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Better Business Bureau's grading system stirs debate | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com
A few interesting lines... Specifically-
....."A business cannot receive an A-plus unless it is a BBB member, or what the BBB calls an "accredited business." The highest grade a business that is not accredited can get is an A. An accredited business will have no lower than a B-plus.".....
and....
........ Leonard Bennett, a Newport News attorney who specializes in consumer protection cases, said the public mistakenly believes the BBB exists to assist them. ......"The problem is they market to us - to you and me, John and Jane consumer - that if you have a Better Business Bureau seal of approval, it guarantees a company's reliability", Bennett said. "That seal of approval doesn't mean anything except you've signed up and paid your dues.".......
Sounds an awful lot like "protection money" paid to a really mean guy in a nice suit..
Since each BBB office is an independently run franchise- there doesn't seem to be any consistency in how the ratings are determined. Some franchises may be very well managed, while others may simply be taking part in a money grab for grades!... Their grading systems and processes are kept hidden- so it's impossible to tell good from bad.
As a result, it seems that many large companies are now refusing to pay any longer, and their ratings are tanking (for example, Disney Cruise Line is not an accredited business- and now proudly receives an F rating even though they have only had four complaints this year)..
I wonder if the BBB will go out of style, or if the companies finally will give in once the economy improves and simply chalk up the "protection money" expense as advertising dollars..
Just another reason why I prefer social networking sites like this one, where I can find information!
A few interesting lines... Specifically-
....."A business cannot receive an A-plus unless it is a BBB member, or what the BBB calls an "accredited business." The highest grade a business that is not accredited can get is an A. An accredited business will have no lower than a B-plus.".....
and....
........ Leonard Bennett, a Newport News attorney who specializes in consumer protection cases, said the public mistakenly believes the BBB exists to assist them. ......"The problem is they market to us - to you and me, John and Jane consumer - that if you have a Better Business Bureau seal of approval, it guarantees a company's reliability", Bennett said. "That seal of approval doesn't mean anything except you've signed up and paid your dues.".......
Sounds an awful lot like "protection money" paid to a really mean guy in a nice suit..
Since each BBB office is an independently run franchise- there doesn't seem to be any consistency in how the ratings are determined. Some franchises may be very well managed, while others may simply be taking part in a money grab for grades!... Their grading systems and processes are kept hidden- so it's impossible to tell good from bad.
As a result, it seems that many large companies are now refusing to pay any longer, and their ratings are tanking (for example, Disney Cruise Line is not an accredited business- and now proudly receives an F rating even though they have only had four complaints this year)..
I wonder if the BBB will go out of style, or if the companies finally will give in once the economy improves and simply chalk up the "protection money" expense as advertising dollars..
Just another reason why I prefer social networking sites like this one, where I can find information!