{
  "title": "Google review replies and removal: a time-order and rounding audit",
  "version": "1.0",
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "article_url": "https://reviewsboost.ca/google-review-replies-removal-bias-study.html",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "source": {
    "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
    "publisher": "Localo",
    "source_published": "2026-05-29",
    "checked": "2026-10-27",
    "capture_sha256": "3a4f5051be6e999f87168b151bb13b17e23162134cde4f08e5857f71f1b7a273",
    "study_deleted_reviews": 335520,
    "study_profiles": 22292,
    "source_window": "November 2023 to January 2026",
    "rows": [
      [
        "Under 1 hour",
        22390,
        49,
        32.4,
        0,
        3600
      ],
      [
        "1-24 hours",
        71196,
        19,
        36.4,
        3600,
        86400
      ],
      [
        "1-5 days",
        47687,
        50,
        24.0,
        86400,
        432000
      ],
      [
        "5-10 days",
        13142,
        167,
        2.8,
        432000,
        864000
      ],
      [
        "10+ days",
        38145,
        311,
        0.0,
        864000,
        null
      ],
      [
        "No reply",
        133664,
        20,
        38.9,
        null,
        null
      ]
    ],
    "model_notes": [
      "Reply-bin second boundaries are an explicit mathematical interpretation of the source labels, not verified raw timestamps.",
      "For the timing model only, assume the recorded reply belongs to the same review and precedes its recorded removal strictly: R < T.",
      "Days are modelled as 86400 elapsed seconds; source timestamp resolution and boundary convention are not supplied.",
      "For count intervals only, assume percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1 percentage point with half-up ties; the publisher rounding rule is unknown.",
      "No-reply rows have no reply-time interval and are not assigned a temporal guarantee.",
      "Counts describe selected deleted reviews, not every posted or reported review."
    ]
  },
  "summary": {
    "source_cohorts": 6,
    "model_cells": 18,
    "total_records": 24,
    "source_table_count_sum": 326224,
    "study_deleted_total": 335520,
    "difference_from_study_total": 9296,
    "difference_percent_of_study_total": 2.770624701955174,
    "conditional_count_min_sum": 96837,
    "conditional_count_max_sum": 97138
  },
  "cohorts": [
    {
      "record_id": "R01",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "Under 1 hour",
      "source_review_count": 22390,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 49,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 32.4,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": 0,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": 3600,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 7244,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 7265,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    },
    {
      "record_id": "R02",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "1-24 hours",
      "source_review_count": 71196,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 19,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 36.4,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": 3600,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": 86400,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 25880,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 25950,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    },
    {
      "record_id": "R03",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "1-5 days",
      "source_review_count": 47687,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 50,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 24.0,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": 86400,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": 432000,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 11422,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 11468,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    },
    {
      "record_id": "R04",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "5-10 days",
      "source_review_count": 13142,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 167,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 2.8,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": 432000,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": 864000,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 362,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 374,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    },
    {
      "record_id": "R05",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "10+ days",
      "source_review_count": 38145,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 311,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 0.0,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": 864000,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": null,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 0,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 19,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    },
    {
      "record_id": "R06",
      "record_type": "source_deleted_review_aggregate_with_conditional_rounding_bounds",
      "reply_label": "No reply",
      "source_review_count": 133664,
      "source_median_lifespan_days": 20,
      "source_removed_within_7_days_percent": 38.9,
      "model_reply_lower_seconds": null,
      "model_reply_upper_exclusive_seconds": null,
      "conditional_7_day_count_min": 51929,
      "conditional_7_day_count_max": 52062,
      "source_url": "https://localo.com/blog/review-velocity-study",
      "rate_population": "Selected deleted reviews in source row, not all submitted reviews"
    }
  ],
  "eligibility": [
    {
      "record_id": "E01-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R01",
      "reply_label": "Under 1 hour",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E01-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R01",
      "reply_label": "Under 1 hour",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E01-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R01",
      "reply_label": "Under 1 hour",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E02-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R02",
      "reply_label": "1-24 hours",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E02-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R02",
      "reply_label": "1-24 hours",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E02-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R02",
      "reply_label": "1-24 hours",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E03-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R03",
      "reply_label": "1-5 days",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "incompatible_if_reply_precedes_removal",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E03-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R03",
      "reply_label": "1-5 days",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E03-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R03",
      "reply_label": "1-5 days",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E04-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R04",
      "reply_label": "5-10 days",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "incompatible_if_reply_precedes_removal",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E04-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R04",
      "reply_label": "5-10 days",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "only_part_of_reply_interval_precedes_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E04-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R04",
      "reply_label": "5-10 days",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "all_reply_times_in_interval_precede_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E05-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R05",
      "reply_label": "10+ days",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "incompatible_if_reply_precedes_removal",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E05-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R05",
      "reply_label": "10+ days",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "incompatible_if_reply_precedes_removal",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E05-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R05",
      "reply_label": "10+ days",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "only_part_of_reply_interval_precedes_horizon",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E06-1",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R06",
      "reply_label": "No reply",
      "horizon_days": 1,
      "horizon_seconds": 86400,
      "state": "not_applicable_no_reply",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E06-7",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R06",
      "reply_label": "No reply",
      "horizon_days": 7,
      "horizon_seconds": 604800,
      "state": "not_applicable_no_reply",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    },
    {
      "record_id": "E06-30",
      "record_type": "conditional_time_order_model_not_observed",
      "source_row": "R06",
      "reply_label": "No reply",
      "horizon_days": 30,
      "horizon_seconds": 2592000,
      "state": "not_applicable_no_reply",
      "condition": "Same review; reply strictly before removal; stated bin-boundary interpretation. No event probability implied."
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "No raw review timestamps, event histories, still-visible review comparison group or causal estimate.",
    "Source table row-count sum differs from the broader declared study total; the public table does not explain every record-level inclusion decision.",
    "Timing classifications require the explicit R < T assumption and bin interpretation.",
    "Rounding bounds require an unverified nearest-tenth rounding assumption.",
    "No Canadian-specific cohort or client service outcomes were measured.",
    "The analysis does not estimate report-processing time or removal success."
  ]
}