topic Re: Product Reviews ... Really? in Suggestion Box

Product Reviews ... Really?

SarahW — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:02:50 GMT

I often use the product reviews and in fact have written several myself. For the most part they are very helpful as far as product fit and quality. I have one concern about them, however. I don't know why QVC cannot screen the reviews properly and set up the review system to ONLY allow reviews where the customer purchase is verified.

I have seen situations where a product is obviously a dud from several "authentic-sounding" reviews, then a flurry of 5-star reviews for the product from brand-new reviewers whose SINGLE review is the 5-star they posted for the dud product. A good example of this is the recent Orion drone TSV from December, item E230105. From the reviews, it's either total junk or, from the one-hit wonder reviewers, a 5-Star Plus!

I realize that there actually are customers who have made a single glowing review, but for that Orion drone it is almost funny how obvious the "5-Star" phoney reviews are. I think if QVC is going to provide a review system, it should require that the product has actually been purchased by the reviewer. I know this can't be difficult because other online retailers don't allow a review without purchase verification.

Then there are the "I can't wait to get it" reviews, etc. that aren't really reviews at all. Why does the QVC screening process allow them to be posted?

So that's my beef.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

CareBears — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:16:59 GMT

@SarahW I have posted less than favorable reviews for products that never made it to the "Posted" status?

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Kachina624 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:23:10 GMT

I both post and read lots of reviews. I post reviews on QVC products I've bought elsewhere occasionally. I often buy Alegria shoes from their website and post a review on the shoe when it appears on the Q since people always wonder about sizing.

i do wonder about the "I know I'm going to love (hate) this item" who obviously haven't received it, especially since these reviews are supposedly screened. Yet when they're reported, nothing happens.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

grandma2pkmh — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:26:48 GMT

@SarahW I totally agree. Just today I was looking for reviews on a fairly new Cook's Essentials item. There was only one review, a 5 star, which began with - I can't wait to get this. Maybe she did buy it, but at least wait until you get it before reviewing.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Jaspersmom — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:18:27 GMT

@SarahW wrote:
I often use the product reviews and in fact have written several myself.   For the most part they are very helpful as far as product fit and quality. I have one concern about them, however.   I don't know why QVC cannot screen the reviews properly and set up the review system to ONLY allow reviews where the customer purchase is verified.

I have seen situations where a product is obviously a dud from several "authentic-sounding" reviews, then a flurry of 5-star reviews for the product from brand-new reviewers whose SINGLE review is the 5-star they posted for the dud product. A good example of this is the recent Orion drone TSV from December, item E230105.   From the reviews, it's either total junk or, from the one-hit wonder reviewers, a 5-Star Plus!

I realize that there actually are customers who have made a single glowing review, but for that Orion drone it is almost funny how obvious the "5-Star" phoney reviews are.   I think if QVC is going to provide a review system, it should require that the product has actually been purchased by the reviewer. I know this can't be difficult because other online retailers don't allow a review without purchase verification.

Then there are the "I can't wait to get it" reviews, etc. that aren't really reviews at all. Why does the QVC screening process allow them to be posted?

So that's my beef.

I am always skeptical about many of the reviews, especially when it is obvious the review is about a whole different item.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

kelsey17 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:35:14 GMT

@SarahW wrote:
I often use the product reviews and in fact have written several myself.   For the most part they are very helpful as far as product fit and quality. I have one concern about them, however.   I don't know why QVC cannot screen the reviews properly and set up the review system to ONLY allow reviews where the customer purchase is verified.

I have seen situations where a product is obviously a dud from several "authentic-sounding" reviews, then a flurry of 5-star reviews for the product from brand-new reviewers whose SINGLE review is the 5-star they posted for the dud product. A good example of this is the recent Orion drone TSV from December, item E230105.   From the reviews, it's either total junk or, from the one-hit wonder reviewers, a 5-Star Plus!

