Negative Review Fines

[cycloneworld]

In the "ridiculous business decision of the day" category, a hotel in New York fines couple $500 for every negative review posted online by one of their guests. They also will fine you $500 if you are staying at their hotel to attend a wedding at another venue in the area but leave a negative review about your stay.

http://www.businessinsider.com/hotel-fines-brides-for-negative-yelp-reviews-2014-8

I can't imagine this hotel is dumb enough to think this would work. Stuff like this goes viral easily and it does WAY more harm than good in the long run.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

They may make some money off it in the short run, but I have no doubt this will kill their business. When you are in a SERVICE industry, failure to emphasize service will lead to you no longer being a viable part of the industry.

Incredibly stupid move on the part of the management.

 

[VeloClone]

As soon as the deposit is returned what is to stop brides and their guests from posting numerous bad reviews including information about this policy? Someone is not thinking things through.

 

[RubyClone]

Here's their "explanation" via their facebook page

The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago. It was meant to be taken down long ago and certainly was never enforced.

The respondees don't appear to be buying it...

Edit: Holy hell! They have a "Cancel at your own risk" policy, and don't "guarantee" cancellations. Too funny

CANCEL AT YOUR OWN RISK, WE DO NOT ACCEPT ALL CANCELLATION REQUESTS
If you are staying in our Inn to attend a wedding or event here or anywhere else in the area cancellations must be made via email and you must receive a response from us for a cancellation to be accepted at all. Email us @[email protected]. If we do not accept your cancellation request there will be no refund.

So, they'll decide whether or not you can cancel (often not I'm sure). Of course, anyone who sees this (but why would you?) only has themselves to blame.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Here's their "explanation" via their facebook page



The respondees don't appear to be buying it...

yeah... a hotel business reliant almost 100% on interest booking "forgets" something like is is on their page...

 

[cycloneworld]

Here's their "explanation" via their facebook page



The respondees don't appear to be buying it...

Edit: Holy hell! They have a "Cancel at your own risk" policy, and don't "guarantee" cancellations. Too funny

Except some people have gotten emails from them telling them the wedding party will be charged $500 if they don't take down their negative review (if it's legit).

 

[jbhtexas]

It seems mind-boggling that anybody would be foolish enough to sign a contract containing such a clause, yet it appears to be happening. Add it to the "ridiculous consumer decision of the day" category...

 

[3TrueFans]

I am hereby implementing a $500 fine for anyone that says negative things about me on CycloneFanatic.

 

[CarolinaCy]

It seems mind-boggling that anybody would be foolish enough to sign a contract containing such a clause, yet it appears to be happening. Add it to the "ridiculous consumer decision of the day" category...

Not really all that mind-boggling. People sign lots of important documents without reading them thoroughly...... auto lease, apartment lease, mortgage papers, etc.

I think the cry of the late 2000's mortgage collapse was, "but no one told me that my interest rate could double!" - even though it's clearly called out in the contract that they signed.

 

[3TrueFans]

Not really all that mind-boggling. People sign lots of important documents without reading them thoroughly...... auto lease, apartment lease, mortgage papers, etc.

I think the cry of the late 2000's mortgage collapse was, "but no one told me that my interest rate could double!" - even though it's clearly called out in the contract that they signed.

Sometimes when I install new software I don't read all of the EULA.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

ThreeTruFans smells like my poop after I ate a bunch of Indian food

 

[3TrueFans]

ThreeTruFans smells like my poop after I ate a bunch of Indian food

Man, I'm glad I'm not ThreeTruFans, that guy just got roasted.

 

[jbhtexas]

Not really all that mind-boggling. People sign lots of important documents without reading them thoroughly...... auto lease, apartment lease, mortgage papers, etc.

This policy isn't buried in several pages of legalese using a font that takes a magnifying glass to read. It's rather right out there in plain view.

I thought it was common knowledge that if there is anything for which one should thoroughly read and understand the terms and conditions for, it would be for anything associated with a wedding...

 

[weR138]

I dunno, I kinda saw it as an elitist F U to common folk who b*tch about stuff on the internet. They presume thier clientele to be above this and the subtle message is, "Don't invite bumpkins who will complain about serving portions"...

I find it kind of clever.

 

[sunnysideup]

We should go onto a Yelp saying we were just at a Wedding this past Saturday and start ripping on them just so some random couple will get fleeced for no reason.

 

[SplitIdentity]

We should go onto a Yelp saying we were just at a Wedding this past Saturday and start ripping on them just so some random couple will get fleeced for no reason.

Was thinking the same thing.

 

[twocoach]

Has anyone reported ever actually being assessed one of these fines or are they just using it as a scare tactic?

 

[NickTheGreat]

That's ridiculous. I've read a bit about things like this, and customers trying to blackmail restaurants into comping things in exchange for positive reviews.

I feel like online reviews will be a lot different in coming years :sad:

 

[ImJustKCClone]

So do people actually believe the reviews on Yelp and other sites? If a friend has gone to a place and offers an opinion, I can place that opinion within the context of my friend's likes/dislikes and personality. Example - my friend hates most seafood but will try any type of food at least once. Should I give full credit to his review of a new sushi bar?

If I don't know the driving force behind the review, I will take it with a grain of salt. That's especially true of internet reviews. Some people just like to complain; some people go out of their way to find fault in hopes of receiving comps or filing suit. With the cloak of anonymity bestowed by the internet, it seems that the worst of people comes to the forefront all too often.