to think threatening trip advisor. ..

[softlysoftly]

... makes you a wanker?

Either send the complaint directly to an establishment or say it on the visit and give them an opportunity to deal with it.

Or if you feel aggrieved and unheard or think others need to know about the issue then do a tripadvisor review.

Sending threats about "welll this happened what you going to do about it tripadvisor beckons I think...." (ps the additional dots ups the wanker factor)

Basically translates as you want something for nothing.

Oh and saying "I'm going to report you to tripadvisor" is possibly worse, it's a review site not the fucking police

[Crowler]

I'm a badged reviewer (polishes crown).

I frequently get very nice emails from the hotels I've reviewed.

But to the OP's point... is it not true that these wankers would equally depress TripAdvisor rankings across the board and so they are a non-issue? Sorry if this has been asked and answered.

[ajandjjmum]

I use TA - especially the forums - and often leave reviews. When looking at reviews, I tend to ignore those who only have one posting - being an old cynic, I always assume it's either the owner (if good) or the competition (if bad).

[ZillionChocolate]

I think defensive responses are counter productive, but well done ones would encourage me to stay.

I left a good review once but mentioned there was an early check out (10am) and it was quite expensive for rooms above a pub but competitive for the local area, and the proprietor got quite shirty and mentioned how they'd sent a friend who'd stayed in another room their forgotten iPhone charger. I had been factually accurate (I suppose apart from relying on my experience of normal check out times and room prices) so their response would have put me off a decent place.

[TheGonnagle]

I use TA all the time, and post a lot of reviews. I also report the reviews I read which are blatant fakes/wankery. And once I gave a gentleman doing exactly that in one of my favourite cafes (Hmmm, shall have to report you to.....) a bit of a bollocking.
Don't worry, you can spot the nasty bastards a mile off, and I always take them with a pinch of salt.

[Boreoff456]

Wtf? Wrights? I meant writes. Obviously.

[Boreoff456]

My dh usually wrights them as though he is reviewing the customer. A funny one can attract lots of customers.

Twat badges should be available everywhere.

[Kundry]

With the exception of the 'twat badge' line you should totally post that review.

The key is 1) to post some lovely comments on good reviews as well about how pleased you are people enjoyed their stay and 2) allow the reader to award their own 'twat badge' on the bad ones

[AnUnearthlyChild]

No, I think you should post that reply.

It would make me want to visit!

[Boreoff456]

I like that response. :D

[Tryharder]

Tripadvisor is hilarious.

[softlysoftly]

In which case I might post fact respond to one by saying

"I appreciate your disappointment at the size of 1 portion in your 9 course menu, we hadn't wanted to over face you. Though considering the 10 bottles of wine and 2 bottles of whisky you got through I must compliment you on your memory!

I would like to note that while I understand your frustration at us losing your reservation we did in fact, open up a private room with one on one wait staff for you despite the fact we had email confirmation of your booking for the previous day, I appreciate the difference between Friday and Saturday can be confusing.

Finally I totally agree the private room was "quiet" with no other guests and if you hated it I'm sorry, though it didn't stop you sneaking in 3 "mates" who weren't on the booking and didn't actually pay for anything. I understand our staff didn't challenge you on this or the fact that you refused to leave until 2 hours after we closed our doors. I must reprimand them based on their "lack of customer satisfaction".

I do hope you visit us again, we have a special "twat" badge for you to pick up".


Ok maybe not :)

[jamdonut]

I think some people have ridiculously high standards. I've posted reviews about some Travelodges I've stayed in. I always try to be honest ,but I've never had cause for complaint because I don't expect a 5 star hotel when I stay in one. They are not meant for luxury holidays, they are for overnight stays or business.
One reviewer complained she had "run out screaming and crying" from her room, because it was so "disgusting". She stayed at that particular Travelodge the same time as me,apparently, and honestly ,it was busy and a bit worn around the edges,but what you would expect for such an establishment on a motorway, and the cheap price?

It's the people who complain of a few hairs in the sink or shower that really worry me! So what...wash them away!!

[Kundry]

I love Tripadvisor and post a lot of reviews. We use it a lot when planning holidays.

However you can always spot the bonkers reviewer. We ignore any complaints by Americans about the size of bathrooms as they often seem to think that your cosy romantic hotel in a historic building should have similar facilities to a giant new build hotel. Plus air con and underfloor heating.

I would really encourage you to respond to reviews though - it's nice as a reviewer to be thanked and makes me more likely to go back. And as long as you are factual (and don't do a bonkers rant yourself) it shows up the made up shit reviews nicely - 'you turned up 3 hours late for your reservation, were obviously under the influence of alcohol and gave racist abuse to staff when they declined to serve you more' for example. I love these responses and it makes the hotel/restaurant manager look v professional as well

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I use Trip Advisor to look up pubs and clubs for a night out.

Any that say we couldn't get past the doorman (on multiple posts) we avoid.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

one of the things I look for on TA is whether the company respond, so if wanker says place was awful, no soap, bad smell staff hairstyles awful etc etc and company says... we gave them a soap dish, the smell was actually the guests themselves, and the staff were bald through no fault of their own and actually the guests were told this and still made fun of them etc etc then I think better of them tbh. some people are just wankers!

[Boreoff456]

Sorry my phone is being a silly bastard.

Op don't worry about local businesses putting fake good reviews up. If they are doing it, it means they have no confidence in their business and are usually shit. Within a few weeks people start going and realise its shit and start posting reviews that are realistic.

In the 3 year we have been here I have seen this 6/7 times and the businesses usually close down.

I think you should respond. The trick is to respond to good and bad. I like to take the very calm approach with the negative ones and politely point out why I believe they are wrong. The negative ones that are genuine, I tend to take it on the chin apologise and attempt to rectify it and tell them thank you for letting us know.

2 couples that are our most loyal customers complained the first tome they came in. But were so happy with how we handled it, they are here most weeks.

[Boreoff456]

Oppp

[Boreoff456]

People putting fake good rev

[Boreoff456]

People putting fake goo

[dontcallmemam]

volestair, put that look away, I am in a very cold house too , wearing thermals with no chance of a palm fringed beach for a very long time

[dontcallmemam]

I'm a big fan of TA but I agree that you need to sift the reviews. Expectations are so varied.
I travel to the Carribean a bit and the hotels there tend to have a lot of US reviews in the style of "thanks to Brad in the bar for the cold beer, Sally for making our towels into swans and Betsy for the fun Jenga competition". The Brits seem to bang on about the weather.
I use the forums to ask direct questions.

[KhunZhoop]

I used to be a holiday rep, and, whenever I was threatened with being "reported" to Watchdog (it was a long time ago), I just used to respond with "Zed, Aitch, Oh, Oh, Pee". And when they asked what the hell I was on about, I used to reply "That's my last name, I want them to spell it right if it's going on the telly".

Sadly, I never actually got my name on the telly, because all the people making threats were self-important wankbuckets complaining about shite like the weather, and being served plates full of onions and tomatoes when they'd ordered a dish off the menu called "Onion and Tomato Salad".

[BrickorCleat]

I agree that any owner who responds makes the establishment seem more proactive and professional.

I would dismiss anyone giving a spiteful review because they couldn't get a booking as a disorganised petty twat.

It's not why I use TA.