Byting Back In Support Of The Best of Times

My friend Laree called this morning, lamenting the fact she had finally ventured onto the internet while at her store. She affirmed her appreciation of how the website http://www.BestOfTimesAntiques.com reflects her store ambiance. However, it was a recent incident portrayed on Yelp which caused loss of sleep and regret for stepping into the cyber world.

The very name Yelp suggests a venue for negativity. Furthermore, because the business model of Yelp does not overtly discourage reviews which are vulgar or with a mission to disrupt I don’t use the site or promote it in any fashion. As a matter of fact, much has been written and even litigated about the Yelp business model which has been suggested as holding retailers hostage in order to defend or set right their reputation.

This is not the first time she has heard of an exaggerated, exhausting, and vulgar commentary about her and the Best Of Times store at 3401 W. Magnolia in Burbank. As we chatted on the phone I quickly reviewed the Yelps. She explained the January incident as being not only inaccurate but blatantly misleading. There were other customers of diverse demographics who witnessed the encounter, without the same response as the misreported story.

My friend has a presence on Twitter, @BurbankVintage, in order to be a good representative of supporting businesses in Burbank, but she has chosen to not have a Facebook account. Neither does Trader Joe’s.  So how does this relate to Trader Joe’s?

Trader Joe’s explains, in October, on their website about the removal of an application they developed, presumably why they also have no visibility on Twitter and Facebook.

“Because we are intent on managing our marketing resources smartly, so that our customers can rely on receiving best-in-town values on our products every day – on October 6, 2014, we will say –

Good night, app.

Good morning, traderjoes.com!

Thank you for taking a byte!”

And so in 2015, as the world and promoters of cyber communication learn the difference between free speech and respective speech I would say to anyone wanting to visit an antique store with an owner gradually getting up to speed in technology but having over 25 years of experience in collectibles, an owner, like Trader Joe’s

“Intent on managing our marketing resources smartly, so that our customers can rely on receiving best-in-town values on our products every day”

Go to 3401 W. Magnolia in Burbank. You will have the opportunity to enjoy and look at all the ephemera, clothes, ceramics, and more which are representative of The Best of Times.