PlayStupidWinStupid.com
Case File #47 – When a One‑Star Shot Blows Back: The Kim Balliette vs. WeldonPC.com Saga
TL;DR
One business buys a hosting company to save 100+ websites from going dark.
One site owner—Kim Balliette—claims her accounts were “down for days,” alleges a “screaming tantrum,” and fires off a scorching one‑star review on Yelp.
Twenty‑plus‑year veteran IT firm WeldonPC.com says: “We never even touched her site, and we refunded $45 we didn’t owe.”
Yelp says the review can stay.
Everyone else? Popcorn in hand, watching reputations, receipts, and reality collide.
Welcome to Play Stupid, Win Stupid, where questionable choices meet predictable consequences.
1. Setting the Stage
- February 2023 – The Great Rescue Purchase
Bruce… former owner of a hosting company plans to retire.
Weldon Hastings (WeldonPC.com) buys the hosting book to keep more than 100 client sites alive. - March 2023 – Enter Kim Balliette
- Operates under idbranders.com → later sweetspotbranding.com.
- Her services were part of the acquisition, but according to WeldonPC, she never requested paid work or granted access.
- Despite that, she leaves a Yelp review alleging: “DAYS of downed accounts… owner had a screaming temper tantrum… erased months of data…”
- April 2023 – The $45 Mystery Refund
WeldonPC, unsure what she’d actually purchased from the previous host, refunds $45 “just to be nice.”
2. The Two Stories Side‑by‑Side
| Kim Balliette’s Yelp Allegations | WeldonPC.com’s Rebuttal |
|---|---|
| Accounts were transferred “without consent.” | Every site in the acquisition was notified; no service was altered without opt‑in. |
| “Days of downed accounts.” | WeldonPC never touched her DNS or email; no tickets opened by Kim. |
| Owner had a “screaming temper tantrum.” | No phone records, tickets, or witnesses substantiate any such call. |
| “Erased months of data.” | WeldonPC never had credentials; impossible to delete what they couldn’t reach. |
| Paid work not delivered. | She never paid WeldonPC; refund issued for an old providers invoice “to end confusion.” |
One side cites chaos; the other shows zero paper trail.
3. Yelp’s Judgment Call
- WeldonPC flags the review citing conflict of interest (reviewer markets web services).
- Yelp replies: “Doesn’t violate our guidelines. Case closed.”
Lesson: the internet’s referee carries a whistle, not a gavel.
4. Play Stupid — Win Stupid Moments
| # | Move | Why It’s “PSWS” |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post a public, unverifiable rant instead of opening a support ticket. | Turns a solvable tech hiccup into permanent SEO baggage—for both sides. |
| 2 | Skip due‑diligence when accusing a 20‑year‑old firm of data loss. | Receipts > Rhetoric. |
| 3 | Yelp’s auto‑response: “Buy ads!” hours after denying moderation. | Maybe read the room before pitching $300 credits. |
| 4 | Business owners who think flagging once = guaranteed takedown. | Platform ≠ courtroom; prepare evidence or live with the review. |
5. Take‑Aways for Non‑Stupid Readers
- Document or Ditch the Complaint
Screenshots, logs, timestamps. No proof? No post. - Check for Conflicts
If you sell related services, your “review” might look like sabotage. - Resolve Privately First
A five‑minute call beats a five‑year Google cache. - Platforms Aren’t Omniscient
Yelp, Google, BBB—moderators default to leave it up without concrete violations. - Reputation Is Compound Interest
WeldonPC’s decades of positive feedback largely dilute one rogue star. Build your cushion.
6. Where It Stands
- WeldonPC continues business as usual, leaning on 20 years of good will.
- Kim Balliette retains her review; potential clients can Google the counter‑story all shockingly under a new name!
- Yelp keeps both the critique and the ad‑pitch emails rolling.
- Play Stupid, Win Stupid archives another cautionary tale for the digital age.
Final Word
Before you nuke someone’s reputation online, remember:
Evidence talks, emotions type. Choose which one you’d rather be judged by.
— PSWS Editorial Team
Got your own “Play Stupid, Win Stupid” story? Drop us a line—just bring receipts.
Want this article Removed? Simple. Pay the $45 fee that a small business is due. Delete your bogus yelp review.
