Product Reviews ... Really? - Page 3

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
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.

Yes and that is one thing I know HSN has said they are trying to fix. I rec'd an HSN item as a gift, tried to review it and was denied because they had no record of me purchasing the item.

I contacted CS about it and was told that right now, the reviewer has to be the one who made the purchase. They don't want reviewers by those who haven't purchased the item but unfortunately that leaves out gift recipients.

JB116 · ‎10-12-2016

@SarahW wrote:
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.

I knowyou are using it an an example but I bought it for my son and he absolutely LOVES it. I really enjoy flying it as well. It's fun.

I did not review it because I rarely do reviews on anything but my thoughts on reviews are that if I like something and I can afford it then I buy it and can always return it if its different than expected so reviews don't mean much to me.

As far as the "new" customers making reviews, well for alot of good TSVs there are alot of new customers shopping for the first time so that would most likely also make for 1st time reviewers.

I just don't get caught up with reviews because if its clothes especially, shapes are SO different its not a good comparison.

Tantallum · ‎02-16-2011

@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.

ITA with you. For those that point out that someone pay have received as a gift or purchased somewhere else and have good info about it. The Q could solve all if they have a notation next to the reviews that are verified purchased--that way we as readers can place more weight on those verified (if we so choose).

I value the reviews when purchasing sight unseen.

there is currently a one-star review for a shrimp scampi (food product) that is clearly for the wrong product. the review mentions a cooks essentials dicer product.

Other reviews are one-star becuase "I can't buy this because you don't offer it on EZ pay" ??

and as others have mentioned, 5 star reviews for those who have purchased but not gotten it yet.

All reviews should be taken with a grain of salt no matter what, but they would be a lot more useful and reliable if verified.

Tantallum · ‎02-16-2011

@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 Can you explain this about the reviews on Amazon? I was not aware of this, it sounds so shady... Mfr's can really buy reviews??

Tantallum · ‎02-16-2011

@Kachina624 wrote:
@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.

Here are the standards for writing reviews:

Use the product before reviewing it
Focus on the product's features and be specific
Avoid timely information such as price and promotional details
Avoid information about other companies and websites
Avoid inappropriate language and attitude
Avoid personal information -- we want to protect your privacy

THere are many reviews POSTED that violate these standards. First one, 'use the product before reviewing it'. So many reviews are out there (both 1 star and 5 star), 'I won't order this because you don't offer it in petites' and 'can't wait to get this'.

There are plenty of reviews that mention things like 'so glad I could get this home on EZ pay' (promotional details)

and on and on.

The problem I have, is that they decilne some reviews for supposedly violating the standards but then they post others even though they clearly violate the standards. They need to be consistent. how much do you want to bet that they give low rated reviews a heck of a lot more scrutiny than the high rated reviews, that is in their best interest.

ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@Kachina624 wrote:
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.

I do this, as well. Sometimes QVC starts selling a product that I've been purchasing elsewhere and I will post a QVC review for it. QVC also sells a lot of different configurations of products ( a single, a set of 5, a supersize duo, etc) and I will post a review on a new configuration of products I've used before. Sometimes QVC will release something in a TSV set and then make it available on its own later and if I have the TSV set with the item, I'll review the single item.

If QVC implemented a "you must buy this item number in order for you to review the item" rule, that eliminates all those legit reviews from people like Kachina and me. HSN has the "you must purchase this item to review" policy in place and it's not always accurate. I've had several occasions where I go into my order history, find the item I ordered and want to review, clicked on the "review this item" link, and had the system tell me that I must purchase the item in order to review it. I've been unable to review several HSN purchases because that system isn't perfect, either.

If you find a review you think is inappropriate, you can report it. @Kachina624 mentioned reviews where the person says she will love the item once it arrives. I see those too and hate that. You shouldn't review something you haven't received, period. (If you don't receive an order after paying for it, you can review QVC somewhere, but please don't review an item you never received.) When I see reviews like that, I report them. I also see reviews where the person obviously reviewed the wrong item. ("I love this ring!" will be posted on a sweater or moisturizer listing, for example.) I report those, as well.

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ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@Kachina624 wrote:
@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.

Yes to this. I've posted some positive reviews that were not posted but I've had 1-star reviews posted.

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ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@Tantallum wrote:
@noodleann Can you explain this about the reviews on Amazon? I was not aware of this, it sounds so shady... Mfr's can really buy reviews??

Yes. Do a Google search for more information. This has been in the news for a few years now. I know NPR has done at least one story on it. Every year or two there's a new "Amazon is cracking down on fake reviews" story in the news.

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noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

@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.

@NickNack That's fantastic news! I have been very bothered by this practice. I guess it's too much to hope that they'd clean out all the compensated reviews, but it's a start. Thanks for letting me know.

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

NickNack just informed me that Amazon told her they're discontinuing the practice. Wish they'd told me, too, especially since I emailed them about it. But keep a sharp eye out to make sure they really have stopped allowing it. There are two giveaways, one more reliable than the other.

The first is that the reviewers say they got the product at a discount in exchange for the review, or sometimes as a "sample" or just plain free. Their reviews are often long and super detailed and they're usually written in painstaking detail. The disclaimer about the discount/freebie arrangement is usually stuck at the bottom of the review, and if you don't click "more," you won't see it.

The less reliable indicator is the strange way the copy for these items is often done. They often have tons of info, mostly in bulleted paragraphs, leading with words in upper case. Often the info isn't really what you need to know, more puffery than hard facts. Often when I scroll down, I find that at least some of the reviews are compensated, and nearly always all 5s.

The bottom line is you can't go by the stars, on any site. You have to read the reviews, and use your nose and your gut to decide whether to believe them.