Astroturfing

[sensei8]

My wife brought this to my attention tonight. It seems that the owner of where she works is engaging in the practice called Astroturfing. 

Astroturfing is when a business falsifies reviews on a website. It’s a very deceptive way to earn consumers trust.

The FTC actively monitors and penalizes businesses engaging in astroturfing. The FTC might send a cease-and-desist letter to a business and/or fine a business $16,000 per day for those that violate its "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". 

How my wife discovered that her boss was Astroturfing was when my wife read a review about the business she works out, and the review that was written was in my wife’s name…my wife never wrote any reviews anywhere about the business she works at!! 

Not cool whatsoever!!

Makes me wonder how much of this practice is permeated in the MA?? 

 

[Spartacus Maximus]

It would not be a surprise knowing how common dishonest practices are in the martial arts world. As you have said more than once, martial arts schools are businesses, and no matter what they sell or provide things if it can happen then it probably does. 

[bushido_man96]

It probably does happen, but I'm willing to believe that it isn't pursued a lot.  The ones that do do it, though, will cast an ill shadow on the rest of the industry, which sucks.