Can we accept free service from business owner in exchange for reviews?

I recently joined a WhatsApp chat group of Local Guides. Last week, one of the members of the group invited other female members to try out a female-only spa. She said that participating members could have free selected treatment in exchange for a review on Google Maps. More than ten female members grabbed the freebie opportunity.

So I reached out to the moderator. I expressed my concern and told him that I found the whole deal is a possible conflict of interest. He responded and said that such a review invitation is acceptable as long as the participating Local Guides maintain their fairness in giving reviews of the business. He also claimed that members of the chat group are all aware and able to maintain such neutrality. He then added that he would talk personally to those participating and would remind them to be fair.

For a week, from Monday 8/19, all the participating ladies began to receive treatments from the spa. The last time I checked, they all gave a 5-star-review and submitted a lot of photos of the business. At one time, the middle-woman reminded those who hadn’t posted their review post-treatment to do so.

So, I brought up this issue again with the chat group moderator. I shared a reminder about the guideline (https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Reminder-to-Local-Guides-of-Review-Guidelin…) while stressing the following part about conflict of interest: Reviews are most valuable when they’re honest and unbiased. If you own or work at a place, please don’t review your own business or employer. Don’t offer or accept money, products or services to write reviews for a business or to write negative reviews about a competitor. If you’re a business owner, don’t set up review stations or kiosks at your place of business just to ask for reviews written at your place of business.

But it’s clear by now that we have different views regarding the issue. I believe this is truly a case of conflict of interest, the chat group admin thinks otherwise.

So, what do you think? Can a local guide accept a free service offered by a business owner in exchange for a review, assuming that s/he maintains his/her neutrality and fairness?

Thank you.

9 Likes

Hi, @R10R .

I think Local Guides should not accept sponsorship in exchange of contribution on Google Maps.

Maybe this post by @HelloJess could help Guidelines for hosting a sponsored meet up

1 Like

Hi @R10R

Thank you for asking. Google Moderators are the only ones to address if you have a doubt about the interpretation of the program rules

Every request of review in exchange of products, money (discount) or service is against the program rules.

Writing a review in exchange of products, money (discount) or service is against the program rules

If a business is offering that, it should be reported on Google Mybusiness community. If a local guide is suggesting that, should be reported here simply writing a reply on this post, without mentioning what or who you want to report, simply writing “I want to report a local guide” and tagging a Google Moderator.

A Google Moderator will contact you privately

In addition, please edit your post to change the label to “How To” , where it fits better.

Simply press the three blue dots on your post then click on “edit”. For more information: Edit your post - Why and How To

3 Likes

Hi @R10R ,

Thank you for sharing with us.

I will send you a private message with instructions on how to report this specific user so our team can look into this person’s account and take any appropriate action, though we won’t be able to share the final decision as we respect everyone’s privacy. We ask that you do not share any information publicly about the person you think may be violating our policies as we respect everyone’s privacy.

@R10R , I will move your post to the How-to’s section, because this way more Local Guides can get a reminder about our program rules.

P.S.: Thank you @ErmesT for the detailed response.

2 Likes

Hi @ErmesT ,

Thank you very much for the clarification on the misplaced category. However, @MoniV has already changed the category of the post to How-tos.

I will take note that I can only ask moderators questions, and tag them in the future should I have any inquiries. Thanks for clearing that up. And I will take heed of your advice on the reporting procedure.

Thanks.

2 Likes

Hi @MoniV ,

Noted. Thank you.

1 Like

Hi @iorikun301

I agree with you that sponsorship is not to be exchanged with a contribution on Google Maps; and also thanks for the link.

2 Likes

Hi @R10R ,

By the way, I’ve noticed that your post has an Indonesian language label. Please note that I’ve removed it as your post is written in English. To learn more about those labels I recommend you to take a look at the following article How do I find posts in my preferred language?.