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Yelp vs Google Reviews

YadaYadaYada

YadaYadaYada

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Feb 2, 2016
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12,160
Just looking for some insight from the community.

We have to take our cat, Dexter, to a specialist, just to get an appointment you have to pay a deposit of $275. Looking at their Yelp reviews, they are rated very poorly 2 1/2 stars out of 86 reviews, but on Google they have a 4.4 star rating with over 600 reviews. There are only two places I can bring him, this one or another that I can’t get an appointment with until April.

Particularly concerning is one review on Yelp where the dog was seen for literally four minutes and the $275 was billed as a consultation, the owner wasn’t given any definite diagnosis and was told further testing would be more money.

So the question is, how reliable are Google reviews? How much weight would you put on the Yelp review that includes the same specialist and is a year old?
 
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It's my opinion that people mostly comment when they're unhappy.
Folks that have a good experience probably don't come to Google or Yelp to comment at all, they just go on their merry way.
Maybe take the bad reviews with a grain of salt.
I hope that the specialist is good and can help Dexter.
 
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Well, it sounds like an appointment costs $275 regardless of duration if a client declines to move forward with suggested diagnostic tests.

Certainly I can imagine a scenario where after swift exam it is clear that tests are required in order to confirm diagnosis and proscribe appropriate medication/therapeutic remedies.

Perhaps some of the $275 would have been applied to the test costs had the client decided to have them done?

Do any of the other reviews talk about the appt deposit and test costs?

If it's not clear on the website, are you able to speak with a receptionist/billing dept to get further info on how the deposit is utilized?

Generally speaking, when I look at reviews, I look for patterns, where 50% or more of reviewers are basically saying the same thing whether compliment or complaint.

I also weigh more heavily reviews that are more recent, because a place that used to be good 2 years ago may have had significant changes to be not so good starting 6 months ago...
 
YadaYadaYada said:
So the question is, how reliable are Google reviews? How much weight would you put on the Yelp review that includes the same specialist and is a year old?
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Maybe for carpet cleaning. Who reviews a health care professional on Google or Yelp?!
 
LilAlex said:
Maybe for carpet cleaning. Who reviews a health care professional on Google or Yelp?!
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So many. I belong to a professional health care group and this is often discussed. When people are not happy they take to google or yelp and let it out. So as @stracci2000 wrote you get many unhappy people writing reviews. Not always fair reviews either. But I look at patterns and if there are many recent negative reviews I will go elsewhere. But you can often tell if a reviewer is just unrealistic or if you should take note.

@YadaYadaYada good luck. I hope your furry baby is OK and receives excellent care wherever you take him
 
LilAlex said:
Maybe for carpet cleaning. Who reviews a health care professional on Google or Yelp?!
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I actually reviewed an emergency vet on Yelp when our dog had to have surgery. Some find it helpful to read experiences, of course with health or veterinary care many are more like venting sessions.
 
Thanks @stracci2000 for the supportive words. I’m inclined to go the the emergency vet I’ve used before because they have a team of specialists but I can’t get an appointment until April there.

@marymm, the deposit is from what I’ve been told, only for the consultation so if the doctor determines there are additional tests required it would be at an additional cost. This should be relatively straightforward because it will be a matter of if an occlusion in one of his eyes requires surgical intervention. So it may not be an issue for us but I just want to make sure he gets a thorough examination during the consultation.
 
@missy, thanks for your well wishes, this has been a very trying experience. I know you went through an ordeal with ringworm, we aren’t dealing with that, but something equally as frustrating.
 
I’m big on reviews for products and businesses. What I look for in negative comments is if multiple people are saying the same thing, it’s probably true And at that point I’d be rolling the dice so to speak.
 
All the veterinary services providers in both my areas (in NY and MD) require substantial deposits for new patients. The deposit is non-refundable but goes toward the office visit. Tests and diagnostics are on top of that.

So to me $275 doesn’t sound unreasonable to hold the spot and ensure that a new patient won’t cancel last second.

Unless that reviewer’s dog was actually a mannequin there’s zero possibility his/her visit actually lasted four minutes. That’s about enough time to check one ear. Aggrieved hyperbole, methinks!


Edit: I was curious and just checked mine out… The specialist center that kept Gretta comfortable and happy for years with chronic kidney disease, that cured Alex’s cancer and is now managing his diabetes, and that brought Jimmy back from the brink of death has 3.5 stars on Yelp. The center that worked miracles for Garett and that treated Mina’s debilitating pancreatitis so effectively that her bloodwork is perfect now - also 3.5 on Yelp. I can honestly say I’d give both 10 out of 5 stars if I could, so… Oh. The place I’ll never ever go to again or recommend to anyone else, because they should have done SO much more for Jeffey in his final hours, also 3.5 on Yelp. Well there’s one random anecdote I guess.

I hope Dexter does okay!! Sick pets are so, so stressful, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this!!
 
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I agree with you @SandraLynn, I’m always looking at reviews whether it’s for a product or place, it’s nice to have the insight.

@yssie, it’s not so much the money to hold the appointment, although it is more than I anticipated. It’s a lot of stress on Dexter since it is a long ride (for him) and yet another vet appointment. In the long run of course it is better for him but I just want to make sure they are giving him a full examination and that we can get as much accomplished in one appointment as possible. So that’s why that review was especially concerning.

I’m sorry that you’ve been through so much with your pets, it is so hard when they are sick. Thanks for your well wishes for Dexter!
 
YadaYadaYada said:
I agree with you @SandraLynn, I’m always looking at reviews whether it’s for a product or place, it’s nice to have the insight.

@yssie, it’s not so much the money to hold the appointment, although it is more than I anticipated. It’s a lot of stress on Dexter since it is a long ride (for him) and yet another vet appointment. In the long run of course it is better for him but I just want to make sure they are giving him a full examination and that we can get as much accomplished in one appointment as possible. So that’s why that review was especially concerning.

I’m sorry that you’ve been through so much with your pets, it is so hard when they are sick. Thanks for your well wishes for Dexter!
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I totally understand, ours stress with the trips too :(sad My guess is that the specialist will want Dexter’s records from your usual vet, and once the department that’ll see him reviews them they’ll call you to discuss what they’re going to be checking for. Like, you should know beforehand if they’ll prob want to do bloodwork, ultrasound, whatever.
 
Hey @YadaYadaYada Just wanted to see how Dexter’s doing! Did he end up seeing the specialist?
 
Update on Dexter, he needs eyelid surgery, everything that I’ve done for him at this point has been almost useless because it didn’t address the actual problem.
 
Oh no. I hope his eyelid surgery goes okay. Poor Dexter and his poor human mum and dad!
 
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