Take The Yelp Shops Local Pledge!

Fantastic Idea Wendy.  I love it!

Agreed - a very good idea.

Thanks you two! Don't forget to say "I'm in" ;)

Great idea!

Yay!! IN

Will there be a list of suggested shops? I shared this on Facebook and some of my friends are wondering.

Thanks.

There may be... stay tuned!

I don't need a month to do this as I do it already. I also rarely if ever review chains, they don't need anymore attention than they already have through their existence. I actually skip over reviews of chains because I just don't care how good the service was at McDonalds store #4832 was or how quickly my purchases were rung through at Walmart store #2034.

I think what is wonderful about Yelp is that it is a place you can discover small businesses you otherwise would not have come across. I have discovered dozens of restaurants in the NE and the SE that I would never have come across without reading my fellow Yelpers reviews here. I tend to stick to the NW and the SW and Yelp has opened up my world in that respect.

Love it!

In principle, supporting local business is good policy, and I like to do that when it makes sense. But my money will always go to the business that earns it. This is how a marketplace is supposed to work; all free marketplaces. The problem arises for individual consumer like us, when we have to spend money where we have no prior experience or information on others' experiences with that business. YELP fills part of that gap for us. It is much superior to any other service of its type that I know of. All others are moderated, which is simply censorship. On YELP we can contribute our experiences, good and bad, foolish or wise, without being censored. It is so important we support YELP now, while it is still un-moderated, not subject to influence from commercial interests. The principle of spending intelligently, voting with our wallets, is much more important than just supporting local business simply because it is local. My two cents.

@George I couldn't agree with you more brilliantly said!

Great idea!  I will share with my following on Facebook.

REAP Business Association is interested in giving some of their coupon books to the cause.  These coupon books have over $2,000 in savings on local green products and services.  This will make it even easier to go local and green this Holiday season.

For more info, follow REAP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.co....

REAP is all about local too, which is why we'll be sending this pledge to every one of our subscribers. For a list of locally-owned businesses that have met criteria for environmental and social responsibility, visit http://www.reapcalgary....

Thanks so much Cody & Stephanie!!

Local all the way!

Wendy, how might we get these coupon books to those who take the pledge?

Cody

Supporting local business is a nice sentiment, but our job on YELP is to contribute honest feedback about our experiences with merchants -- it is NOT to support CAUSES. The end result of supporting local BAD businesses is that good businesses will suffer and we will pay more for everything we buy. Do not ruin YELP by being sentimental people.

I am pretty sure that the lovely Yelpers of Calgary have pretty sound judgement, and will not go out of their way to support a "local BAD business" over another corporation just because it is local, George. I, myself, cringed a little at that statement as I always try to support Calgary's independent businesses. Not because I am a sentimentalist sap, but because if I can meet the people behind a business and contribute to their success, then I will, as I would like to be a business owner myself someday and appreciate the same support.
I don't think that you are obliged to participate in the Shop Local Pledge if you don't want to be, but if others want to support local shopping for various reasons, then I say let us go ahead! It's not like you're being asked to donate to a charity you disagree with or something on behalf of Yelp. Although, everyone's gifts from me this year will be a donation to...THE HUMAN FUND!

Sarah Louise. I happen to represent Pennypacker Industries and Vandalay Import/Export. We would like to donate to this HUMAN FUND you speak off

Sarah Louise. I happen to represent Pennypacker Industries and Vandalay Import/Export. We would like to donate to this HUMAN FUND you speak off

@George If I don't like a small business I will shop somewhere else. I can still shop local, there isn't only ONE local hardware store, or ONE local toy shop. I have plenty of places to choose from which don't require me ever stepping foot into a chain store or shopping mall.

