Website claims

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DotNetWebs

  • #1
    One of the national franchise, 'local' websites has recently started claiming this on its websites:

    "Every single business featured on the site has been highly recommended to us by you".

    e.g http://www.google.co.uk/search?q="E...ly+recommended+to+us+by+you".+&hl=en&filter=0

    They have only just introduced a 'recommendation' scheme and its' hard to imagine that all existing advertisers have been 'recommended' by the website users. These franchisees are aggressively seeking advertisers and It's hard to believe that they would turn any business away that wished to advertise with them just because they haven't yet been recommended.

    Do claims like this have to be verifiable?

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #5
    I think the statement could be misleading.

    They have a review system that allows the public to sign in and review a business.

    The statement implies that all the businesses listed on the website have been recommended by site members.

    In reality it is an internet directory that charges a fee for a listing.

    Bearing in mind the high setup costs and monthly franchise fees of these sites - If a business applies to advertise will they only include them if they have been 'recommended' by site members? Or could it be that anybody who applies will be listed regardless of whether or not they have been recommended?

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    C

    cycustance

  • #8
    They are trying to elimate the cold calling that the area owners have been using and they will be soon sending out massive mailshots in each area expecting businesses to contact them to advertise and use the refereal scheme as apposed to telemarketers calling local businesses on there behalf, I've been working with best of area owners for over a year now and can see this being one of the worse moves they have made escpecially as now there pricing structure has completley changed for the worse aswell,

    Cy J Custance
    CJC Sales And Marketing
    Tel: (01536) 395474
    Mobile: 07932009171
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.cjcsalesandmarketing.co.uk
    Msn: [email protected]
    Web: www.salesandmarketingforums.co.uk
     
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    H

    Hayles

  • #9
    Their email :

    Just a quick reminder about the Customer Reviews I wrote to you about last week.

    Thousands of reviews and recommendations of quality businesses have been added right across the country - all written by local people who know and use local businesses.

    I want to make sure that you do not miss out.

    Make sure you speak with your customers, your friends, your family etc. and ask them to logon to www.thebestof.co.uk and write a short review of your business.

    Don’t forget, we are also running a Prize Draw for everyone that writes a review. We are giving away £100 each day between now and the end of August, to be spent with a local business that is featured on thebestof.co.uk. So you, your friends, family and your customers all have a chance of winning - providing you write a review!

    Just imagine how your business will look on the Site with 5 or 10 great reviews from local people... and the difference that will make to prospective customers who are trying to decide whether to contact you or not...

    Go on. Ask a few people today. It will cost you nothing.

    Help us to help you.



    Makes them sound really trustworthy..... ;)
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #16
    cycustance said:
    That is interesting as David Callin one of the reviewers is a best of site owner so it looks like they are faking reviews on there own sites nice stratergy,
    Click to expand...

    It does appear to be the "official" strategy for this franchise:

    http://microsite.businesslinksolutions.co.uk/news/details.asp?mid=4&x=4316&m=5&rid=

    To help it get going, thebestof is encouraging listed businesses to do two small things to help build momentum and get some great reviews of their business up on the site.

    1. Speak to family and friends and tell them that they must logon to thebestof.co.uk and post a review of their business (it is very simple to do)
    Click to expand...

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    spamfilter

    Free Member
    Nov 22, 2007
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  • #17
    cycustance said:
    That is interesting as David Callin one of the reviewers is a best of site owner so it looks like they are faking reviews on there own sites nice stratergy,
    Click to expand...

    An elementary bit of Googling-searching for these people by name with some educated guesses about their first name(Dave, John, David, etc produces some fascinating results. All bestof franchisees have their name on the Home page of their site so Google picks them up readily.

    On this basis a biography comes up on Google for D J 'Dave' Carruthers who is the Techical Director of the Best of. By similar searches John Blagden is the bestof franchisee for Sutton, David Kallin bestof franchisee for Barnet, Louise Prowse is presumably the partner of Ian Prowse the franchisee for Bromsgrove and so on..... It appears as Cy Custance says that they are faking reviews. And it goes up to Director level so it's not just franchisees doing this but appears to be initiated at the highest level of the organisation.

    By trying to deceive the public they are doing themselves a great disservice.
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #20
    I was thinking of bringing this thread up in response to some claims that were made in a thread the other week - but I thought I would let sleeping dogs lie.

    The owner of the site in question was claiming that his site was unique because every business had been recommended and they were highlighting the 'best' businesses in the community.

