Interesting thing to note about the BBB is that it is a federation of independent businesses with loose national control. I understand that to the consumer they look the same, but this argument is a bit disingenuous to compare the BBB, a non-profit weak national entity, with these globally internet focused ratings businesses. Each BBB region has control over only their region.^1

The BBB you might be referencing about is the BBB of LA, which no longer exists and this 2015 article mentions: https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/30/news/better-business-bureau...

That BBB was then merged into the Silicon Valley BBB, a totally different set of people and operations.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau

The BBB perfected this model long before the internet was around. I worked at a computer repair shop way-back-when and the owner called the BBB an extortion racket.

This. 100%. If you don’t pay the BBB their extortion fee they will tell anyone who asks that “you are not a member in good standing” which is technically true since you are not a member. Because you didn’t pay the fee. Legalized extortion.