Do you think Yelp reviews are reliable?

Vintage VFer · 06-16-21, 11:40 AM

I've noticed that Amazon reviews are about useless anymore in general. Other sites' reviews tend to be questionable as well.

I was wondering what folks here think of Yelp reviews. Sometimes I need to find a new medical professional and, along with asking friends, I like to read other reviews.

Do you trust Yelp reviews? Are there other sites with relaible reviews?

ADoll · 06-16-21, 12:18 PM

I have been relying on Yelp reviews to have work done in the house. So far, the ones I have used with 5 stars reviews have been great.

warriorprincess · 06-16-21, 02:04 PM

Personally, I think Yelp is pretty shady. They manipulate which reviews show based on how much advertising a company will buy from them. This doesn't mean the reviews are fake. It just means you can't use it to compare and evaluate businesses. Good businesses that can't afford it, or won't succumb to it, will not come out well.

It's estimated that 20% of all reviews on Yelp are fake. This isn't just a Yelp problem. But I trust Google reviews more, and Nextdoor reviews even more.

It's not like I've investigated this. So just my opinion.

rhbrand · 06-16-21, 02:58 PM

With a grain or two of salt.

I automatically toss out a few of the best raving reviews, cause they easily could be paid. And I will usually toss a few bad reviews cause there are "Karens" out there that will slam a business for stupidest stuff.

Sue B · 06-16-21, 03:12 PM

Some restaurants have a bunch of clearly fake or paid reviews (reviewer lives hundreds of miles away and has similar-sounding glowing reviews around the country) so I look for local, real people reviews.

bee · 06-16-21, 07:03 PM

I trust amazon reviews more than I trust yelp!

bzar · 06-17-21, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage VFer

Sometimes I need to find a new medical professional and, along with asking friends, I like to read other reviews.

for medical, i first check if they're in my network. then i did a general Google search to see where their offices were located, and in the Google results, there was a separate review site for physicians called "healthgrades.com" that included detailed reviews that popped up. i found them to be pretty frank. there's another review site called vitals.com, also very frank. i went in with a healthy skepticism.

i think i checked yelp a bit, but healthgrades.com was a lot more revealing to me. i also selected this one physician because she's part of a group of several other physicians in her field - ob-gyn. if she was out of the office, i wanted to have a couple more back-up physicians who cover for each other. or if she didn't work out, i could go to one of her colleagues.

i felt comfortable relying on Yelp for repair services and installation services for appliances. again, i took it with a grain of salt if it was super negative.

as far as referrals - i rely heavily on my friend's and co-worker's suggestions for repairmen and home construction.

with Amazon, i mentally graph the reviews on a curve, looking first at the negative reviews. i skim them and look for the ones that are well written. i try to see how the average star rating resulted, especially if there are only a few reviews.

fanofladyvols · 06-17-21, 05:20 AM

I have checked out Yelp (as one of several sites like Tripadvisor) for restaurants when out of town. I have actually found it helpful for that.

Lately, I see a lot of people use nextdoor for doctor recs.

P.S. the reviews on amazon have definitely gone downhill!

carolyn jane · 06-17-21, 09:01 AM

I reviewed a hair stylist who fried my hair. The owner of the salon contacted Yelp and they took down my review.

Amazon is not great either. It drives me nuts to see a book review with one or two stars. Then when I follow the link, the person is complaining about the book arriving damaged, missing pages, etc. That is not a book review!

Vintage VFer · 06-17-21, 11:40 AM

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!

I've found Yelp to be hit or miss. There are reviews for a local GYN that are spot on. She is OK, but her wait times and office staff are abysmal. Hence, she only has 2 Stars.

One has to read many, many of the reviews, PLUS the "Not Recommended " reviews for the big picture. In one review, I found out that another local GYN has been sanctioned by the Medical Board, but is still practicing. I did research on that and found it to be true. You won't find that tidbit on his website!

It's a medical jungle out there!!!

