topic Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-( in Community Chat

Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Montana — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:59:08 GMT

I wish Amazon would not allow these types of reviews. Sometimes, most are by people who say their comments are honest even though they did not have to pay full price.

it just gives me an uneasy feeling.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

MaggieMack — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:00:55 GMT

I bought some Turmeric on Amazon once and got a card with the shipment that said I could receive a free bottle if I gave a five-star review. Disgusting! Not buying that brand again.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

HappyDaze — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:12:38 GMT

It has been going on for years now and Amazon is actually behind most of them since they are the ones sending people the free items so it won't be going away. I just ignore the reviews of those who get it free.

If you notice, there are quite a few items that have alot of reviews and the majority of those are from the people who got it free. The strategy behind this is to get products that aren't selling too well to get on the board with reviews because Amazon has done marketing studies and found that that products with reviews (Good or bad!) sell better than those with low to no reviews.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

SusieQ_2 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:17:35 GMT

This reminds me of Goodreads where I read that the book was given to the reader in exchange for their review. They didn't actually say it was in exchange for a good review, but I wonder how many free books are offered to people who give bad, or even honest, reviews.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing Goodreads of any wrongdoing because I honestly don't know exactly how it works, but I do wonder.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Moonchilde — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:36:16 GMT

@SusieQ_2 wrote:
This reminds me of Goodreads where I read that the book was given to the reader in exchange for their review. They didn't actually say it was in exchange for a good review, but I wonder how many free books are offered to people who give bad, or even honest, reviews.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing Goodreads of any wrongdoing because I honestly don't know exactly how it works, but I do wonder.

It existed on Amazon way before they bought Goodreads. It's common knowledge on the Amazon Kindle forums that 50-80% of the book reviews are dishonest, paid for reviews, one way or another, or by family, friends and the authors themselves. Amazon publicizes that they're trying to stamp it out, but not trying very hard. They are better about non-book items.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

SusieQ_2 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:42:37 GMT

"It existed on Amazon way before they bought Goodreads. It's common knowledge on the Amazon Kindle forums that 50-80% of the book reviews are dishonest, paid for reviews, one way or another, or by family, friends and the authors themselves. Amazon publicizes that they're trying to stamp it out, but not trying very hard. They are better about non-book items." ~ Moonchilde

Well, there you go. I'm not on the Amazon Kindle forums so that common knowledge was not common to me. The only time I even considered the reviews might be dishonest was after reading of the free books. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Another new name Sue — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:56:03 GMT

I'm glad you brought this up because I've noticed it too.

I've been shopping on Amazon for a hiking stick, comparing features, reading reviews. It's just bizarre the numbers of reviews provided by people stating that they got the product at a discount and are providing an honest review.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Montana — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:43:56 GMT

Not only is this practice dishonest but it can be dangerous as well as disappointing.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Plaid Pants2 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:47:06 GMT

I hate those "reviews" too.

The few times that I do post a review, I try to remember to say in my review that I did not get the item for free or reduced price in exchange for my review.

I don't know if that helps other fellow shoppers, or not.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

flickerbulb — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:55:17 GMT

I was on Amazon the other day looking for a craft item. Every single review stated that they received the item for free or a discounted price.

I think this is a shady practice, whether they "reveal" how they got the product or not.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Another new name Sue — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:57:06 GMT

Do you think QVC will start offering discounts for "honest" reviews? (just kidding)

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

HappyDaze — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:03:12 GMT

The program that Amazon provides customers with free goods for "honest" reviews is called Amazon VIne. Here is a link for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help

Here is an interesting article from NPR about Amazon's program:

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/10/29/241372607/top-reviewers-on-amazon-get-tons-of-free-stuff

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

sam96 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:18:26 GMT

There are times I wish I could separate these reviews, both to read them by themselves and to read the others separately.

In some categories the numbers of these reviews seem to be disproportionate!

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Nuttmeg — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:33:46 GMT

@sam96 wrote:
There are times I wish I could separate these reviews, both to read them by themselves and to read the others separately.

In some categories the numbers of these reviews seem to be disproportionate!

If you have a problem with Amazon, please let them know. This brand has great CS.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

NickNack — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:49:01 GMT

@HappyDaze wrote:
The program that Amazon provides customers with free goods for "honest" reviews is called Amazon VIne. Here is a link for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help

Here is an interesting article from NPR about Amazon's program:

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/10/29/241372607/top-reviewers-on-amazon-get-tons-of-free-stuff

@HappyDaze Thanks for posting links for the info about Vine and also the article from NPR. I found the article from NPR particularly interesting.

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

HappyDaze — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:51:08 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
@HappyDaze wrote:
The program that Amazon provides customers with free goods for "honest" reviews is called Amazon VIne. Here is a link for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help

Here is an interesting article from NPR about Amazon's program:

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/10/29/241372607/top-reviewers-on-amazon-get-tons-of-free-stuff

@HappyDaze Thanks for posting links for the info about Vine and also the article from NPR. I found the article from NPR particularly interesting.

@NickNack you are welcome! I first learned about this "vine" program when I heard that NPR show a few years back. I had no idea that they did that but it put a bad taste in my mouth and made me more particular about which reviews on Amazon I use to make a decision on a product (if at all).

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

Another new name Sue — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:33:27 GMT

@HappyDaze It's too bad, isn't it? Sometimes they seem to outnumber the legitimate reviews. Makes it difficult to select a product. At least Q doesn't do that!

Re: Amazon: Reviews in exchange for discounted products :-(

HappyDaze — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:40:50 GMT

@Another new name Sue wrote:
@HappyDaze It's too bad, isn't it? Sometimes they seem to outnumber the legitimate reviews. Makes it difficult to select a product. At least Q doesn't do that!

@Another new name Sue oh I've read some that ONLY have reviews from those that got it free! In fact, I just read one yesterday. Like I said, the studies have shown that items with reviews (even if they are bad reviews!) are the ones that get sold the most so if items have low to no reviews, Amazon will send them to people in exchange for their reviews so that those items get "on the map" so to speak and will start selling more. So when I see an item that all it has is reviews (or the majority) from those who got it free, I skip the item. I'm not playing that game. It is rare that I've seen a BAD review from someone who got the item free. I've seen some okay reviews but truly bad ones are pretty rare. And I find that suspect.