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How to spot fake reviews on Amazon.com
March 27, 2019, 02:29 PM
sjtillHow to spot fake reviews on Amazon.com
Here is part of a WSJ article on spotting fake reviews:
quote:
Is It Really Five Stars? How to Spot Fake Amazon Reviews
It’s on us to understand how Amazon reviews really work before we buy, and it’s on Amazon to start rethinking the star system entirely
Joanna SternDec. 20, 2018 9:00 a.m. ET
My dog loves this pet drinking fountain. He doesn’t care that it’s louder than Niagara Falls when the water level is low, and that the setup instructions were impossible to follow. Oops, this is supposed to be a positive review. So, yeah, the LED light is nice, I guess?
I’ll never actually post that, but it could have been worth money if I had. Let me explain. I visited a Facebook group called “Amazon Reviews” and was promised a full refund on a $44 Amazon purchase of a pet fountain if I did the following on the mega-retailer’s site:
1. Write a positive review.
2. Post my photos of the product.
3. Rate it five stars.
Not only is this ethically problematic, it is also against Amazon and Facebook user policies. Plenty of people don’t care, though: They’ll do it for this pet gizmo or one of the other bajillion products in these forums.
Every day, many of us search for a product on Amazon, pick a four- to five-star option and tap Buy Now. Those little yellow stars can make or break a product.
“In early 2012, the Amazon catalog grew too big, and the only way to get to the top of search results was to prove to the algorithm that your product was the best,” said Juozas Kaziukėnas, chief executive of Marketplace Pulse, a business-intelligence firm focused on e-commerce. “Most sellers realized acquiring reviews was a golden ticket.”
That five-star Amazon review? It may have been given in exchange for a free product or even cash.
That five-star Amazon review? It may have been given in exchange for a free product or even cash. Photo: Photo illustration: Laura Kammerman/The Wall Street Journal
Over the past few years, Amazon has cracked down on fake reviews as well as on incentivized reviews, where companies offer refunds to shoppers in exchange for top stars. However, my hours lurking in shady Facebook groups and combing Amazon reviews tell me both types are very much still alive and well.
It’s on us to better understand the complicated world of Amazon reviews before we make a purchase. But it’s on Amazon to start rethinking the star system entirely.
LinkBottom line is this:
You can use one of two websites that try to spot fake reviews.
Reviewmeta.comand
fakespot.comI just used reviewmeta.com (recommended by author of the article) and looked at their report card, which details items they use to look for fakes.
Give it a try.
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“Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
March 27, 2019, 03:04 PM
tatortoddthanks.
I checked one of the well-reviewed products that I recently returned. Reviewmeta didn't flag it, but fakespot certainly did.
I'm not surprised as it had fake reviews as it was piss poor during the 3 weeks I owned it.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. March 27, 2019, 03:15 PM
Skins2881Fakespot is good. I am anal and read the reviews, you can easily pick out the fake ones if you take the time. Usually I don't read any good reviews. I don't care about the good reviews, more than half the people are too stupid to identify a quality product vs a POS. The bad reviews tell you the worst aspects of the product. Also when you read the reviews and people give one star due to delivery issues or them misreading the listing I throw those reviews out.
I just had a bit of a blow up with them regarding fake reviews. Product just listed for sale that had more reviews than possible for the short period on Amazon and 95% of reviews were five stars. I got them to remove the product, but that doesn't really solve the issue. First they are one of a bunch of bad actors on there, second they just rename the company and/product and rinse and repeat.
If possible I only buy items sold by Amazon, third party vendors are very hit or miss.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis March 27, 2019, 04:41 PM
casOn Amazon or any other site, I usually only read the negative reviews. Often to see if they reenforce specific concerns I have.
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Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.
March 27, 2019, 04:44 PM
P250UA5quote:
Originally posted by cas:
On Amazon or any other site, I usually only read the negative reviews. Often to see if they reenforce specific concerns I have.
I do similar, I want to see the complaints & why people were dissatisfied, rather than hundreds (or more) of "This product is great".
The Enemy's gate is down. March 27, 2019, 04:52 PM
konata88Yea, I also seek out the negative reviews. I don't just look at the positive reviews. But the negative reviews are sometimes sketchy as well.
But I don't even look at reviews if the product has a hint of being from a PRC company (not just an American company with products made in PRC). PRC made for a PRC company - definite no for me since I don't even care for PRC made for an American company (but sometimes unavoidable)).
