Can leaving a bad review of a business hurt you?

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS LOTS OF US DO WHEN WE LOG
ONLINE TO CHECK OUT A NEW RESTAURANT - OR BOOK A VACATION
RENTAL - IS, LOOK AT THE REVIEWS.
BUT CAN LEAVING THAT REVIEW - COST YOU?
NEWS 3'S LEAH LINSCHEID HAS MORE IN TONIGHT'S CALL
FOR ACTION REPORT.
P-
1 SOTW0 43
Leah
DOUGH TRAUSCH OFTEN RELIES ON THOSE REVIEWS - AND
THAT'S WHY HE LEAVES THEM FOR OTHERS.
1 VO TRACK
Summertime is synonymous - with vacation.
1 SOTW2 43
DOUG "We've never been out with the kids we've never
been out west"
2 VO TRACK
For the Trausch household.
2 SOTW4 42
"They're of the ages now where they're old enough
to ah - 10, kates 8"
3 VO TRACK
But it's an earlier - spring-break trip -
3 SOTW6 42
DOUG "Much easier than when they're younger"
4 VO TRACK
...that's still on Dad, Doug's mind.
4 SOTW8 43
NAT - computer
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DOUG "We had a great trip - house was fantastic"

2 VO TRACK
Back in March - his family headed out to Scottsdale,
Arizona - renting a vacation-home through V-R-B-O.
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"...nice pool, view of the mountains, hot tub"

3 VO TRACK
Doug says there were a few unforeseen costs from the
company that owns the house, National Equity Consultants
- like upcharges to heat the pool - and use the grill
- so when he went to leave a review on V-R-BO --
3 SOTW13 42
DOUG "I said 4/5 stars - overall great property.
:24 the only negative was there was some addl charges
not up front."
4 VO TRACK
A comment on charges - led to a big one, later on
- when Doug didn't get his 800-dollar deposit back.
4 SOTW15 43
DOUG "What happened was there some damage to the house
- no there was no damage the owners did not like your
review"
1 SOTW16 43
NAT - computer
2 VO TRACK
Doug's reflection on his vacation - led National Equity
Consultants to withhold his deposit -- until he took
it down.
2 SOTW18 42
DOUG "I was pretty upset - I gave a very honest review
- when you're traveling and going on vacation - you
wanna see those type of reviews"
3 SOTW19 42
VRBO HOUSE "We have people coming in a couple hours
actually"
4 VO TRACK
Just outside Baraboo, Wisconsin - another family -
also has vacation on the mind.
4 SOTW21 43
VRBO HOUSE "Still a couple things to do but ah"
1 VO TRACK
A more permanent mindset - for the Zurezs - who sit
on the other end of that computer - booking families
like Doug's for their 5-bedroom getaway.
1 SOTW23 43
VRBO HOUSE "This is the bloodline of our business
- without reviews, you are no one pretty much"

2 VO TRACK
What Doug was punished for, the Zurez family craves
- comments.
In fact, they'll use any negative reviews - as feedback
- to add amenities.
2 SOTW25 42
VRBO HOUSE "People were saying it would be so nice
to sit down at a table - and we built this table this
year"
3 SOTW26 42
DATCP "Every single time you're going on line - for
rest, hotel accom - one of the first things you see
is the number of stars
4 VO TRACK
Right to Yelp
That's not only good news for us, though - it's good
for the business, too.
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DATCP "If you wanna be successful in the marketplace
- you need that customer feedback."
1 SOTW29 43
VRBO HOUSE "If we have to start from scratch right
now - no reviews, nothing, it would be so much harder"

2 VO TRACK
As they prepare for their next guests - the Zurez
family understands that idea.
2 SOTW31 42
VRBO HOUSE 5337 we have so much competition and theres
so many hosues for rent.
the fact that we've been doing this for so many years
and we've collected so many reviews - helps us a lot."

3 SOTW32 42
NAT - kids packing
4 VO TRACK
Doug does too - and as he heads out on his next vacation
- he's got advice on a lesson learned - for everyone
else.
4 SOTW34 43
DOUG "I will not write any more reviews until i get
my momey back for future reference haha."
2 SOTW35 42
Leah DOUG ULTIMATELY DID TAKE DOWN HIS COMMENT - TO
GET HIS MONEY BACK.
BUT SAYS HE HAD TO SIGN *ANOTHER* CONTRACT -- THIS
ONE, A NON-DISCLOSURE SETTLEMENT, SO HE WOULDN'T SAY
ANYTHING ELSE NEGATIVE.
MEANWHILE -- THE COMPANY BEHIND ALL THIS -- NATIONAL
EQUITY CONSULTANTS -- SENT US THIS EMAIL, EXPLAINING
*ITS* SIDE OF THE STORY.
SAYING ONLINE COMMENTS COULD LEAD TO THEIR HOMES BEING
BURGLARIZED.
EXPECT TO CURTAL INFORMATION FROM BEING PUBLISHED
ON THE INTERNENT.
WHICH MIGHT CAUSE THE HOME TO BECOME THE TARGET OF
THIEVES.
RIGHT TO YELP
WITH THIS CALL FOR ACTION REPORT, I'M LEAH LINSCHEID.

Can leaving a bad review of a business hurt you?

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