    In reality the site is an advertising directory that is under extreme pressure to find advertisers. Since the vast majority of advertisers were in place BEFORE the recommendation scheme came in, I wonder how they can claim that "Every single business featured on the site has been highly recommended to us by you"

    I also wonder how they handle potential advertisers who have not been "recommended", since if their claims are true then surely they would not 'feature' them.

    I started this thread 5 months ago before the franchise forum got out of control. So, in light of recent events, I would just like to state that I was just seeking clarification on the legal position of claims made on websites. We have long thought about adding a review system to our own website but it seems to me to that charging advertisers while seeking independent reviews of their business could be a bit of a minefield - the phrase "conflict of interests" springs to mind.

    Regards

    Dotty

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    spamfilter

    Free Member
    Nov 22, 2007
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  • #23
    DotNetWebs said:
    I think the statement could be misleading.

    They have a review system that allows the public to sign in and review a business.

    The statement implies that all the businesses listed on the website have been recommended by site members.

    In reality it is an internet directory that charges a fee for a listing.

    Bearing in mind the high setup costs and monthly franchise fees of these sites - If a business applies to advertise will they only include them if they have been ‘recommended’ by site members? Or could it be that anybody who applies will be listed regardless of whether or not they have been recommended?

    Regards

    Dotty
    Click to expand...

    Dot, it is apparent from what is coming out on this forum and elsewhere, that this franchisor-thebestof.co.uk- appears not to to be totally ethical. To manipulate Alexa rankings by having franchisees boost their rankings with a toolbar that mistakes franchisee visits for genuine visitors, to have chosen franchisees create fake positive and glowing reviews on Amazon.com, to pretend that all customers come 'recommended when they do not bears all the hallmarks of desperation. Franchisees have now twigged and are up in arms. Implosion soon?
     
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    webverts

    Free Member
    Nov 23, 2007
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  • #25
    So getting back to the original question the wording on the web site reads "Every single business featured on the site has been highly recommended to us by you." This statement also appears on the back of every franchisees business card.
    Should this statement ever be challenged and the challenger decides to take it further how do the franchisees stand?
    Bearing in mind that ….
    Each and every franchisee knows it to be a false statement.
    The franchisees have no control over the text that appears on that part of the website.
    The franchisees have no control over the design of their business cards.
     
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    spamfilter

    Free Member
    Nov 22, 2007
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  • #27
    webverts said:
    So getting back to the original question the wording on the web site reads “Every single business featured on the site has been highly recommended to us by you.” This statement also appears on the back of every franchisees business card.
    Should this statement ever be challenged and the challenger decides to take it further how do the franchisees stand?
    Bearing in mind that ….
    Each and every franchisee knows it to be a false statement.
    The franchisees have no control over the text that appears on that part of the website.
    The franchisees have no control over the design of their business cards.
    Click to expand...


    This could be dealt with through the Advertising Standards Association complaint section which someone has already suggested on this thread compelling them to reword the '' Every single business .....as been highly recommended by you.'' A blatant false statement. If this thread keeps the pressure on, thebestof.co.uk will inevitably have to address that issue very soon..

    What thebestof.co.uk would have great trouble doing is removing the huge numbers of false reviews fabricated by the franchisees or friends of franchisees or staff at head office(possibly all from the same I.P?) for customers under coercion from the franchisor. The franchisor actively coerced franchisees to get the review numbers up quickly by posting fictitious reviews.

    In order to bring any semblance of integrity to the review process on their site it would ALL have to be removed and a public apology issued for trying to deceive the public.
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #28
    spamfilter said:
    If this thread keeps the pressure on, thebestof.co.uk will inevitably have to address that issue very soon...
    Click to expand...

    Please be cautious about using this thread for that purpose. If it continues in that direction I have no doubt it will be removed.

    My aim is starting this thread was not to "put pressure" on any specific franchiser but simply to seek the UKBF opinion of the legitimacy of the claims made on these websites. I think we now all share a common opinion of the integrity of these claims.

    If anybody wishes to take this further I would suggest UKBF is not the place to do it.

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    spamfilter

    Free Member
    Nov 22, 2007
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  • #30
    This legal thread is timely. Legal issues now being fought out with the franchisor at thebestof.co.uk by franchisees must be opened up to a wider public for suggestions on seeking redress for franchisees. This is about more than just faking of reviews and deceiving the public with false Amazon reviews and 'fixed' Alexa rankings.'

