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Small Business Owner BLASTS Yelp — “It’s Hurting Our Businesses!”

195 views · Published 18 September 2014 · 3:47 · Indexed 6 October 2026

Channel: Mike Martins · 2014 · People & Blogs

I'm talking with another Vancouver small-business owner about Yelp — and he has a LOT to say.

I'm visiting my friend Marco at his shoe-repair business in Vancouver, where he's surrounded by shoes and busy serving customers.

But when I ask him about Yelp, the conversation takes a completely different direction.

Marco says he believes Yelp reviews have misrepresented his business and claims that some negative reviewers had never even been inside his store. He talks about the effect he believes online ratings can have on independent businesses and why he has become so frustrated with review platforms.

I also share my own experiences and concerns with Yelp.

For a small business, reputation is everything.

You can spend years building relationships with customers, serving your community and establishing a name—then somebody searching online can make a decision about your entire business based on a handful of stars and comments.

Marco's argument is simple: look at the actual business, talk to its customers and judge the quality of its work for yourself.

It's an interesting conversation between two independent Vancouver business owners about online reviews, reputation and what it's really like trying to operate a small business.

Do online review sites help small businesses—or have they become too powerful?

Let me know what you think below.

The statements made in this video represent the individual speakers' experiences and opinions.

#yelp #yelpreviews #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #onlinereviews #fakereviews #vancouver #entrepreneur #localbusiness #mikemartins

Small Business Owner BLASTS Yelp — “It’s Hurting Our Businesses!”

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