You know those bars and restaurants...

[katie1997]

???? Wrote:

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> Well said SJ - was going to check that one out,

> won't bother now if they think they can traet

> punters like idiots.

same here.

agree with SJ too and they certainly are 'web savvy' enough to post on twitter (which is more than can be said for some businesses, rightly or wrongly for them). Er..and I am talking about the not-the-cakes one.

[edcam]

It is a definite problem - these unofficial "reviews" are necessarily completely subjective and one person's favourite establishment is another's "never again". I do think there is a major difference between a customer's criticism and a disgruntled ex-employee's.

The big mistake for any establishment though is for them to lose their rag and issue an indignant and poorly written flounce in response, forbidding any mention of their name. As the OP states, others have responded to criticism with positive and mature steps to address any issues (without submitting to the whims of every bitchy complainant.)

I wouldn't frequent an establishment that had the sort of attitude we have just witnessed.

[Siduhe]

Well, it's not like this forum has a solid core of regular users, with memories like elephants and a good eye for spotting spam or astroturfing posts, who will from henceforth go out of their way to comply with the letter of forum rules, whilst making quite clear what they think of this kind of approach...

Oh.

[StraferJack]

Interesting parallels in the story here

http://bit.ly/OdncSG

[nashoi]

Yodel as owned by the Barclay brothers, now they don't have a reputation for being overly litigious, oh no, lovely blokes

[woodrot]

I go to the provinces for a few days and ED goes into meltdown.

tsk tsk tsk

[steveo]

I've just been to the non cakes one and his concern is that the forum is so potent it could affect his business or even shut him down.

Now maybe the pitta was cold and maybe toys were thrown but surely even us the mighty forum don't want that.

[giggirl]

OK Steveo BUT do you think he had that lightbulb moment concerning the potency of Forum before or after he used it to post fake rave reviews about his Large Hellenic offerings?

[annabel42]

On the other hand a potent forum could be the making of his business.

[Annette Curtain]

steveo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> the forum is so potent it could affect his business or even shut him down

> Now maybe the pitta was cold and maybe toys were

> thrown but surely even us the mighty forum don't

> want that.

He's obviously lost his sense of hummus

[zeban]

God I didn't know the other place posted fake reviews! that's awful!!

[ladywotlunches]

I was looking at frequenting one of the above mentioned establishments last week, but then found this thread, and it made be wary. Since going past it since then, I've noted that it is significantly quieter than it was around opening time. Now that could be because people aren't going back, or because those that may have given it a try haven't risked it, like me.

So his request to have reviews removed could have backfired...

[DulwichFox]

I would not want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member.

Foxy :)