    The problem is that the bestof.co.uk franchise Agreement is, according to franchisees, a totally one-sided document: the franchisor has only general unspecific responsibilities while the franchisee is subject to the imposition of stringent, unfair and unrealistic conditions and performance standards rigorously enforced.

    If the product was sound it would help. According to franchisees the product is now inadequate, slow and features simply do not work properly. Support is negligible, there is no technical direction and all this is set in an ethos outlined in previous threads and postings. For example, just try and place a review for any business on thebestof.co.uk now and you will see a small part of the nature of the problem. Anyone logging on this week may have experienced a site that took many minutes to load-if at all.

    So, how do thebestof.co.uk franchisees get legal redress for a one-sided agreement? How do you get a franchisor to listen and become a responsible franchisor and join the British Franchise Association (assuming acceptance) where there would be safeguards for both sides not just one side? How do you get a franchisor to accept responsibility for an underperforming product? What legal processes could be used? Is a franchise Agreement set in stone forever? The franchisor with franchisees' money in his pocket has the trump card. The bestof.co.uk seem determined that they will acknowledge no problems-just continue in the same old way.
     
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    livelife

    Free Member
    Nov 22, 2007
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  • #32
    Absolute nonsense.

    You are sooo out of date with your info Spamfilter

    The site was too slow for a while; not anymore, sheer volumes of traffic took HQ by suprise; yeah a few franchisees gave them grief, me included (and rightly too), but speed is back up and will improve in the new year with yet more kit going in.

    "Support is negligible" Bullshit!
    Two numbers for the helpdesk with accountability and ownership, and if no joy there the new MD will return calls that day.


    "How do you get a franchisor to listen"
    Out of date there too...where do you get your info from, it is old.

    Two group meetings held, the owner Nigel Botterill has listened and already started changes, the old tech director who a few of us thought had passed his prime has been replaced.


    The only thing you could really hit TBO with is the enthusiasm and passion to drive the business forward and surpass the competitor / copycats who have sprung up after thebestof started.


    I add reviews on my site and others when and only when I have used the business, but meeting so many business owners you quickly spot those who are similarly passionate about customer care and delivering their product or service as we are....lets face it, everyone recommends or looks for a recommendation whether for a product or service...don't they?


    "The bestof.co.uk seem determined that they will acknowledge no problems" - Complete and utter nonsense; ring the MD, Andy Hurst; a straight talking no-nonsense guy who will is getting things done.


    The truth is that those who received "letters" as mentioned in the Franchise forum have now got until June next year to start delivering....Proof that someone has listened.....the picture painted of the bestof has been one sided, and I am very happy to stand up and be counted, it's not perfect, but what business is?


    The only bad thing to say is that the owner, Nigel, is a Leeds United supporter, but I guess you cannot have everything, can you?


    Seriously, there is change afoot and you can bet that TBO will be back in the New Year as a force to be reckoned with; our competitors had better watch out, I am so looking forward to next year.



    Certa Cito
     
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    C

    Chippie

  • #35
    Livelife, there are many posters on UKBF who are so anti franchise that they refuse to let the truth taint their opinions. As far as they are concerned all franchisors are so dishonest and unethical that they have to be guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.... and of course they never can because they are so dishonest nothing they say can ever be believed. If I were you I'd protect my blood pressure and save your breath for those who will listen. They just aren't worth the effort! :)
     
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    streetslocal

  • #36
    livelife said:
    Absolute nonsense.

    You are sooo out of date with your info Spamfilter

    The site was too slow for a while; not anymore, sheer volumes of traffic took HQ by suprise; yeah a few franchisees gave them grief, me included (and rightly too), but speed is back up and will improve in the new year with yet more kit going in.

    "Support is negligible" Bullshit!
    Two numbers for the helpdesk with accountability and ownership, and if no joy there the new MD will return calls that day.


    "How do you get a franchisor to listen"
    Out of date there too...where do you get your info from, it is old.

    Two group meetings held, the owner Nigel Botterill has listened and already started changes, the old tech director who a few of us thought had passed his prime has been replaced.


    The only thing you could really hit TBO with is the enthusiasm and passion to drive the business forward and surpass the competitor / copycats who have sprung up after thebestof started.


    I add reviews on my site and others when and only when I have used the business, but meeting so many business owners you quickly spot those who are similarly passionate about customer care and delivering their product or service as we are....lets face it, everyone recommends or looks for a recommendation whether for a product or service...don't they?


