Google Review Can Be Filtered and Manipulated, Be Careful to Fully Trust

LSydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 09:38
Last edited 20/12/2021 - 10:24 by 1 other user

Just tried ASL removals or so called ASL logistics on last Friday for moving home, very bad experience, just gave 1 star on Google Maps Review, from my google account I can see that 1 star and comments, but login with another account cannot see my review and 1 star rating, I tried nearest and lowest rank search all is 5 star or 4 star very positive comments, but the fact is not. Just copy some very disgusting flatter words from ASL removals google review "network supporter" Anne Nguy** : AT FIRST I WAS SCEPTICAL OF THE 100% 5 STARS RATINGS UNTIL TODAY. THE MOVE WAS SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT…….

Yes, I'm too naive, for moving service, how can be 100% 4 stars above satisfied rate among 109 reviews? I was cheated at the first beginning, but gave me a chance to know: Google Review Can Be Filtered and Manipulated, Be Careful to Fully Trust. Business man can pay money to Google to buy the service they want to filter and manipulate review and feed back, that's terrible, it will destroy the trust.

Internet

Comments

  • SnowDragon on 20/12/2021 - 09:44
    +2

    It does seem suspicious that their lowest review is 4 stars even though the review states she "couldn't be happier".

    Just plaster your review on other sites. Google does what it wants.

  • El cheepo on 20/12/2021 - 09:44
    +3

    Thats not how it works…
    Companies don’t control google reviews.

    If you took a minute to google why you don’t see your review, you would probably find this.
    https://www.socialspace.com.au/blog/why-google-reviews-are-n…

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 09:57

      The tricky is I can see my review always on Google Review, but I use other one's mobile can not find it. Furthermore, the day I reviewed there was 112 reviews, but today is only 109 reviews, from common sense, the reviews should be more and more, I think the owner delete some. I just remind people not to fully trust Google, money is so powerful.

      • El cheepo on 20/12/2021 - 12:12

        If they report your review or its flagged as spam/inappropriate etc it might get filtered out.

        Again. Companies can’t just delete reviews.

        They might of reported your review and its gone to review/checking by google, but if there’s nothing wrong with it, it will go live after its checked.

  • Savas on 20/12/2021 - 10:01
    +2

    Have you waited the few days it takes for Google to index the review?

    The reviews for their company look very fake.. very repetitive wording lol.

  • 87percent on 20/12/2021 - 10:03
    +7

    Hate when people get a product, and say something like “haven’t used it but received it” 5*’s

    Or recipes with reviews like “looks good, can’t wait to try it” 5 *’s

    • Montyjpm on 20/12/2021 - 11:00
      -2

      But why do you hate when they gave you an honest review? Clearly stated "haven't used it" so just take it as that and move on. Surely, you can do 1+1.

      • Zachary on 22/12/2021 - 12:06
        +1

        they never follow up with an update so its not helpful

    • SBOB on 20/12/2021 - 11:27
      +21

      Excellent comment, totally agree.. will read it later
      5*

  • geek001 on 20/12/2021 - 10:24
    +1

    Is it possible that you left some inappropriate words in your review? People sometimes make the mistake of swearing in their review, which means it has offensive content, which can then be flagged and removed.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 10:29

      no any swear words, I can still see my review on Google maps, but others can not find, seems to be filtered. That's I worried about.

      • Payne on 20/12/2021 - 14:43
        +5

        In case you didn't read the article above that El cheepo posted, here are the reasons your review might not appear:

        • You've place a URL in the review.
        • The person who wrote the review works for you.
        • Your same review appears elsewhere online (Yellow Pages, Yelp, a testimonials page on your website, etc.)
        • Your # of reviews is unrepresentative or higher than most businesses within your industry.
        • You are offering incentives for people who write you reviews.
        • You thought hiring a cheap SEO company to post reviews for you might be a good idea.
        • The person who wrote the review from the same IP address as other users who left you reviews.
        • The person who wrote the review is a manager of your Google My Business listing.
        • The person who wrote the review is using the same IP Address or computer that you sign into to manage your local business listing.
        • You've informed EVERYONE you know to write a review, and it's happened within a short time frame.
        • The person reviewing you has never left a review and has never had any activity on that Google profile before or after they left you that review.
        • The person tried to post a review for you several times on different dates.
        • The person reviewing you has also reviewed multiple other businesses with the same name (if you have several locations and they reviewed all of them).

        Be aware that Google knows a lot about you and will decide based on the rules above (and probably more) whether your review will be made public.

        • Savas on 20/12/2021 - 16:30
          +8

          If google is so smart , how does that business have so many obviously fake reviews?

        • terrys on 21/12/2021 - 08:21
          +1

          The person who wrote the review from the same IP address as other users

          Given the increasing number of mobile users behind CG-NAT, especially given 5G being faster than FTTN for many, that's an incredibly unreliable metric. I attempted to modify a Wikipedia article a few months ago, got a confirmation of 'enrolment' three months ago, visit the site daily and on three occasions have had notices regarding some of "my edits" - of a few weeks before, with a disclaimer pointing out the notice was based on "activity from that I.P. address".

          I didn't get around to responding to the confirmatory e-mail, do not (and cannot log on), and my last submission for any Wikipedia article was back in 2012.

          "Be aware that Google knows a lot about you"

          It does - but in many ways. Using DDG for searches, and clearing all Chrome history, cookies and saved files doesn't stop YouTube from being able to present videos closely related to what I usually watch, but I'm getting used to getting warnings about " a new sign in on your account" from a 'Mac', clicking through to see " Mac ("This machine"), and validating the log-on on the same Windows machine whose log-on is being queried after taking my 5G modem to a local center in case community members without data need a few Gigs for updates, then returning it for Windows to find "network X+1" .

