MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 4, 2014 18:57:57 GMT
BI.com: Hotel Fines Brides $500 For Every Negative Yelp Review Their Wedding Guests Leave"The New York Post reports that the Union Street Guest House in Hudson, New York, fines couples $500 for every negative review posted online (on any website) by one of their guests.But it doesn't end there. The hotel will also fine you $500 if you're staying there to attend a wedding at another venue in the area, but leave a negative review about your stay." Well, that's an interesting business model.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Aug 4, 2014 19:03:41 GMT
I wonder if it would be held up in court. Do they sign something that says they won't leave a bad review before they book? Otherwise, it's called freedom of speech.
Amy's Baking Company... hotel version.
I predict a peatlejuice in 3..... 2..... 1....
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 4, 2014 19:04:07 GMT
The is enough of an unreasonable uncontrollable expense that I would definitely not be booking with them.
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Post by annabella on Aug 4, 2014 19:05:20 GMT
Wow that's crazy!
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,348
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Aug 4, 2014 19:06:22 GMT
How can they legally do that?
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Post by alibama on Aug 4, 2014 19:07:35 GMT
How can they legally do that?
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 4, 2014 19:09:14 GMT
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 4, 2014 19:10:07 GMT
I would be interested in knowing if they ever actually fined someone and if that person had to pay. The article says that it was in the hotel's policy, but doesn't specifically say if anyone was actually fined.
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Post by *christine* on Aug 4, 2014 19:10:11 GMT
Good luck collecting on that one. You're sure not going to get rich that way.
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Post by pierkiss on Aug 4, 2014 19:10:11 GMT
Oh, really? And just how are they able to make people pay those ridiculous fines?
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miyooper2b
Full Member
Posts: 331
Location: Central Indiana
Jun 27, 2014 15:38:05 GMT
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Post by miyooper2b on Aug 4, 2014 19:14:36 GMT
The article I read said that this was a joke and not true. I'll have to see if I can find it again.
ETA: Well, the article I saw was at the top of my new feed earlier today but now it is gone. There are two others with this same story but without the correction. Hmmm . . .
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Post by kimpossible on Aug 4, 2014 19:19:36 GMT
I wonder if it would be held up in court. Do they sign something that says they won't leave a bad review before they book? Otherwise, it's called freedom of speech.
Amy's Baking Company... hotel version.
I predict a peatlejuice in 3..... 2..... 1.... HA! I laughed out loud at that. Just like Amy's Baking Company. Seriously, who would stay there or risk booking an event there? Crazy
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Aug 4, 2014 19:21:19 GMT
I don't see how this can even be legal, or possible. There's no such thing as bad publicity, though
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 4, 2014 19:28:41 GMT
The article I read said that this was a joke and not true. I'll have to see if I can find it again. It appears to be on their website, so...not looking very much like a joke. ETA: Looks like they've updated their policies.
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Post by melanell on Aug 4, 2014 19:36:00 GMT
Whether this was a joke or an actual policy, I'm sure it will result in people having a negative connotation with Union Street Guest House, which will likely lead to them not booking events or stays there. Unless of course curiosity gets the best of you and you decide to stay just to see what it's like.
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Aug 4, 2014 19:40:50 GMT
So, instead of providing good service, the hotel will fine people to keep them silent? No way I'd stay in this place.
It's tough to be in the service industry. My husband and I used to own a restaurant, and some people just cannot be pleased. A lot of people want something for nothing and threaten the almighty negative Yelp review if they don't get what they're demanding. It's tough, but I don't think silencing bad reviews is the answer.
Provide consistently good service and the good reviews, eventually, will outweigh the bad.
What a terrible business practice.
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Post by hollymolly on Aug 4, 2014 19:50:05 GMT
I don't get holding a business hostage over the threat of a bad yelp review. I read yelp reviews a lot when I'm out of town and trying to find a place to eat. It's usually pretty obvious to me whether the negative reviews are legitimate or not. I read multiple reviews, I consider the dates of the reviews (lots of good reviews two years ago, but nothing but bad for the past year- I'll go elsewhere), and most importantly, I consider the complaint stated in the bad review. I've worked in restaurants. If the complaint is over something petty or out of the control of the restaurant, then I don't count it.
That said, a business trying to prevent negative yelp reviews just rubs me the wrong way, and causes way more bad feelings from me than any negative review would. Inkedup said it, and it's what I believe to be true:
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
Jun 25, 2014 21:53:42 GMT
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Aug 4, 2014 20:11:25 GMT
I think this will just bring more negative reviews on their business and people will more likely leave false negative feedback without even stepping foot in the hotel just because this is so crazy and unheard of!
