Online reviews play a huge role in helping people choose service providers, especially for something as personal and important as appliance repair. But not all review platforms are created equal—and Yelp has become one of the least trustworthy.
At AAA Appliance, we value transparency and honest feedback. That’s why we want to be upfront about why we no longer recommend using Yelp to vet companies—and why platforms like Google and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are much better options for getting reliable, authentic reviews.
Yelp Prioritizes Advertisers—Not Honesty
Over the years, Yelp has been repeatedly accused of manipulating which reviews show up—and which disappear—based on whether a company is paying them for advertising. It’s a well-documented pattern:
- Positive reviews are filtered or removed from businesses that don’t pay for Yelp ads
- Negative reviews are buried or hidden for companies that do
- Businesses are routinely pressured to “upgrade” or lose visibility
Think of it as review extortion—you pay, or you suffer.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Yelp regarding these tactics, and there’s even a documentary that exposes the platform’s unethical practices in more detail.
Our Experience: Real Customers, Hidden Reviews
We’ve had wonderful customers take the time to leave us glowing Yelp reviews—only to see them removed or hidden without explanation. These were legitimate reviews from verified customers, yet they disappeared because we chose not to advertise with Yelp.
At the same time, Yelp has shown reviews from people we’ve never serviced, some of which appear to be copied or suspiciously generic, and they refuse to remove them. Why? Because we’re not paying.
The Rise of Paid Reviews—and Yelp’s Blind Eye
There are entire marketplaces where people are paid to leave fake reviews on platforms like Yelp. Just look at sites like Fiverr—you’ll find people offering review writing services for businesses in multiple industries.
Some “reviewers” leave ratings for five or six appliance companies in different states, all within the same week. If you click on their profile, you’ll quickly realize they’re not real customers—they’re freelancers.
Yelp does little to stop this practice. In fact, many argue the platform benefits from the noise—because it keeps businesses unsure and encourages them to pay to “fix” their profiles.
Better Alternatives: Google & the BBB
Thankfully, there are platforms that value real customer feedback and have policies against review fraud:
Google Reviews
- Easier to verify user history
- Fake review activity is often flagged or removed
- Companies caught buying reviews risk being removed entirely
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Reviews are moderated and tied to real service interactions
- Businesses are held to a code of conduct
- Customers can file formal complaints and get real follow-up
We encourage our customers to check us out on Google and the BBB—not because we expect perfection, but because we stand behind the real feedback our clients leave.
How to Spot a Fake Review (Anywhere)
Whether you’re reading reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, or another platform, here are a few tips to vet what’s real:
- Click the reviewer’s name. Have they reviewed multiple companies in multiple states? That’s a red flag.
- Look for detail. Real reviews often include specifics about the service, the technician, or the outcome.
- Check for timing patterns. A flood of reviews within one day? Could be a paid campaign.
- Beware of generic or overly emotional language with no real context.
Our Promise to You
We’ll never buy reviews. We won’t game the system. And we’ll never pressure you to say something that isn’t true.
When you work with us, you’re getting a team that’s honest, experienced, and always working to earn your trust the right way—not the Yelp way.
If you’re curious about that documentary or want to dig deeper into Yelp’s review practices, let us know—we’re happy to share more.
Google Business Profile Post
Title: Tired of Fake Reviews? So Are We.
Body:
Yelp has a reputation for filtering honest reviews and favoring businesses that pay for ads. At AAA Appliance, we don’t play that game. We believe in honest work and real customer feedback.
That’s why we recommend checking us out on Google or the Better Business Bureau—platforms that don’t penalize businesses for refusing to advertise.
Want to know how to spot a fake review? Tap the link to read our full blog post and see how you can protect yourself when choosing a repair company.
[Insert link to blog]
#appliancerepair #Chicagoland #trustlocal #honestreviews
Social Media Caption (Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram)
Header:
Don’t trust everything you read on Yelp.
Body:
Did you know that Yelp filters out positive reviews from companies that don’t pay them—and has been accused of removing negative reviews for businesses that do?
Yeah. We’re not into that.
We’ve had happy customers post glowing feedback on Yelp, only to see those reviews disappear. Meanwhile, questionable reviews from people we’ve never served remain online.
That’s why we recommend checking companies out on platforms like Google or the BBB, where fake reviews are flagged and policies protect consumers.
Want to know how to spot a fake review?
Check out our latest blog post:
[Insert blog link]
#appliancerepair #reviewtransparency #googletrusted #BBBaccredited #Chicagolandhomes
Infographic/Checklist: “How to Spot a Fake Review”
Header:
How to Spot a Fake Online Review
Protect your wallet. Trust your instincts.
Design for Canva includes 5 points:
- Check the reviewer’s profile.
Multiple reviews across unrelated businesses or states? Probably not legit. - Look for specifics.
Vague praise like “great service” with no detail? Be cautious. - Review timing.
A flood of 5-star reviews on the same day? It might be a paid push. - Compare platforms.
Do the reviews look different on Yelp than on Google or BBB? That’s a red flag. - Search for patterns.
Overly emotional or dramatic wording with no context often points to fake reviews.
CTA:
Want honest appliance service you can actually trust?
Visit us on Google or check out our BBB profile.