I searched for laundromats in Franklin, NC, and Robin's Laundry appeared as the #3 result on Yelp. Based on that, I assumed it was a local business. But it's actually located in Easley, SC, more than 100 miles away.
I only found this out after wasting time, fuel, and effort driving to what I believed was a nearby laundromat.
This is a firsthand customer experience.
I engaged with this business through its online presence, and I was directly harmed by a deceptive geographic listing -- exactly the kind of misconduct consumer protection laws are designed to prevent.
Both Robin's Laundry and Yelp are engaged in illegal review manipulation and deceptive business practices, in violation of FTC Rule 16 C.F.R. § 465.7:
Yelp's removal of my original review violates § 465.7, which prohibits suppressing real negative consumer feedback.
This is a textbook case of review manipulation, as defined by the FTC.
The rule bans platforms from filtering out or removing valid critical reviews, especially when they reflect real customer experiences.
By removing negative reviews while allowing only positive ones to remain, Yelp manipulates public perception, misleading consumers into thinking a business is more reputable than it actually is.
This constitutes illegal review manipulation, because the overall review landscape is intentionally distorted to deceive consumers.
Robin's Laundry, by falsely implying it operates in Franklin, NC, is engaging in geographic misrepresentation -- a form of deceptive advertising.
These actions also violate Truth in Advertising (TINA) standards and fall under federal deceptive trade practice laws.
If Yelp knowingly allows businesses -- or their marketing firms -- to list in towns or states where they do not operate, then Yelp is actively participating in false and deceptive advertising.
I'm re-posting this review to protect other consumers from being misled in the same way I was.
Because of the review manipulation by Robin's Laundry and Yelp, and the intentional removal of my legitimate, firsthand negative review, I will also be submitting formal complaints to the following authorities:
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Truth in Advertising (TINA.org)
TINA.org is specifically dedicated to enforcing laws against false, misleading, or misrepresented advertising -- no matter the platform or medium. When Yelp shows users in Franklin, NC 28734 businesses that are not located in that town, ZIP code, or even the same state, it is a clear violation of truth-in-advertising standards and federal law.
If Robin's Laundry and/or Yelp engage in review manipulation again by suppressing or removing this re-posted, valid firsthand review, I will escalate my formal complaints further to both the North Carolina Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. Review suppression is not just unethical -- it is illegal under federal and state deceptive trade practices laws. read more