USVI-On-Line

So much for unbiased reader reviews. Looks like the folks at Crazy Crackers are using that page as ad space.

oh my!

Pete thanks for the heads up - I will email them.

No problem. I don't mind the fake reviews by restaurant owners pretending to be forum users, but that last one was a bit much...they didn't even try to pretend to be a user. If nothing else, they should be paying you Anthony.

#1: I hate people exploiting this board. The fact that they did speaks volumes of their business ethics.
Because of their spirit of abusing this board's restaurant unbiased review board with basically unpaid for,self-serving advertising, I won't darken their doors.

#2: Is that name the best they could come up with?

Trying to sell web advertising to restaurants and retail shops has always been very tough - but - it is funny how so many will come and post into systems like this

It isn't just us - it is everywhere on forums, blogs, travel sites, etc. I do need to make a better disclaimer/set of rules on the review form about this kind of stuff, but we are trying to roll out something new that will hopefully make them happy and stop them from posting these kinds of "ads" into reviews.

California Girl wrote:How can you tell it's the owners that posted? Just curious.

Language like, "we have a fun, funky menu" gives it away.

Perhaps the owners were not attempting to be malicious. I could see a new business owner on SJ finding this site and thinking, ump, a bunch of cool people on a forum talking SJ all the time, perhaps that would be a great place to post info on our new restaurant, heck wouldn't hurt.

Then they read this, and, oops. Happens.

Then there is JT... painkiller ?

DaveS007 wrote:Perhaps the owners were not attempting to be malicious. I could see a new business owner on SJ finding this site and thinking, ump, a bunch of cool people on a forum talking SJ all the time, perhaps that would be a great place to post info on our new restaurant, heck wouldn't hurt.

Then they read this, and, oops. Happens.

Then there is JT... painkiller ?

Oh, I don't think it's a big deal or that the owners really did anything terrible. I thought Anthony would want to know, however, because that's not what the review section is for.

Pete (Mr. Marcia) wrote:

DaveS007 wrote:Perhaps the owners were not attempting to be malicious. I could see a new business owner on SJ finding this site and thinking, ump, a bunch of cool people on a forum talking SJ all the time, perhaps that would be a great place to post info on our new restaurant, heck wouldn't hurt.

Then they read this, and, oops. Happens.

Then there is JT... painkiller ?

Oh, I don't think it's a big deal or that the owners really did anything terrible. I thought Anthony would want to know, however, because that's not what the review section is for.

Yea, I got that, and agree it was appropriate.
Being in business for myself and always looking for marketing opportunities I could see how this could happen. Not everyone is up on this forum or how it works.

I remember an interview with the owners on another site. The name came from their dog, Crazy Cracker, a chihuahua who died after eating a palm tree seed. Some may remember the photo of two men in Speedos helping to ready the place.

Hey, guys, lots of business owners use this sight to their advantage without being out of bounds. I think that there's a fine line that was pretty distinctly crossed here. Anthony supplies all of us with a great service, with the help of payment from advertisers.
To post a blatant plug in a section that is for user reviews is nothing short of cheating. There are other ways for a business to take advantage of the board without circumventing the rules. STJ Ruth, for example, has been an active member for years, to her advantage, yet you don't see her writing about how great her products are. No, the members of the forum tell us all how terrific the spices are, or how cool Sloop's clothes are, or how wonderful they think the Westin is, etc. The businesses don't tout themselves.
Dave S007, I ran a successful small business for many years. I like to think that I know how to "play the room" yet do it with integrity. Using a dining review board to post an unpaid advertisement is not doing it with integrity. It's being opportunistic, but in a sleazy way.

Pete (Mr. Marcia) wrote:

California Girl wrote:How can you tell it's the owners that posted? Just curious.

Language like, "we have a fun, funky menu" gives it away.

Oh, oops! I missed the one at the very top! You're right! Thanks Pete!