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09-19-2019, 04:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
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Google/yelp reviews: how do you take them?
When we travel, I tend to look at reviews to find out what locals say about places to eat, stay etc.
But I always look at he 1 stars as well. And then I’ll read the 1 star people’s other reviews to see if they are legit, or are they just big fun police who suck the joy out of everything they touch.
How to you look at reviews? With a grain of salt so to speak?
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09-20-2019, 02:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,327
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Very often one will find the one star reviews are there because of either bad service, or some kind of falling out; "They didn't have the soup of the day. Or we had to wait an hour for a table." Seldom because of bad food.
When on the road we are interested in one thing: Good quality food. We do look at the reviews, restaurants, RV parks, etc., but usually won't rule out a restaurant unless the average is three stars or less.
We also prefer small, local diners for breakfast or lunch. Seems they are the only places left where the cook knows how to make "two eggs over easy" without half the white still clear.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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09-20-2019, 02:43 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Southeastern Connectiut
Posts: 1,306
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YELP is a mobile app that we rely on most. We generally look at the overall rating rather than the individual reviews. Our logic being that if it wasn't the best meal they ever had, some people will trash it, and the owner's friends will give it rave reviews. If it is 4 stars, it is usually a safe bet. Also, we ask for recommendations from locals.
Good Luck,
__________________
Pull Toy
Steve & Jan, Ava & Emma (Mini Schnauzers):
2016 F350 Lariat 4X4 Powerstroke CC/SB "PULLTOY V"
2013 Alpine 3535RE "MAGIC CARPET IV"
Proud Navy Vet!
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09-20-2019, 04:43 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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I've found the best advice comes from asking a local. Stopping for fuel, getting groceries or just stopping and asking a pedestrian "where's a good place to eat around here?" has worked for us. The problem with the social media is it can make a loud mouth out of a mouse as it's easy to hide behind a keyboard.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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09-20-2019, 05:14 AM
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#5
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Throw out the 5's and the 1's. Focus on the others as they seem to be most honest.
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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09-20-2019, 08:05 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 286
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I figure if the parking lot is crowded, something must be good.
__________________
2018 Springdale Summerland Series 3030BH
2018 Ram 2500 HD 6.4L Hemi Big Horn 4x4
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09-20-2019, 08:08 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spade117
I figure if the parking lot is crowded, something must be good.
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Parents made that mistake once. They did not know it was a peeler bar.
__________________
2010 Cougar 30RKS
2015 GMC Sierra Max Trailer
"Drinks for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2"
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09-20-2019, 09:58 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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tripadvisor.com is pretty good. I have written dozens of restaurant reviews and they tend to be more realistic than yelp or google because as pointed out already, many do bad reviews based on a run in with the waiter or such.
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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09-20-2019, 10:54 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
tripadvisor.com is pretty good. I have written dozens of restaurant reviews and they tend to be more realistic than yelp or google because as pointed out already, many do bad reviews based on a run in with the waiter or such.
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I agree! Service isn’t as important as the actual food
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09-20-2019, 10:58 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
I've found the best advice comes from asking a local. Stopping for fuel, getting groceries or just stopping and asking a pedestrian "where's a good place to eat around here?" has worked for us. The problem with the social media is it can make a loud mouth out of a mouse as it's easy to hide behind a keyboard.
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This is one of my main gripes. People honestly think they are something and that their tiny little voice matters.
It drives me crazy! I have a client that opened a noodle Resturant and he’s “white”. There are people giving him 1 star reviews because it’s not right that a “white” guy makes money on a “Japanese “ style of food. Really?
Then the broth is to bland, or to salty. To me personal taste doesn’t make a place 1 star.
I agree about trip advisor. It seems like a more well rounded crowd that post. Maybe they are older and wiser than the yelp crowd?
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09-20-2019, 12:34 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishsizzle
This is one of my main gripes. People honestly think they are something and that their tiny little voice matters.
It drives me crazy! I have a client that opened a noodle Resturant and he’s “white”. There are people giving him 1 star reviews because it’s not right that a “white” guy makes money on a “Japanese “ style of food. Really?
Then the broth is to bland, or to salty. To me personal taste doesn’t make a place 1 star.
I agree about trip advisor. It seems like a more well rounded crowd that post. Maybe they are older and wiser than the yelp crowd?
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I use and do reviews on TripAdvisor. I tried Yelp but it seemed what you stated in your last paragraph might be correct.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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09-20-2019, 01:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishsizzle
This is one of my main gripes. People honestly think they are something and that their tiny little voice matters.
It drives me crazy! I have a client that opened a noodle Resturant and he’s “white”. There are people giving him 1 star reviews because it’s not right that a “white” guy makes money on a “Japanese “ style of food. Really?
