Online beer mecca RateBeer has just announced their Best of 2012 Awards, and a Belgian Quadrupel takes the blue ribbon. Westvleteren 12, a product of Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus, topped the list of 50 best beers. The beer, a RateBeer …

Nearly one-third of Americans say while they are at a store looking at product, they tried to find a better deal on their mobile device, according to a new report from GfK Roper, conducted on behalf of SapientNitro.

Thirty-three percent say while out shopping, they email or texted someone to tell them about an experience at a store, such as finding a deal or gift. Nineteen percent have used their phone to post something to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other social networking sites about their holiday shopping experience.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of online Americans use social media, and the majority (84%) of social media users reveal information about themselves via social platforms, according to a new poll from Harris Interactive.

Local business review site Yelp said today it is taking steps to increase transparency about how user reviews are presented to consumers.

The move comes amid at least three lawsuits alleging that Yelp manipulates reviews based on whether a company advertises with the site.

Update: Reports now say that Yelp has backed out of the deal.

Original Article: Multiple reports say that Google is in negotiations to acquire Yelp, a site that caters to reviews of local businesses. Mike Arrington claims to have confirmed this with "multiple sources," and says the price is at least $500 million.

The majority (84%) of Americans say online customer reviews have an influence on their decision to purchase a product or service, according to a new survey from Opinion Research Corporation.

Only 28 percent of respondents said they had posted their own feedback online while 66 percent had checked some type of online review forum when looking to purchase a specific brand of product or service.

Internet users who read online reviews are willing to spend around 20 percent more for services receiving an "Excellent," or 5-star, rating than for the same service receiving a "Good," or 4-star, rating, according to a new study from comScore.

Holiday shoppers are increasingly looking to online ratings and reviews to make decisions about their offline purchases according to Bazaarvoice

Bazaarvoice data revealed an increase in ratings and review activity for the week of November 19-26,2007, with a peak on Thanksgiving evening as shoppers prepared for Black Friday. Bazaarvoice said it served 1,400 ratings and reviews per second at the peak, which took place at 9:25 pm EST on Thursday, November 22.

Wal-Mart today said it is adding customer reviews and ratings on its Web site.

If nine out of ten people prefer cookies over rice cakes, gum over chewing tobacco, or champagne over sulfuric acid, haven’t you always wondered who the oddballs are?  Well, Ford’s found them, and is now using their online forum posts to promote the Mercury Mariner.

On Edmunds.com, the 1999 Daewoo Leganza received a “Consumer Rating” of 8.4 (out of a possible 10 points).  The 2002 Aston Martin DB7 only got an 8.2.  So please, please, please be careful when reading user reviews.