I realize that there actually are customers who have made a single glowing review, but for that Orion drone it is almost funny how obvious the "5-Star" phoney reviews are.   I think if QVC is going to provide a review system, it should require that the product has actually been purchased by the reviewer. I know this can't be difficult because other online retailers don't allow a review without purchase verification.

Then there are the "I can't wait to get it" reviews, etc. that aren't really reviews at all. Why does the QVC screening process allow them to be posted?

So that's my beef.

Yes....very interesting.....

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

StraytoStay — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:46:23 GMT

One of the Diamonique line bracelets that had a sliding adjustable tie closure, somebody posted a review that "it doesn't look like anything a fine jewelry store would carry and who would buy it?", so obviously they didn't. I also hate reviews that just chat like,"i like it and i bought one for me and another for so and so"--those are so unhelpful & always mark them as such, but really QVC shouldn't post non reviews.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Kachina624 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:22:20 GMT

@CareBears wrote:
@SarahW I have posted less than favorable reviews for products that never made it to the "Posted" status?

@Care bears Read the Standards for Writing Reviews and you'll probably figure out why. I've posted many 1-star reviews that were published.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

sassenach1 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:34:47 GMT

Totally agree with the OP. Amazon has verified reviews. The hotel industry does, too. There are probably more companies/industries that do.

It it would seem to be a fairly easy fix for Q. Turn off the review option. Only make it available in Order History.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

sandraskates — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 02:58:25 GMT

I know in years past I tried to post a couple of reviews for some Honora items my hubby bought for me. I could not.

I got a message stating that I could not review the item because I did not purchase it, so at that time there must have been some sort of checking confirming that the reviewer actually bought the item.

I haven't tried that again; I only post what I've purchased myself.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

MyGirlsMom — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 03:06:18 GMT

I hate the reviews where people complain about not receiving the item yet How is that a review?

My all time favorite QVC review was a woman poster who wrote that she returned a dress because her husband didn't care for that shade of blue...

*facepalm*

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

febe1 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 03:48:07 GMT

HSN does not permit a review until you have had the item for I believe it's five days, to insure you've given yourself enough time to review appropriately.

I've given five stars to an item that was never posted. I assume there was some rule or other I was not aware I had broken. No biggie. I put a lot of credence in reviews, always reading low rating to high rating. If there are a few definite poor reviews regarding my particular concerns, I don't purchase.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

GCR18 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 04:27:05 GMT

OP, I totally agree. If I'm really interested in an opinion, I read all the reviews and then make my decision. I love the ones that say it looked like a dress on me, I'm 4'11. The title of the garment says tunic and the click here measurements say length 35". I could have told you it would be too long. I could go on....

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

noodleann — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 04:49:06 GMT

I have to agree that allowing reviews of products people haven't received doesn't serve the whole process. So are reviews of different products made by the same company, or older versions of the product that's for sale. Manufacturers are constantly tweaking their standards, materials, processes, ingredients, etc., so what someone bought five years or even one year ago may not be the same. Often those reviews are raves, but sometimes they fault a maker for a problem that's been fixed, which is not fair.

But AFAIC, QVC is far, far better than Amazon, where sellers/manufacturers can essentially buy reviews with their sample and discount programs, where they trade savings or freebies for reviews. Those reviews are rarely less than 5s, longwinded, and you just can't trust them. I downrate them and won't buy those products. If everyone did that, they'd stop doing it.

Sadly, Walmart has taken a page from the same book and imports reviews from the manufacturers' websites. Often there, too, the products being reviewed were free samples or part of some incentive program--not the way you get honest feedback.

A bit off topic, but yet another reason I appreciate QVC is they usually include good measurements with their clothing listings. I was looking at LL Bean online last night, where there were no lengths given on women's sweaters. Sorry, but "rides low on hip" doesn't cut it. Whose hip? For the prices they charge, the least they could do is measure their goods.

