11/12/2014

worst way of advertiment so we are new get a call to advertise on yelp all this big talk convince my manager and owner it work great the first month and second but at the same time we wore running a deal with living social and amazon so we figure most of our clicks are coming for there so we decide to continue and see at the same time stop the deals to see if wee see a difference and we did it went down and down so we cancel. it took us about 3 weeks to get a hold of our account manager and once we did she said we wore pass the 15 of the month so we would have to pay next for next month in full due to policies. ok no problem just make Shure this is the last one as we did not wish to keep having there services. we get a cancellation conformation email great  

Before the end of the month we get a email stating our account was handle different and we wore gong to be charge again and it would be the last time. AAA no excuse me we got a cancellation email the confirms our account is cancel. I  email back to see why or what was different and wishing they would told me before. got no replay back and my card was charge. I had to call my bank to get my money back

never again will we consider any of there advertiment services. and a FYI
once we stop paying yelp. our business started getting negative reviews and positive once filter what a coincides.

6/9/2014

Yelp has been filtering out legitimate reviews from current clients and customers of our business.  Ironically they post all the negative post, even if they are anonymous and can't be verified.  They say that our positive reviews "can not be verified," although  we have records of them being "real".  
Yelp is impossible to contact unless you are looking to advertise, and they say they can't change the review system. I've tried calling Yelp numerous times, sent countless messages and requests, but to no avail.  I suspect if I became an advertiser they would be able to "verify" all my reviews.
This is a major problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. . I am not going to pay for my company's reviews to be displayed on a "free" review site, so we are now mainly directing people to Google+ for our reviews. Get it together Yelp!

10/25/2014

How ethical are this crocks, they own money to my business ( several checks that never was send or missed from Yelp Deals ), however there's not a phone number to reach this people but guess what there's a phone number for their collection and sales , to make things clear they have a phone number that someone always answer for collect their money but for any payment that they must do they have the nerve to demand only by mail.