I was not directing my comments at any one person or criticizing anyone for their views. I am doing my best to add clarity to this discussion. What I am saying is that YELP is not going to be very useful to anyone if it becomes an advocacy group for special causes. Shopping local is a special cause. It is discriminatory as well. YELP will be valuable to us only if we remember the goal of contributing honest feedback that helps others, like ourselves, to receive value for hard-earned dollar and time spent. Our time is really valuable, even if the C-Train management or the Deerfoot Trail road manager doesn't seem to realize it, or that clerk at Costco who refuses to acknowledge your presence in the tire dep't. We have alternatives and must take advantage of that fact. Local businesses will adapt - if they are well managed. As it happens, I have never reviewed any business that was not local, by my own definition, but I do use http://Amazon.ca and http://NCIX.com on occasion. These merchants provide a service that saves me time and money. No one in Calgary can equal them for service as I see it. Local business people know about this competition and I trust them to respond in their own way. YELP is far too important to turn it into a vehicle for special causes.

I would have left this alone had you not copy and pasted that blurb into my personal comments feed. I think you're actually retracting clarity from the discussion.

The first fun fact in the list "Ten Things You Should Know About Yelp"(If you are to click the About Yelp button):

1. Yelp was founded in 2004 to help people find great local businesses like dentists, hair stylists and mechanics.

So uh...I think shopping local actually has actually always been a premise of Yelp. I don't buy that supporting local businesses on a website that seeks to help the community discover said places is "discriminatory" at all. If anything, it is very helpful to others. Reviewing these businesses not only assists members of the community in finding lovely new businesses to try out for themselves (or avoid, if they don't like what they read), but also...a lot of these independent businesses use these real reviews by real people as tools for development. Many times, when I've written a review in question, local business owners have taken the time to contact me and apologize for my experience, appreciate the constructive criticism, and ask what they could do to make my next experience more enjoyable. I have not expected this of any of them, but this is thoughtful.
I highly doubt the CEO of all Costco warehouses is trolling Yelp wondering what people think of them on Yelp. This is because Costco has already established their own business model that works for them, and many people will continue to frequent businesses like Costco for its convenience and cost effectiveness, even if it lacks in heart or customer service.  
What you are saying is understood, but you might be missing the point of this event/pledge. You're entitled to take spend your time and hard earned dollar wherever you'd like, and I would suggest allowing others to do the same. Like every Festivus, I am going to support all of my favourite local businesses first and foremost when I can, because that is how I roll.

its a festivus miracle!

It is definitely discriminatory to advocate avoiding groups of stores based on criteria such as ownership, size, dominance of a market, wealth or nationality. What are we going to add to this list next, businesses that paint their store the wrong colour? For example, all blue and yellow stores are to be boycotted. IKEA would leave town. My point is, the "buy local" movement is "anti" as much as it is "pro" and does not help working people at all. Go ahead and discriminate against the stores you want to, individually, but YELP should have no official position on the matter. Otherwise YELP is co-opted, corrupted. This is critical.

The thing that's great about the Yelp Shops Local Pledge is that by supporting local businesses, it help keeps your hard earned dollars close to home. Even buying one gift from a locally-owned business makes a big difference in our community.

Talk about making something out of nothing. It's a nice celebration of local business. I think the whole intention is being blown way out of proportion and I don't even get what is being argued about. Totally pointless in my opinion.

YAY to local business and am happy to participating this, even though I primarily shop local anyways. Kudos to Yelp!

Already did!  In fact, I bought as local as you can get by buying from a couple of artist collectives from some of the arts and crafts markets in town that are popping up.  Best place to get something that's "unique."

If anyone wants great stuff for their animals Chewsy Pets is a great locally owned and operated store that is AWESOME. Also I work there so I will be doing my shopping there!

yeehee!! everyone is getting something from Riva's this Christmas.

Please help support Calgary's newest little art supplies store, located in Mount Pleasant.

Sketch Art Supplies
1713 2 Street NW
Calgary, AB

I am proud to say I've purchased all 5 of my xmas gifts at independent small businesses :) ! Happy Holidays everyone :).