Yup, that's their business model. You can buy ads, or you can just pay them off directly, and they'll not only leave up your positive ads, but they'll even put up some more of their own, and delete the negative ones.

I have no doubt that, despite this extortion taking place all over the country, Jeremy Stoppelman will deny all responsibility and get rid of a few symbolic bad eggs, and then get back to the extortion business (which is the only way he can possibly operate in the black).

It's the old "protection" racket updated to the computer age. They're still gangsters, though.

I am responsible for my (boss's) business page. They will not stop calling, insisting on "chats" that always end up with their sales rep yelling at us on the phone if we decline. I despise yelp.

wow, that's fucked up. I had not heard this about Yelp, thanks for sharing.

Go to town:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yelp-san-francis…

i'm glad they didn't sell to google when they had the chance. i hope they go down as a result of this.

Man, Yelp must be loving this. Now that the whole world knows they will fuck you if you don't pay them, their ad reps no longer need to say it out loud.

I had no idea Yelp was so evil. I will spread the word!

Change their name immediately to 'Yipes'