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April 27, 2009

Google Maps Bug Causes Reviews To Go Missing

A confirmed Google Maps bug seems to be causing the reviews in Google Maps to disappear. A Google Maps Help thread has several business owners complaining that their reviews (all or many) are now missing.

Googler, Joel H said that Google is aware of the issue and is working to resolve it. I'll quote him:

We're aware of this issue and are working on a fix. We'll update the group when more information becomes available.

I am not sure if this is a specific issue with importing reviews from third-party data sources or if it is a Google Maps review bug. I know that when Google Maps began allowing user contributed reviews back in June 2007, I did have at least one review, from myself. Now, none.

Embedded Maps view (currently has no review, but might change in future):

View Larger Map

Forum discussion at Google Maps Help.



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posted rustybrick in Other Google Topics at April 27, 2009 8:52 AM Comments (3)

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Comments

Funny about those 3rd party reviews......One week I'll have "26" and another time it will be only "17".....Google Maps has now awarded my business "5 Stars" (*****) which is apparently based on the composite score of the compiled reviews.

 

Posted by No Name at April 27, 2009 16:52

Barry -
If your reviews originate in Google Maps (i.e. aren't from a 3rd party data provider) you can expect periodic wonkiness with them. Sometimes they will be missing. Sometimes there will only be the snippet, with no ability to click to the full review. And, sometimes, Google simply decides to delete your reviews while offering no explanation.

You may see your reviews come back or they may be gone for good.

Of course, on the off chance that Google actually noticed that you left your own company a review and they decided that was spammy, they could have removed it for that reason. The attention they are paying to this kind of activity seems sporadic at best, so who knows if that is why.

Google reviews are, in my opinion, the most flawed area of a very flawed system. There is something new wrong with them almost every week. Ho-hum.

 

Posted by MiriamEllis at April 27, 2009 19:59

I'm responding to a thread that started in April of '09, but here I am in September '09 with this problem: my business had 7 reviews and they all disappeared overnight. Any suggestions?

 

Posted by Jon at September 28, 2009 21:15

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