The Bridge diner - Wolfeboro

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by baygo

I agree people are more likely to voice an opinion when they've had a bad experience however, they are also very likely to voice their opinion when they have been wowed by an experience. Then there are also those people who are likely to voice an opinion on every experience. I'll use the reviews for The Downtown Grill in Wolfboro to back up my stance. Search for the downtown Grille on Google and you will encounter over 400 reviews when you combine Google, yelp, and trip adviser. The average rating of the 400 reviews is just a bit shy of 4.5 out of 5. This means somewhere around 350 people have gone out of their way to write a positive review about the Downtown Grille.

Unfortunately, we have seen time and time again, what I consider "false" reviews for various businesses that do business in the Lakes Region area. Some were employees trying to help their business and chose to post fake reviews and others are actual "business owners" trying to sell themselves. There have been several over the course of the last year on this very forum.

To have 400 reviews for "The Downtown Grill" in Wolfboro, NH suggests to me that there is some padding going on. Known or not by the owners, I take that into consideration too. In fact, it takes away from the positive.

Edit: This is not specific to that particular restaurant. I am not familiar with them. It is a general statement for ALL businesses.

[baygo]

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Unfortunately, we have seen time and time again, what I consider "false" reviews for various businesses that do business in the Lakes Region area. Some were employees trying to help their business and chose to post fake reviews and others are actual "business owners" trying to sell themselves. There have been several over the course of the last year on this very forum.

To have 400 reviews for "The Downtown Grill" in Wolfboro, NH suggests to me that there is some padding going on. Known or not by the owners, I take that into consideration too. In fact, it takes away from the positive.

Edit: This is not specific to that particular restaurant. I am not familiar with them. It is a general statement for ALL businesses.

It's a shame you have such a cynical opinion of people. I agree that there's a certain amount of content (good & bad) that can't be trusted on social media, but I think it's a much less significant amount then you perceive. To suggest a restaurant in this region can only amassed a total of 400 reviews on three web sites, each used by 100s of millions, is to rely on fake postings, leads me to question your credentials for cyber forensics. Hospitality by far receives more Internet reviews than any other business.

Nonetheless, I didn't bring reviews up in this thread to debate their validity, I introduced them because of the impact they have on taffic and the value of the traffic generated by them.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by baygo

It's a shame you have such a cynical opinion of people. I agree that there's a certain amount of content (good & bad) that can't be trusted on social media, but I think it's a much less significant amount then you perceive. To suggest a restaurant in this region can only amassed a total of 400 reviews on three web sites, each used by 100s of millions, is to rely on fake postings, leads me to question your credentials for cyber forensics. Hospitality by far receives more Internet reviews than any other business.

Nonetheless, I didn't bring reviews up in this thread to debate their validity, I introduced them because of the impact they have on taffic and the value of the traffic generated by them.

Despite your slam at me in your first sentence, I am guessing by your second sentence that we should just agree to disagree.

[baygo]

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Despite your slam at me in your first sentence, I am guessing by your second sentence that we should just agree to disagree.

Perhaps my opening statement was interpreted a little harsher than intended. I apologize for that. Your remark that a restaurant with 400 reviews must be padding hit a nerve with me, as my restaurant has significantly more. The closer to the top of the list a restaurant is the higher percentage of customers they will get from that website thus increasing the likelihood of their customers writing reviews.

[Barbara]

Downtown Grille is great. It has a big local following and huge business in summer. I don’t doubt it has many ratings and they are high. The new owner is so friendly and outgoing and is trying new things. It is a great place.

[rainman4744]

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Unfortunately, we have seen time and time again, what I consider "false" reviews for various businesses that do business in the Lakes Region area. Some were employees trying to help their business and chose to post fake reviews and others are actual "business owners" trying to sell themselves. There have been several over the course of the last year on this very forum.

To have 400 reviews for "The Downtown Grill" in Wolfboro, NH suggests to me that there is some padding going on. Known or not by the owners, I take that into consideration too. In fact, it takes away from the positive.

Edit: This is not specific to that particular restaurant. I am not familiar with them. It is a general statement for ALL businesses.

As the former owner of the Downtown Grille Cafe in Wolfeboro I have to say that we worked very hard for each and every one of those reviews. No padding needed, I explicitly requested that my friends, family and employees not review us or any of our competitors in town as I felt that was unethical. 400 hard earned reviews over 8 years, we were truly blessed to have some fantastic customers walk though our doors every day.

[tis]

I agree rainman. I always heard good things about your restaurant. You did very well to maintain such a good reputation.