Crowdsourced review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List and TripAdvisor have had a sizable impact on businesses. They give consumers a new means to hold companies accountable and more than ever before, these reviews have the power to make or break a business.
A recent lawsuit filed in Virginia illustrates just how important these consumer-written reviews have become. A dog training business in Virginia has filed recently a lawsuit against a consumer who posted a negative review on Yelp and Angie’s List for defamation.
Do you think this small business in question has a case? If you are a small business owner, how have you handled negative reviews given by customers?
Guests:
Chris Morran, Senior Editor at The Consumerist, consumer affairs blog owned by Consumer Media LLC, a subsidiary of Consumer Reports. He’s been reporting on crowdsourced review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisors for the past five years.