---
title: Your Account, Saved Businesses, and Leaving Reviews - Buy it Local.US
author: webiedesign
url: https://buyitlocal.us/support/directory-users-help/your-account-saved-businesses-and-leaving-reviews
---

# Your Account, Saved Businesses, and Leaving Reviews

## Your Account, Saved Businesses, and Reviews

You can browse Buy it Local.US freely without an account. Creating one is free and takes a minute, and it unlocks a few things worth having: saving businesses you like, and leaving reviews that help your neighbors choose well.

### Why Create an Account

- **Leave reviews and ratings.** Only registered users can review, which is what keeps the reviews here worth reading
- **Save businesses** to a bookmarks list so you can find them again
- **Keep track of orders** if you buy products or offers through the site
- **Subscribe to events** you plan to attend

### Creating an Account

1. Choose **Register** from the menu
2. Enter your name, a username, your email address, and a password
3. Submit the form
4. Check your email for a confirmation message and click the link inside
5. Sign in with your new details

If the confirmation email has not arrived after a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. It is almost always there.

### If You Forget Your Password

Use the **Forgot your password** link on the login page. Enter your email address and a reset link will be sent to you. There is also a link for a forgotten username. Neither requires contacting us.

### Saving Businesses

When you are signed in, listings show an option to bookmark or save. Use it for the plumber you liked, the bakery you keep meaning to try, and the mechanic who did not overcharge you. Your saved businesses are available from your account, which is considerably more reliable than a note on the fridge.

### Leaving a Review

Reviews are the most valuable thing a directory user can contribute. To leave one:

1. Sign in to your account
2. Open the business listing
3. Find the reviews section and choose to write a review
4. Give a star rating and write your comments
5. Submit. Reviews are checked before they appear publicly, usually within a day

Note that ratings cannot be edited once submitted, so give your star rating a moment of thought before you send it.

### Writing a Review That Actually Helps

The best reviews are specific. Star ratings tell people very little on their own.

- **Say what you bought or had done.** A review of a brake job is more useful than a review of a garage
- **Say what was good or bad in concrete terms.** The quote was accurate to the dollar. The wait was forty minutes with no explanation
- **Mention the timing,** such as a busy Saturday lunch, since context matters
- **Be fair.** One slow afternoon is not a one star business
- **Keep it about the service,** not about staff appearance or personal matters
- **Leave good reviews too.** People rush to complain and forget to praise, which skews the picture for everyone

### What Not to Post

Reviews are moderated and may be removed if they contain abusive or discriminatory language, personal information about staff, accusations you cannot support, content about a different business, or anything posted by a competitor. Reviews cannot be traded for discounts or free products.

### Business Owners May Reply

Owners can respond publicly to reviews. If you left a complaint and the owner offers to put it right, that is worth taking them up on. Many problems come down to a bad day rather than a bad business.

### Reporting a Problem

If a listing has closed down, has wrong details, or contains something inappropriate, use the report option on the listing. This is how the directory stays accurate, and it takes only a moment.

### Your Privacy

Your reviews appear publicly under your display name. Your email address is not shown to other users or to businesses unless you contact them directly. For full details on what is collected and how it is used, see the [Privacy Policy](https://buyitlocal.us/privacy-policy).

### Managing Your Account

Your name, email address, and password can be changed from your user profile once signed in. Keep your email address current, since that is where confirmations and order updates are sent.

### Getting Help

If you cannot sign in, cannot post a review, or want an account closed, contact the Buy it Local.US team. More guides are in the [Support](https://buyitlocal.us/support) section.