Tire dealer complaints about online review sites are certainly well founded. While it is nice to collect the raving reviews and the “stamp of approval” from happy customers, the accessibility of these sites and the ability for reviewers to retain their anonymity can create very difficult problems. We have even heard (gasp!!!) that a dealer’s competition may plant false complaints online.

Fixing these falsehoods, let alone discovering their nefarious beginnings, can be time-consuming, frustrating and painful. Like having your identity stolen.

And then there is this gem, as reported by the London Telegraph, where a businessman angered by what he saw as “apparent failings” of online service TripAdvisor decided to prove the inaccuracy and lack of research done by the site before it posted reviews and information about travel-related companies.

“Oscar’s was billed as having ‘amazing’ and ‘mind-blowing’ Michelin-starred food, built in the hull of an old fishing boat amid reefs and shipwrecks in Brixham, Devon,” the newspaper reported.

“The profile on TripAdvisor claimed staff in diving gear would swim to catch whichever fish the customer desired as part of the service.
Fake reviews dating back three months said Oscar’s – apparently run by a couple called Colette and Alfredo, with food and décor based on the world-famous Spanish restaurant elBulli – said the cooking was ‘simply divine’ and ‘bordered on sorcery.’

“But diners were left disappointed when they arrived at a disused alleyway full of rubbish bins.”

Yes, he created a fake restaurant, complete with its own website to extract revenge “after a friend’s hotel received a barrage of criticism that he suspected was from a rival hotelier.”

The man complained that, “Many of these (reviews) are so blatant, any person doing a short check would see that they are obvious. The chances were better than average that Oscar’s could have sailed on for months.”

Well, apparently not. Oscar’s “opened” for business on May 1, and built a strong array of lavish reviews that led to dozens upon dozens of reservations – and summarily disappointed diners, who followed the listed addressed to nowhere.

But the well-crafted fake reviews were outstanding, with one “diner” referring to Oscar’s as "a beautiful restaurant, tastefully fitted out, amazing food and wine,” while another entry offered, “I am fortunate enough to live in Catalyuna, home to some of the best restaurants in the world. I have dined at both elBulli and El Celler de Can Roca. Is Oscar’s as good? No not quite – but as has been mentioned already, there is an unbelievable quality about it."

Once TripAdvisor discovered the dupe, it pulled Oscar’s listing. Perhaps it learned a helpful lesson, as well.

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I am always up for stupidly fun surveys, so thanks to CarInsurance.com for this bit of merriment.

The website surveyed 1,500 drivers who were “asked to look at photos of 12 vehicles made in the last decade and decide if they would be embarrassed to be seen in them. Then they were asked to rank the three most cringe-worthy.”

The runaway winner? The Smart ForTwo with a score of 7.6 on a 1-10 scale.

Following was the Nissan Cube at 3.6, Hummer H2 at 3.5, Chevrolet SSR at 2.1, Volkswagen New Beetle at 1.9, Subaru Baja at 1.6, Lincoln Town Car at 1.6, Pontiac Aztek at 1.4, Plymouth PT Cruiser at 1.0, and the Honda Element at 0.9.

“All these cars are bold statements. You either love them or hate them,” said CarInsurance.com managing editor Des Toups. “But even considering that, a lot of people don’t like the Smart ForTwo, and those who don’t like it seem to despise it.”

But that wasn’t enough! CarInsurance.com asked about the most distasteful car color. The largest share of drivers (38%) said their distaste for any color was dependent on the car, but a roughly equal number said they would not drive a car painted purple (17%), bright yellow (16%) or orange (13%).

And the most embarrassing vehicle accessories? Quite an impressive list, headed by headlight eyelashes at 35%, spoilers and wings at 15%, the old “My child is an honor student at____” bumper sticker at 13%, stick figure family bumper stickers at 13%, and any bumper sticker for a failed political candidate at 18%.

Now, everyone go check your cars!