    "The bestof.co.uk seem determined that they will acknowledge no problems" - Complete and utter nonsense; ring the MD, Andy Hurst; a straight talking no-nonsense guy who will is getting things done.


    The truth is that those who received "letters" as mentioned in the Franchise forum have now got until June next year to start delivering....Proof that someone has listened.....the picture painted of the bestof has been one sided, and I am very happy to stand up and be counted, it's not perfect, but what business is?


    The only bad thing to say is that the owner, Nigel, is a Leeds United supporter, but I guess you cannot have everything, can you?


    Seriously, there is change afoot and you can bet that TBO will be back in the New Year as a force to be reckoned with; our competitors had better watch out, I am so looking forward to next year.



    Certa Cito
    Click to expand...

    Why did the bull sh** word get unnoticed?
    Are we allowed to sear on this forum?
     
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    Jon0_FZ6

    Jon0_FZ6

    Free Member
    Feb 27, 2008
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    2
    South East London
  • #37
    I agree totally that the picture painted of TBO seems one-sided. People letting fly here with all kinds of accusations and assumptions.

    could it be that any of the people who have posted on here are involved in running a business directory of sorts?

    just a quick note on the whole thing of 'fake reviews by TBO site owners'

    I am one and I leave reviews on some of the businesses I have featured. I don't hide the fact and anyone reading the review should be able to see that it is the site owner who has posted it. If I have used the services what is wrong with me saying what it is about the business that I recommend? Am I not one of the local residents?

    shock... horror... the shame!.....

    naaaah. No horror or shame here.
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #38
    The point is would you ever post a critical (bad) review of a business that is paying to list on your directory?

    This "long flame thread" as you put it was only started to clarify the legality of a statement that was made on every TBO website. That statement has since been removed so it is no longer an issue.

    Anyway, as you said in the other reply to me, I don't want an 'argument' I have far more important things to worry about at the moment.

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    DotNetWebs

  • #39
    DotNetWebs said:
    The point is would you ever post a critical (bad) review of a business that is paying to list on your directory?
    Click to expand...

    I take that as a "no" then! - There appear to be only 4 reviews on your website, all of which are posted by yourself - Your reviews are hardly independent then are they?

    If I wanted truly independent reviews of businesses in Tower Hamlets I would rather look at a site like this:

    http://www.qype.co.uk/uki12-london-tower-hamlets

    Regards

    Dotty
     
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    C

    Cadman Smith

  • #40
    livelife said:
    Absolute nonsense.

    You are sooo out of date with your info Spamfilter

    The site was too slow for a while; not anymore, sheer volumes of traffic took HQ by suprise; yeah a few franchisees gave them grief, me included (and rightly too), but speed is back up and will improve in the new year with yet more kit going in.

    "Support is negligible" Bull****!
    Two numbers for the helpdesk with accountability and ownership, and if no joy there the new MD will return calls that day.


    "How do you get a franchisor to listen"
    Out of date there too...where do you get your info from, it is old.

    Two group meetings held, the owner Nigel Botterill has listened and already started changes, the old tech director who a few of us thought had passed his prime has been replaced.


    The only thing you could really hit TBO with is the enthusiasm and passion to drive the business forward and surpass the competitor / copycats who have sprung up after thebestof started.


    I add reviews on my site and others when and only when I have used the business, but meeting so many business owners you quickly spot those who are similarly passionate about customer care and delivering their product or service as we are....lets face it, everyone recommends or looks for a recommendation whether for a product or service...don't they?


    "The bestof.co.uk seem determined that they will acknowledge no problems" - Complete and utter nonsense; ring the MD, Andy Hurst; a straight talking no-nonsense guy who will is getting things done.


    The truth is that those who received "letters" as mentioned in the Franchise forum have now got until June next year to start delivering....Proof that someone has listened.....the picture painted of the bestof has been one sided, and I am very happy to stand up and be counted, it's not perfect, but what business is?


    The only bad thing to say is that the owner, Nigel, is a Leeds United supporter, but I guess you cannot have everything, can you?


    Seriously, there is change afoot and you can bet that TBO will be back in the New Year as a force to be reckoned with; our competitors had better watch out, I am so looking forward to next year.



    Certa Cito
    Click to expand...

    Well - livelife - I cautiously held your views voiced here at that time and was prepared for change, having been involved in helping to steer it and spending another £100 plus at my expense. Did it happen? Well no, not really, I can't say it did.

    My pocket is considerably emptier by £1000's.......how's yours.....are you still up there with the best of them?
     
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