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book March 27, 2019, 04:54 PM
OzarkwoodsI was looking at Bluetooth ear buds one set had 5813 reviews all 5 star many had the same review statement, tag line, and poor English! Pathetic I decided to leave a one star and note this in my statement.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
March 27, 2019, 05:07 PM
RichardCHaribo Sugar Free Classic Gummi Bears reviews get a 3.5/5 Star rating on Amazon, but
Reviewmeta.com only lowers it to 3.4/5. "29% of potentially unnatural reviews removed "
Not bad.
https://reviewmeta.com/amazon/B006J1FBLM https://www.amazon.com/Haribo-...t-reviews/B006J1FBLMIma check with snopes.com next.
Hahahahahaha!
snopes says Gummi Bears are made with car wax, but that's OK. No mention of fake reviews.
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March 27, 2019, 05:54 PM
Ackksquote:
Originally posted by konata88:
Yea, I also seek out the negative reviews. I don't just look at the positive reviews. But the negative reviews are sometimes sketchy as well.
But I don't even look at reviews if the product has a hint of being from a PRC company (not just an American company with products made in PRC). PRC made for a PRC company - definite no for me since I don't even care for PRC made for an American company (but sometimes unavoidable)).
I love the idiots who leave negative reviews that have nothing to do with the actual product.
March 27, 2019, 06:01 PM
RipleyI also home in on the negative reviews. Some are valuable, a bunch are someone got a lemon or the buyer is an idiot.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun. March 27, 2019, 06:43 PM
BroadsideNothing beats the Amazon reviews for 3M nuclear duct tap.
March 27, 2019, 07:16 PM
OrgussI'll see your duct tape reviews and raise you with these television reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung...t-reviews/B00L403O8U
"I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak!" - Calvin, "Calvin & Hobbes" March 27, 2019, 07:32 PM
BisleyblackhawkI'll call you with the "Three Wolf Moon" Shirt review
...
https://www.amazon.com/Mountai...2HJ377A?pageNumber=2I will keep the "BIC Cristal Pen For Her" up my sleeve if needed...
https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cri...t-reviews/B004F9QBE6
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"we've gotta roll with the punches, learn to play all of our hunches
Making the best of what ever comes our way
Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition
Plowing straight ahead come what may
And theres a cowboy in the jungle"
Jimmy Buffet
March 27, 2019, 07:58 PM
sjtillI actually ordered a “Three Wolves Moon” T-shirt on the basis of the reviews, and it’s had all the predicted desirable effects!
_________________________
“Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
March 27, 2019, 10:41 PM
kkinaThere is a guy who among other things is a fake Navy SEAL, already outed by Don Shipley. He submitted a fake postive review of his own book, apparently unaware that Amazon appends your registered real name to reviews. I'd show it to you, but he finally took down the review.
March 28, 2019, 12:03 AM
sjtillMy daughter, who is very attentive to what she buys for her baby, has almost given up on Amazon due to so many defective and questionable items from the PRC. As noted above, there's a big difference between articles manufactured for US companies in China and the weirdly-named and -packaged stuff knocked off by Chinese companies.
_________________________
“Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
March 28, 2019, 12:15 AM
zoom6zoomI wrote a three star review and the seller contacted me to ask if I'd change it, offering me a coupon on my next purchase.
I said no, as my review wasn't subjective... they claimed their bowl was 22 ounce capacity, but you couldn't put 16 in it without it overflowing.
Later I found my review had just disappeared. they continued to list the product as a 22 ounce bowl.
I have my own style of humor. I call it Snarkasm. March 28, 2019, 07:36 AM
spike86quote:
Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
I wrote a three star review and the seller contacted me to ask if I'd change it, offering me a coupon on my next purchase.
I said no, as my review wasn't subjective... they claimed their bowl was 22 ounce capacity, but you couldn't put 16 in it without it overflowing.
Later I found my review had just disappeared. they continued to list the product as a 22 ounce bowl.
Gotta watch out for those Chinese ounces
March 28, 2019, 10:17 AM
M-11Generally I stick with 2,3,4 star reviews. Like zoom6zoom I gave a 3 star and was contacted by the seller. They whined that their business depended on 5 star reviews. I wrote back that my 5 star reviews depended on 5 star products/service.
"Common sense is wisdom with its sleeves rolled up." -Kyle Farnsworth
"Freedom of Speech does not guarantee freedom from consequences." -Mike Rowe
"Democracies aren't overthrown, they're given away." -George Lucas March 28, 2019, 08:48 PM
cparktdquote:
Originally posted by Ackks:
I love the idiots who leave negative reviews that have nothing to do with the actual product.
Yea, like shipping damage.
Endeavor to persevere.