Ain't It Time To Say Goodbye To Angie's List?

Whenever I read a negative review like this, I wonder whether the author took an advance short position in the company he's reviewing. It's legal -- it doesn't count as insider trading -- but it's a bit shady if true.

It's not that uncommon. It's the opposite of "pump and dump", but it has the same outcome -- those in the know benefit at the expense of naive investors.

This isn't to say the review is wrong -- it seems to be right -- but if the author has a short position, that fact might color readers' thinking.

Just speculation -- I don't know if any of this is actually so.