Then the broth is to bland, or to salty. To me personal taste doesn’t make a place 1 star.
I agree about trip advisor. It seems like a more well rounded crowd that post. Maybe they are older and wiser than the yelp crowd?
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I review on trip adviser and if you knew me you would stop calling folks that review on trip adviser "older and wiser". Definitely older but wiser? I don't resemble that! When I review, I take the food seriously, need the condiments I like with that food and do consider service and time it takes for the food to come out if it ain't fast food relative to the food's quality. I also look at the bathrooms and peek into the kitchen if I can and if they are disgusting, quality of the food isn't the only thing that gets mentioned.
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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09-20-2019, 10:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Oregon
Posts: 247
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I love how we all go through life thinking we are surrounded by total morons who can't merge, park, shop, vote or do anything else but when we're hungry we throw ourselves at the total and complete mercy of the same crowd to help us decide where to eat
Don't get me wrong.... I do it too. It's just a funny study in human nature.
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09-21-2019, 02:01 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtofell
I love how we all go through life thinking we are surrounded by total morons who can't merge, park, shop, vote or do anything else but when we're hungry we throw ourselves at the total and complete mercy of the same crowd to help us decide where to eat
Don't get me wrong.... I do it too. It's just a funny study in human nature.
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That’s kinda my point.
How do you “sort” through the people who are just complainers with nothing better to do than berate businesses?
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09-21-2019, 04:16 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,327
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This is somewhat interesting read for those out there that believe making a review, good or bad, doesn't matter.
https://www.inc.com/andrew-thomas/th...r-company.html
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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09-21-2019, 04:35 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 708
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishsizzle
When we travel, I tend to look at reviews to find out what locals say about places to eat, stay etc.
But I always look at he 1 stars as well. And then I’ll read the 1 star people’s other reviews to see if they are legit, or are they just big fun police who suck the joy out of everything they touch.
How to you look at reviews? With a grain of salt so to speak?
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Reviews can also be manipulated by the vendor, here's our story:
Last year we had a problem with our fridge. While we were in Dallas, I contacted a mobile RV tech to come and fix it. I had diagnosed the problem already as a burned out electric element, but he wanted to check my diagnosis so we met at a truck stop to do the check. A day or so later he came to where we were camped to replace the element. For what he did (which wasn't much) he charged me over $600. We were so glad to have the fridge fixed, we paid the amount without getting an invoice from him (yeah, I know, stupid).
Before he left, he practically begged me to go online and give him a positive review, which I willingly did.
Fast forward and we have been trying to get reimbursed for this work, under warranty. However, all I get from the guy is a string of different excuses why he hasn't chased it up with Dometic or why he hasn't sent us an invoice. We started trying to get a result from him on July 10 and it is now 21 Sept and still I'm getting excuses from this guy.
So, long story short, I did give him a positive review, but I'd never do business with him again.
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09-21-2019, 04:44 AM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingAroundRV
Reviews can also be manipulated by the vendor, here's our story:
Last year we had a problem with our fridge. While we were in Dallas, I contacted a mobile RV tech to come and fix it. I had diagnosed the problem already as a burned out electric element, but he wanted to check my diagnosis so we met at a truck stop to do the check. A day or so later he came to where we were camped to replace the element. For what he did (which wasn't much) he charged me over $600. We were so glad to have the fridge fixed, we paid the amount without getting an invoice from him (yeah, I know, stupid).
Before he left, he practically begged me to go online and give him a positive review, which I willingly did.
Fast forward and we have been trying to get reimbursed for this work, under warranty. However, all I get from the guy is a string of different excuses why he hasn't chased it up with Dometic or why he hasn't sent us an invoice. We started trying to get a result from him on July 10 and it is now 21 Sept and still I'm getting excuses from this guy.
So, long story short, I did give him a positive review, but I'd never do business with him again.
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If he was that concerned with a positive review then I'd use the possibility of leaving him a negative review, perhaps with a side of BBB complaint, to incentivise his cooperation.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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09-21-2019, 04:48 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 708
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
If he was that concerned with a positive review then I'd use the possibility of leaving him a negative review, perhaps with a side of BBB complaint, to incentivise his cooperation.
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Yep, watch this space...
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09-21-2019, 04:49 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines
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Interesting read Jim. Shows how 1 person that thought the toilet paper was a bit rough (1 star) can bring down 4 reviews praising the excellent steak (4 stars).
I guess we should think before submitting our reviews.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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09-21-2019, 05:21 AM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 66joej
Interesting read Jim. Shows how 1 person that thought the toilet paper was a bit rough (1 star) can bring down 4 reviews praising the excellent steak (4 stars).
I guess we should think before submitting our reviews.
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When I first read this I thought steak was streak. Now that would be funny.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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