Built a review site? Fine, but leave the reviews alone. All of them. No, it is not "OK" to close users' accounts with no warning, thereby demolishing all of their reviews. No, it's not OK to "hide" some reviews or to take down reviews when your blackmail tactics actually work. No, Yelp: it's not acceptable to solicit and harass people and businesses who have explicitly posted "no soliciting" signs on their establishments.
Show investors your business model transparently, let's see it. How is this supposed to work legally? Is this really going to be sustainable or build value in the long-term?
If Yelp's public offering gives them anything substantial, we have a lot to worry about. If the IPO market says it's OK for companies to make money by extorting the little guy and stifling the small voices, we are in a world of trouble.
If these businesses learn anything (Yelp and Groupon I'm looking at you!), it should be that quickly growing a sales force that is paid on incentives is difficult and should be closely managed.
Otherwise the newly minted hundred(s) person salesforce, most whom have less than 1 year with the company, will sacrifice the long term success of the business for the short term success of commissions. Translation: cut ethical corners.
I cannot even imagine how difficult it is to recruit, lead, and manage a salesforce of hundreds of people that are all brought together in a period of months.
Built a review site? Fine, but leave the reviews alone. All of them. No, it is not "OK" to close users' accounts with no warning, thereby demolishing all of their reviews. No, it's not OK to "hide" some reviews or to take down reviews when your blackmail tactics actually work. No, Yelp: it's not acceptable to solicit and harass people and businesses who have explicitly posted "no soliciting" signs on their establishments.
Show investors your business model transparently, let's see it. How is this supposed to work legally? Is this really going to be sustainable or build value in the long-term?
If Yelp's public offering gives them anything substantial, we have a lot to worry about. If the IPO market says it's OK for companies to make money by extorting the little guy and stifling the small voices, we are in a world of trouble.