Now I'm wondering if we will start to see this more from other places of business.
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Post by lovetodigi on Aug 4, 2014 20:14:33 GMT
I imagine that their business will go downhill fast. Hope they have a back up plan. It would be nuts to stay at a hotel that operated with that kind of attitude.
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Post by shevy on Aug 4, 2014 20:17:30 GMT
Yelp reviewers are also having a blast. They're giving the hotel 5 stars but ripping them apart in the review narrative. Some are giving them 5 stars and then charging them for the 5 star review.
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Post by mzza111 on Aug 4, 2014 20:24:51 GMT
I saw a 20/20 or Dateline on this but it was an online company. If I recall, the no negative reviews was in the fine print of the TOU of the website. A husband put up a bad review and the company charged him a fee. When he didn't pay, it went to collections and was a hit on both the husband and wife's credit. It was legal in the sense that it was part of the TOU that he agreed to but the company probably wouldn't win in court. In the meantime, the couple has a ding on fheir credit and has to pay fees if they go to court.
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Post by manda on Aug 4, 2014 20:39:41 GMT
I saw a 20/20 or Dateline on this but it was an online company. If I recall, the no negative reviews was in the fine print of the TOU of the website. A husband put up a bad review and the company charged him a fee. When he didn't pay, it went to collections and was a hit on both the husband and wife's credit. It was legal in the sense that it was part of the TOU that he agreed to but the company probably wouldn't win in court. In the meantime, the couple has a ding on fheir credit and has to pay fees if they go to court. I remember that story. It was a couple in Utah.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 18:21:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 20:39:44 GMT
I suspect it is kind of like most waivers you sign. Won't hold up in court but might prevent some negative reviews.
And if you sign something going in before you check in, I suspect it might hold up. My friend got married and her fiancé's son decided to like a handful of sparklers inside the venue. The fire alarm went off. They were fined $350 because the contract specifically stated no fireworks on property -- no matter who brought them or did them. So a bridal party could definitely be held responsible for guests' behavior.
Being on the other side of hospitality, I will say I take reviews with a grain of salt because often the other side of the story isn't able to be told. The proprietor's or owners can't tell their side. With the advent of internet reviews, you often have people supporting friends (remember the massage table incident?)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 18:21:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 20:43:17 GMT
I think this is outrageous!
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 4, 2014 20:52:25 GMT
I can't see how this would work.
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scrappinghappy
Pearl Clutcher
“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late...."
Posts: 4,307
Jun 26, 2014 19:30:06 GMT
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Post by scrappinghappy on Aug 4, 2014 20:54:56 GMT
Their tripsite reviews aren't all bad but I'd venture to guess this is really not going to be good for business
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Post by Barbie on Aug 4, 2014 20:57:03 GMT
The Knot website is banning negative reviews of wedding vendors too. I personally would never do business of any kind with someone who bans negative reviews.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 4, 2014 21:09:50 GMT
The Knot website is banning negative reviews of wedding vendors too. I personally would never do business of any kind with someone who bans negative reviews. That is interesting. It kind of makes their review section worthless. That said, I am fine with a business not allowing negative reviews on their site. It is up to them to control their content, and I would imagine this is a tactic to avoid lawsuits. Their readers will support them or go elsewhere. For a business to not allow negative reviews on someone else's web site is a different beast.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 18:21:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 21:46:30 GMT
For a business to not allow negative reviews on someone else's web site is a different beast. I wonder if that's why a lot of the bigger places/chains are now offering surveys on the bottom of their receipts? To get the comments directly rather than on the www on review sites. Don't know whether they solve anything though.... But the 3rd party websites have to be careful because they can get into legal trouble possibly for hosting reviews that may not be accurate. And again reviews are truly one-sided and sometimes there are hidden motives that have nothing to do with the business itself. And unfortunately a new scam is to threaten to leave a bad review....we get it in our business....we lose money that clients truly owe because we are afraid of the bad PR a person can throw out there on social media and the web. eta: business's often can't tell their POV.....no one wants to say a customer is wrong especially in front of 100s or 1000s of potential customers. And honestly customers aren't always right...they used to be and then some started taking advantage and now it's sad to say that many have a high sense of entitlement for a very small amount of money....because of the few crazies that take advantage of that.
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newlywoods03
Pearl Clutcher
Blessed Beyond Measure
Posts: 2,828
Jun 26, 2014 3:09:09 GMT
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Post by newlywoods03 on Aug 4, 2014 21:51:03 GMT
That's crazy! You can't force someone to enjoy their stay if it truly was horrible. Not somewhere I would be willing to stay.
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