Back to QVC, it's to their benefit if they maintain high standards on reviews. If people come to believe the feedback is padded and untrustworthy, online sales will take a hit.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

NickNack — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 18:28:40 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
I have to agree that allowing reviews of products people haven't received doesn't serve the whole process. So are reviews of different products made by the same company, or older versions of the product that's for sale. Manufacturers are constantly tweaking their standards, materials, processes, ingredients, etc., so what someone bought five years or even one year ago may not be the same. Often those reviews are raves, but sometimes they fault a maker for a problem that's been fixed, which is not fair.

But AFAIC, QVC is far, far better than Amazon, where sellers/manufacturers can essentially buy reviews with their sample and discount programs, where they trade savings or freebies for reviews. Those reviews are rarely less than 5s, longwinded, and you just can't trust them. I downrate them and won't buy those products. If everyone did that, they'd stop doing it.

Sadly, Walmart has taken a page from the same book and imports reviews from the manufacturers' websites. Often there, too, the products being reviewed were free samples or part of some incentive program--not the way you get honest feedback.

A bit off topic, but yet another reason I appreciate QVC is they usually include good measurements with their clothing listings. I was looking at LL Bean online last night, where there were no lengths given on women's sweaters. Sorry, but "rides low on hip" doesn't cut it. Whose hip? For the prices they charge, the least they could do is measure their goods.

Back to QVC, it's to their benefit if they maintain high standards on reviews. If people come to believe the feedback is padded and untrustworthy, online sales will take a hit.

@noodleann I got an e-mail from Amazon on October 26. They no longer permit posting reviews in exchange for a free or discounted copy of the product. You are requested to report it to Amazon if you are offered a product in exchange for a review. I was glad to read that they are now doing this.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 19:20:48 GMT

Don't bother reading the standards to try and figure out why a review didn't get posted. It's a waste of time. I think QVC randomly goes through and allows some reviews and discards other reviews because there is no rhyme or reason to them. I've seen posted reviews that violate just about every standard.

Personally I don't bother reading reviews anymore because I find more of them useless than helpful. Many of them are written by people who obviously didn't buy the item or they just rec'd the item, never used it, wore it, etc. but ran to the computer to review it.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

ECBG — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:40:12 GMT

I've found it very useful when the bar graph shows if something is running large or small. Issac's tops and jacket aren't consistant.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Kachina624 — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 23:05:43 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
Don't bother reading the standards to try and figure out why a review didn't get posted. It's a waste of time. I think QVC randomly goes through and allows some reviews and discards other reviews because there is no rhyme or reason to them. I've seen posted reviews that violate just about every standard.

Personally I don't bother reading reviews anymore because I find more of them useless than helpful. Many of them are written by people who obviously didn't buy the item or they just rec'd the item, never used it, wore it, etc. but ran to the computer to review it.

@Lipstick diva Most reviews are written by people who are consciencely trying to provide good information to others who may be contemplating a purchase. How the others get posted, I don't know but fortunately they are few Not for a moment do I believe QVC arbitrarily discards reviews.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 02:21:07 GMT

So that would mean if someone bought it for you from QVC, you wouldn't be allowed to review it because you didn't purchase it?

I used to review everything, but not any more. This is based on some of the strange reviews I've read, and not my laziness.

Re: Product Reviews ... Really?

TY — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 14:03:31 GMT

I read reviews with a grain of salt. Reviews are helpful in the aggregate when there is a big enough sample of reviews. Fake reviews are easy to spot too -- those that are seeding positive reviews are easy to spot. I don't post reviews on QVC.com since I didn't buy the item from QVC, but I will post a review on these boards if I have bought something that is sold on QVC also.

Amazon isn't that careful about screening reviews when it comes to products that are connected to people in politics, they don't seem to notice or remove obvious fake reviews in a timely manner, but that's neither here nor there. I find QVC customer reviews helpful when it's about shoe sizing and shoe width and fit.