Menupages

Le_Dieux

I am not sure if I am putting this in the correct category - Mods, please feel free to move as deemed fit.

I was a fervent believer in Menupages ( MP ), that is until I sent in a submission a few weeks ago on an eatery in Dublin. I submitted a review having no complaint about the food or service, but I commented big time about the smell of urine in their gents. My OH also complained about the ladies. I suggested to MP that they should have a section on hygiene.

After 3 days I noticed it wasn't printed, nor had I received any notification of there being a problem with the comment. I messaged MP asking why, and got a reply stating (quote) Thanks for the review however we are unable to publish as we cannot mention anything regarding hygiene in reviews as it may be deemed as libellous, ( end quote). Consequently I asked why I had to ask before being told this information, response? Because the online editor was off for 2 days ( a Thursday & Friday). I then highlighted that someone was filling in for You as reviews were being published.

Anyhow, long story short, I find it deplorable that MP cannot judge or let comments commentating on hygiene be published.

What is the point in hosting a review website?

Procrastastudy

They won't be hosting a review site very long if they end up in the High Court defending a liable action. Not only that I assume you are quite attached to your house and car - which the restaurant would be owning if they decided to join you in the action.

Recessionbust

Procrastastudy wrote: »

They won't be hosting a review site very long if they end up in the High Court defending a liable action.

Tripadvisor seem to get away with it so why not this crowd?

Procrastastudy

Tripadvisor has had reviews taken down as well. The Legal discussions forum might be a better place for this thread. (Don't start another ask a mod to move it OP). They guys there would be able to explain the finer points of innocent publication and right to respond etc.

It's likely Tripadvisor have a different policy and do there ' due diligence' (for want of a better term) in other ways.

It also looks like this menupages place is a small UK and Irish co? I've not looked that hard tbh. Tripadvisor is an international company - presumably with the resources to deal with legal action.

Le_Dieux

Procrastastudy wrote: »

They won't be hosting a review site very long if they end up in the High Court defending a liable action. Not only that I assume you are quite attached to your house and car - which the restaurant would be owning if they decided to join you in the action.

I hear what You say Procarastastudy. I have issue with the hygiene in the toilets of the said restaurant, which I haven't named. But what is the point of a review site if they deem it wrong to publish negative comments? In defence of MP, they did advise me to contact the restaurant directly and/or the food safety authority. For me thats not the issue here.

But what got to me was the fact they published 2 other comments in a similar vein in 2011 ( albeit apparently there was a different editor then ).

Perhaps this should be in the legal category as You suggest. Mods?

NoQuarter

I can see how MP want to protect themselves, they might be liable if they republish your statement whether it is true or not.

IF it is true, then it isnt defamation and even if it was, you have the "honest opinion" defence. I suppose the probelm is that its hard to gauge if there is a smell or not or if its always smelly and there would be lasting and damaging effects of a review like that.

If it was easy to post a review like that then a competator of a restaurant could post one, you can see where the problem lies. At the end of the day, MP are looking after their own business I suppose. I do see your point too though OP.

OldNotWIse

Bought a menupages deal earlier in the week and made reservation in the restaurant concerned for this evening. Still waiting for the voucher to be emailed to me :mad:

OldNotWIse

...and they seem to be impossible to get in touch with? Emails unanswered, calls go straight to various mailboxes?? Is this some kind of scam?

The_Morrigan

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Bought a menupages deal earlier in the week and made reservation in the restaurant concerned for this evening. Still waiting for the voucher to be emailed to me :mad:

You can download your vouchers from your account on their website. It should show you any deals bought.

OldNotWIse

The_Morrigan wrote: »

You can download your vouchers from your account on their website. It should show you any deals bought.

Really? I tried to do this but couldnt see any link for accessing ones account? Thanks I will try again

Ok having a senior moment, cant for the life of me find the link?

The_Morrigan

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Really? I tried to do this but couldnt see any link for accessing ones account? Thanks I will try again

Ok having a senior moment, cant for the life of me find the link?

I've just been on their website and the layout has changed so logging in is trickier. I had to search for a county before the 'have an account?' log in box showed up on the top right hand side of the screen.


To be honest, I've been on email with one of their staff earlier this week - seems there was a bit of an issue with bookings over the weekend so they are dealing with the fall out. I have never had any problems with them with regards to the deals, so maybe it's just bad timing on your part that you are trying to contact them when this issue has arisen.

OldNotWIse

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I've just been on their website and the layout has changed so logging in is trickier. I had to search for a county before the 'have an account?' log in box showed up on the top right hand side of the screen.


To be honest, I've been on email with one of their staff earlier this week - seems there was a bit of an issue with bookings over the weekend so they are dealing with the fall out. I have never had any problems with them with regards to the deals, so maybe it's just bad timing on your part that you are trying to contact them when this issue has arisen.

Understandable that any business can have a fall out, but not much good to my parents tonight when they arrive at the restaurant without a voucher :rolleyes: I'm gonna give it another go...

subway

menupages were on here before, admitted they will take down any negative review if the restaurant pays.
i think they will usually contact the restaurant before publishing a negative review and offer them the chance to upgrade their account to one that allows deletion of reviews

for verification:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055397739

OldNotWIse

Managed to log in and now its telling me i have no deals bought!

The_Morrigan

subway wrote: »

menupages were on here before, admitted they will take down any negative review if the restaurant pays.
i think they will usually contact the restaurant before publishing a negative review and offer them the chance to upgrade their account to one that allows deletion of reviews

for verification:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055397739

So they can pay for selective reviews?...lovely!

coylemj

subway wrote: »

menupages were on here before, admitted they will take down any negative review if the restaurant pays.
i think they will usually contact the restaurant before publishing a negative review and offer them the chance to upgrade their account to one that allows deletion of reviews

for verification:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055397739

If that isn't blackmail I don't know what it is!

Makes a mockery of the data if restaurants can pay to have the negative stuff airbrushed out!

The_Morrigan

coylemj wrote: »

If that isn't blackmail I don't know what it is!

Makes a mockery of the data if restaurants can pay to have the negative stuff airbrushed out!

Also removes any accountability on their part to provide a top notch service that would entice people into their establishments.

I would always look for online reviews of places, whether they be restuarants, hotels, bars etc to see what the general public feel about a place. It has saved me a lot of hassle and at times stopped me buying one of the many online deals available to people.

MOD. Possible defamatory remark removed.

GBX

Deleted User wrote: »

So you can only give good reviews. Mod Deletion .

In the 5 years the thread was started, things may have changed

coylemj

GBX wrote: »

In the 5 years the thread was started, things may have changed

Very hard to recover your reputation after the revelations earlier in the thread. Tripadvisor with their mobile app has wiped the floor of any would-be competitors.

Doesn't mean that all of the TA reviews are believable though, it's stuffed full of fake reviews. I bypass the OTT good and bad reviews and read the ones in between, that's where you get the true picture. Haven't looked up Menupages in several years.

Mr. Incognito

They exist to make money.

If one of the ways of making money is to remove negative comments for a fee that's capitalism.

You were paid nothing for your review. If you feel that strongly about it post a negative review elsewhere.

nuac

Mod
Closed for mod review