BBB Under Scrutiny

Link: http://www.bbbroundup.com

We're not convinced that the motives of the BBB's Letter Grade system were driven by a desire to better serve the public. We suspect that there was a financial motive as well. In any case, the Letter Grade has managed to stir up the media, the judicial system, small businesses in a way that previously never existed.

Monday however, marks another step down the path the BBB has chosen, at least for now, to take. That's the day that one of the five BBB regional offices who chose to not implement the letter grading system back in January, 2009, caves and toes the party line. This is unfortunate for Chicago businesses, but here's hoping it gets the Chicago media involved in the story.

It is our opinion that the current BBB business model is fundamentally flawed and cannot be sustained much longer. Today, bbbRoundup offers its suggestions for making the Better Business Bureau more relevant, more profitable and more useful. Here's the story on how
we'd change the BBB.

Link: http://www.bbbroundup.com

I must confess that when I first started this project I vastly underestimated the scope of work and the effort required. Writing this series on the Los Angeles BBB has been revealing. It has stirred passions in me that have lain dormant for far too long. The reverence given Jimmie Rivers by small businesses when he returns their calls is a heavy burden, because I know the pain and frustration they are feeling. Most of all it is the frustration. I have heard, with unerring consistency, that in the Los Angeles BBB territory, once you get on their radar you are screwed. Complaining drops your grade. Payment improves your grade, as long as you haven’t complained. They rule by fear, not from a position of trust, but one of extreme distrust.

My original thought was to develop and investigate a ten part series on the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau. Today, marks the 9th installment of this ten part series. Recently, a number of developments have occurred that indicate this story will continue to be expanded upon in the months to come.

The 10th installment of our investigative series into the LA BBB will publish next week. In it, I will offer some suggestions to make the BBB relevant again and how they can restore their tarnished brand. By then, I should have a clearer idea of where the story will go from there.