Be Careful Who You PO

[pcdoc]

Google has recently announced that you’ll now be able to see user-created reviews at the Web site as well. There’s also a nifty way to see user-created content, but one thing at a time.

http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/2007/...ness-listings/

[RESteve]

Google has recently announced that you’ll now be able to see user-created reviews at the Web site as well. There’s also a nifty way to see user-created content, but one thing at a time.

http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/2007/...ness-listings/

That's pretty cool, but do you think the average person will write up reviews for the businesses? There's already quite a few places that you can review businesses on so it's kind of hard to see anyone really taking the time to do this.

I think a better idea would of been to pull reviews from various sites and aggregate them in that review tab.

[judyo]

What I don't care about reviews (although I read them for stuff I buy online) is that for some things only negative reviews get posted. IOW, only people that are upset take the time to write a nasty review where others that were happy don't think about doing it.

[Eric Blackwell]

I agree with you, Judy. There is a negative cast to them. I do read them when buying things, but it only stops me if there is a large number of similar complaint with no rebuttal.

Eric

[webmaster]

So what if your competitors sign in with a bunch of accounts and give you a bunch of negative rankings - could Google be looking at any legal implications with something like this?

[JimOlenbush]

So what if your competitors sign in with a bunch of accounts and give you a bunch of negative rankings - could Google be looking at any legal implications with something like this?

I am sure you are right. Everyone will be posting junk about their competitors and posting glowing reviews of their own sites. It don't think it would take long for the first lawsuit.

Speaking of this, does Google do anything with the smiley face / frowning face buttons on the toolbar? I don't see them on the Firefox Google toolbar, but I remember them on IE. Did that info just go into some data file never to be seen again?

[svrpaul]

A big question is if the user supplying the information can be verified... which as we all know can be difficult on the open web. Angie's List does this already and I find it incredibly useful for finding services... the big key here though is that users that post the positive and negative comments can be verified.

[TrimarkProperties]

Hey guys!

I work in a slightly different side of the real estate industry (rentals) and believe me-- reviews and rankings have been around in our side for a LONG time, and the legal stuff has been handled without the review-posting-company getting into any trouble-- even tho they never verify anything.

Examples:
www. apartmentratings .com
www. apartmentreviews .net

And it happens a LOT-- companies write negative reviews of other competitors. Little can be done, unless the review violates user guidelines, makes threats, or uses personally identifying information. Also, strong cursing normally allows for you to challenge and get it deleted---but typically, the cursing has to be STRONG. S*it and D*mn doesn't do it.

I haven't actually posted a review on Google, but started to. I did not see any user guidelines tho.

[Morristown]

To much like E-bay, it will get to the point where you will get a bad client or two who will hold you hostage to your review. It is ridiculous. I had 3 totally unreasonable clients last year who, if this were availible, would have gone and posted nastiness about me.

1st. I PO'd because I refused to show him/her any additional homes until him/her sat down and did all the paperwork and got him/her house on the market. (could not buy unless him/her house was sold)

2nd. I made the mistake of listing the house at the price him/her wanted, but I said, in 18 days if no offers we need to do a 10% price reduction, 3 weeks came, him/her refused, so it went on, 6 weeks in I approached again on price him/her refused, 10 in same thing, 14 weeks in I approach again, refusal again, and I am grilled becouse I have not done a open house there in 6 weeks, and there has not been a showing in 5 weeks, and I will not advertise the house in the newspaper at $140 a pop. him/her visits my broker wanting a full release from listing and for my broker to fire me. Nice him/her?? I was releasing anyway, but not giving them the 60 protection clause, which said that within the 60 days if they agreed to sell the home to anyone that I brought though the house, they had to pay a commission as stated in the contract, unless they listed the house first with another broker.

3rd PO'd becouse I had a listing which was about 4 weeks from Sheriffs sale, I let the him/her know about the property, but also said unless you can close in less than 4 weeks him/her should not waist time on it. Later that day, A investor I had worked with before made a all cash offer closing in 2 weeks, and only 2% lower than ask price. Seller sits on offer for two days while I ping my other him/her who only responds on 3rd day. Him/Her has a total fit, cusses me out on this, and Thankfully I loose him/her as a client, but later I hear nasty stuff that him/her is spreading about me.

I can just imagine what would be posted if they had the chance.

[pcdoc]

Google be looking at any legal implications with something like this?

Like G is worried about lawsuits with a multi-billion $$$ warchest?

Pleez