On Your Side: “It’s got to be stopped.” Marshfield, Mo., flower shop gets bad reviews from other shops with similar name

MARSHFIELD, Mo. (KY3) — It’s recommended that people read Google reviews when looking up a business. But what if the negative reviews are about a different business?

That’s exactly what’s happening to a small flower shop on Marshfield square. The owner tells On Your Side Big Tech got it wrong, and the little guy has to fight back to make it right. Ruth’s Flowers and Gifts has been in Marshfield since 1964.

“One day, we had five people just so upset, and we had no idea what they were talking about,” said owner Sue Minor.

It’s a blooming digital case of mistaken identity.

“We are getting one-star reviews that we are dishonest,” she said.

When you order flowers the first few options are order gatherer websites, basically a broker. These websites help you find local shops to fill your order. When customers aren’t happy with their experience, they’re quick to Google.

It’s a thumb-scroll mistake. People in other states plug in Ruth’s Roses to complain. Ruth’s Flowers & Gifts in Marshfield, Missouri, is the first thing to pop up. So Minor gets complaints from all flower shops with the name Ruth. One customer left a review and was angry about his delivery in Texas.

“They’re not talking about Marshfield, Missouri. They’re talking about a town out east, or Texas, Arkansas, it can be anywhere. They’ve missed the funeral. They’ve missed the birthday party. We reported it, but Google doesn’t do anything,” she said.

It starts with customers doing their homework.

“Make sure you go where you intended to go,” said Pamela Hernandez with the Better Business Bureau. “If you are looking for something local in general, inspect the website you go to to make sure they are indeed local.”

Minor responds to all bad reviews by telling customers they have the wrong store, hoping they’ll change their reviews.

Remember, when you use those flower broker websites, they take a cut of the overall price you pay. You’ll likely get more bang for your buck if you order directly from the local flower shop.

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