          I suspect the OP is either unfamiliar with the concept of echo, propagation speed and consolidation and verification of data changes across a massive multi-node network or knows a good troll when they see one.

  • Baysew on 20/12/2021 - 10:24
    -6

    What did they say when you asked ASL?

  • Muzeeb on 20/12/2021 - 10:27

    Is it only me - there is no text in the OP

    .

    Why can't I see it?

    Do not trusty ozbargain forums

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 10:31

      Haha, You are so interesting, copy my thought, I can see you write " Do not trusty ozbargain forums", but Google not . Have a good day.

  • Destin on 20/12/2021 - 10:30
    +2

    Businesses cannot control their Google reviews. Google however will sometimes cull reviews if they think they are unauthentic/malice/angry competitor etc. I had several genuine 5 Star Reviews of mine removed because they came in quick succession.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 10:34

      Google didn't remove or delete the review, I still can see it on my mobile phone, but it can not be seen on others, that's the point I worried about.

  • rambao9 on 20/12/2021 - 10:39
    +1

    Something similar happened to me. It was filtered out due to inappropriate words, misuse of words etc. If you edit your review properly it will appear back again.

    For me, I used certain words like “shit” and “crap” and the whole review never appeared. Recommend you going back to your review and keeping things a lil bit more civil, lol

  • boomramada on 20/12/2021 - 10:39

    Nah, but only way they do is by creating fake account and make fake reviews.
    Which is illegal and can get fined by ACCC

    And sometimes, companies create new business account to avoid bad reviews as well. You can see, Citymove now on google with different name.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 10:47

      Delete low rating is not make fake reviews or create fake account, they may argue that delete "vicious rating" to defend themselves.

  • Montyjpm on 20/12/2021 - 10:58
    +3

    Don't trust things on the internet? Umm, that's a new concept.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 11:21

      Very sadly to say "yes", headache to find a good service

    • terrys on 21/12/2021 - 08:24

      It's true.. I heard it on the electric telephone…

  • kerfuffle on 20/12/2021 - 11:00
    +5

    Anne Nguy**

    Why did you asterisk the last two letters out? Everyone with a brain knows what the last two letters are.

  • pharkurnell on 20/12/2021 - 11:14

    Oh no… don't tell me online reviews can be fixed and arent genuine?? Where will it all end.. theres nothing left on earth to believe in…

  • nedski on 20/12/2021 - 11:16

    The previous strata company that used to manage our complex had shocking Google reviews. I didnt put one on there to pile on and switched to a new provider who has been a godsend. However I have looked at the previous strata company reviews and all the bad ones have nearly all disappeared and have been flooded with positive reviews and they have a 4.9 average. So suss.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 11:27

      Haha, shake hands, it seems a common practice.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2021 - 11:18

    You can't remove a Google review or change your rating. Only if a review is false you can appeal to get it removed.

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 11:26

      Yes, that's an excuse to be the back door to filter or manipulate google rating. I don't know buy google service will help or not, but seems some business owner wrote back to defend themselves, someone may appeal to remove, my rating seems be filtered not be removed because I still can see myself on my own mobile phone.

  • Stopback on 20/12/2021 - 11:30

    You want to give a review that hits the key words - and gets good engagment - add photos etc,

    and keep it to the facts, dont get emotional

    • SydneyCat on 20/12/2021 - 11:38

      In fact I saw many emotional ratings on Googles, such as "worst" even F words, but still can be seen. This ASL removals minimum rating is 4 stars, average rating is 5 from 109 rating, is it follow common sense?
      I doubt Google not indiscreet.

  • RockyRaccoon on 20/12/2021 - 11:31
    +3

    🤣Yep, know the feeling. Fake reviews written by one time wonders, who just sign up and post…

    Happens everywhere.

    Even before internet (yes there was such a time) people sent in letters to paper telling us how great a service was, or businesses had those folders with sleeves that showed all the wonderful references from people.

    Just like everyone says - but the con man was so believable. Yes unbelievable conmen dont stay in business.

    BTW "Two dogs and a trolley" trusty removalists, get renamed as "Two trolleys and a dog" reliable removalists and away they go again.

    • terrys on 21/12/2021 - 08:35

      They deserve to be carpeted.

  • snooksy on 21/12/2021 - 08:43

    Wow, Google isn’t an ethical company? Surprise surprise….

  • OzHunterNSW on 21/12/2021 - 10:35

    Just post again

  • Traveller107 on 21/12/2021 - 12:41
    +5

    OP it takes a few days for Google to approve negative reviews. When they approve it you'll get an email from Google thanking you for the review. Until then it'll only be visible from your profile and not show up for others.

    Good online reviews can no longer be trusted and I'm so sick of seeing thousands of 5 star reviews for every random business. Saw a document recently that showed how 5
    star reviews are bought by new startups in bulk to mislead customers and make big money without having to truly earn their stripes.

    I recently had a terrible experience with kitchen warehouse and they wouldn't reply to me or talk on the phone to sort the issue. I wrote a review on their website that they deleted. So I then posted reviews on google and product reviews and both took a few days to be approved but were eventually published and couldn't be deleted by kitchenwarehouse.

    I'd recommend wait a few days and if it doesn't get approved then tweak a bit and repost. Cheers

    • SydneyCat on 22/12/2021 - 09:54

      thanks for sharing

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