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06-16-21, 11:40 AM
Vintage VFer VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001	Do you think Yelp reviews are reliable? I've noticed that Amazon reviews are about useless anymore in general. Other sites' reviews tend to be questionable as well. I was wondering what folks here think of Yelp reviews. Sometimes I need to find a new medical professional and, along with asking friends, I like to read other reviews. Do you trust Yelp reviews? Are there other sites with relaible reviews? __________________ Goal:250 / Done:91 POSTURE CHECK!

06-16-21, 12:18 PM
ADoll Join Date: Jul 2008	I have been relying on Yelp reviews to have work done in the house. So far, the ones I have used with 5 stars reviews have been great.

06-16-21, 02:04 PM
warriorprincess Join Date: Aug 2002	Personally, I think Yelp is pretty shady. They manipulate which reviews show based on how much advertising a company will buy from them. This doesn't mean the reviews are fake. It just means you can't use it to compare and evaluate businesses. Good businesses that can't afford it, or won't succumb to it, will not come out well. It's estimated that 20% of all reviews on Yelp are fake. This isn't just a Yelp problem. But I trust Google reviews more, and Nextdoor reviews even more. It's not like I've investigated this. So just my opinion. __________________ Nancy S. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* You're only 1 workout away from a good mood.

06-16-21, 02:58 PM
rhbrand Join Date: Nov 2001	With a grain or two of salt. I automatically toss out a few of the best raving reviews, cause they easily could be paid. And I will usually toss a few bad reviews cause there are "Karens" out there that will slam a business for stupidest stuff. __________________ Check out my Blog Link in Profile on Home Page

06-16-21, 03:12 PM
Sue B VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Maryland	Some restaurants have a bunch of clearly fake or paid reviews (reviewer lives hundreds of miles away and has similar-sounding glowing reviews around the country) so I look for local, real people reviews. __________________ Move your body often, sometimes hard. Every bit counts. Drop Two Sizes, Fit Body Blueprint, STRONG Eat. Lift. Thrive. and Revamp grad DISCLOSURE: I have a professional relationship with a seller or producer of fitness videos or products. For details, please see my profile.

06-16-21, 07:03 PM
bee VF Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008	I trust amazon reviews more than I trust yelp! __________________ I am @summitbee on instagram.

06-17-21, 05:20 AM
fanofladyvols Join Date: May 2004 Location: Modify City, State of Fierce	I have checked out Yelp (as one of several sites like Tripadvisor) for restaurants when out of town. I have actually found it helpful for that. Lately, I see a lot of people use nextdoor for doctor recs. P.S. the reviews on amazon have definitely gone downhill! __________________ Don't just work hard, work smart....Pat Head Summitt Never give up on your body!-- Miranda Esmonde-White Word/Guiding Principle for 2024: Embrace: embrace my faith, my family, my friends, myself, the process, the progress, the hard work, the strength program I choose, the recovery methods and rest I need, my life, the good times, and the memories of good people.

06-17-21, 09:01 AM
carolyn jane Join Date: Jan 2004	I reviewed a hair stylist who fried my hair. The owner of the salon contacted Yelp and they took down my review. Amazon is not great either. It drives me nuts to see a book review with one or two stars. Then when I follow the link, the person is complaining about the book arriving damaged, missing pages, etc. That is not a book review!

06-17-21, 11:40 AM
Vintage VFer VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001	Thanks for the feedback and suggestions! I've found Yelp to be hit or miss. There are reviews for a local GYN that are spot on. She is OK, but her wait times and office staff are abysmal. Hence, she only has 2 Stars. One has to read many, many of the reviews, PLUS the "Not Recommended " reviews for the big picture. In one review, I found out that another local GYN has been sanctioned by the Medical Board, but is still practicing. I did research on that and found it to be true. You won't find that tidbit on his website! It's a medical jungle out there!!! __________________ Goal:250 / Done:91 POSTURE CHECK!