Replies to post #10 on Tripadvisor Inc (TRIP)

[ibkahuna]

It is true...if you pay the BBB your rating can and does improve magically even though the BBB will deny that ratings improve once a company becomes a member. I witnessed that with the last companies i ran. As for me claiming anything...you do realize that by offering reviews on the site doesnt make me a "Trip Advisor" per se right? If i have had good restaurant or hotel experiences i simply take the time to review. I have been very blessed to have travelled and experienced wonderful destinations so i am simply happy to offer an opinion. That isnt being a jack of all trades...unlike you i dont make statements that make no sense.

[ibkahuna]

On second thought let me make sure I understand what you think the BBB does. Do you think the BBB actually changes the reviews of individuals, like myself, on the Trip Advisor site concerning restaurants, hotels, etc...? If that was your belief, then that is incorrect. The BBB only regulates the ratings of the actual company and reports negative/positive reviews concerning the company itself. You would have to file a complaint about Trip Advisor itself for the BBB to get involved but it isn't as if they are a genuine consumer protection advocacy organization. They are a for profit entity that relies on companies to pay fees to say they are a part of the BBB and use their lovely logo. If a company pays the membership fee then more than likely they have a favorable rating. So...the BBB is a corporate rating organization but they do not affect or change the reviews found on Trip Advisor.