Live data from Hacker News

Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

blog.kevmod.com

341–350 of 499 posts

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the comment is more directed at folks who, and I noticed this weird behavior the other day myself, post tirades about the cardboard box being slightly damaged (while the goods and packaging inside are completely fine). These in particular are more akin to saying: "hey this protective outer barrier did it's job, had a scratch on the shipping label, and successfully protected the contents. The contents were IN…

The behaviour you describe would be considered normal in Japan. There it's not a sub-culture. Pretty much any Japanese buyer would consider the packaging as part-and-parcel. And they'd complain in case of defective packaging, regardless of its functional impact.

As someone who lives in Japan that’s a behavior that a loud minority of unreasonable people exhibit, but most Japanese people I know don’t mind damage from transit like most well-adjusted humans anywhere - the delivery person might point it out when you sign for the package but it’s not a big deal. It’s more important for gifts and stuff though where the presentation is part of the gesture.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#342
I've been trying my best to avoid having reviews on sites like amazon decide what I buy.

For bigger ticket items like power tools, I'll use videos from youtubers like project farm [1] who actually try to test the products. Youtubers can be bought and/or influenced [2] but it is still better than just looking at the number of stars or picking the "amazon choice" product.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GyaSfOi6fs

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#344
They also remove reviews if you point out fake SD cards. It might be up for a few days but the seller will have it removed under the reason “you didn’t purchase this item”.

I’m really close to buying, and leaving reviews all while doing a return.

Sad part is amazon knows about this. They just don’t care because they’re making money and most people won’t blame the card for being fake they’ll just assume their camera or whatever corrupted the clips.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#345
A home appliance was getting 1 star reviews in Amazon because they didn’t include customary “starter” kit of baking dishes. Nothing against the product . The reviews are also worthless. Think from the perspective of sellers. If a number generated by an algorithm that is influenced by bitter people who were pissed off by someone that day is deciding your product placement and fate. You will do whatever is required to make it right.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#346
post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A decent free option for reviews is Wirecutter from the New York Times. I've yet to buy anything that they recommended that was outright bad, and they have a surprising breadth of categories that they review. They make money through affiliate links, but they claim that the writers/reviewers have no knowledge of which companies have affiliate relationships with the Wirecutter so it doesn't bias their picks.

I do not trust their reviews for a second. I'm sure sometimes they do recommend the best thing. But can you find a single recommendation that isn't part of a major affiliate program? And just monitor any major rec page for a while and you'll see plenty of comments that are critical just vanish.

Yep and it seems rtings is finding that out too. It’s very expensive to buy retail products so you end up funneling people into amazon links, and of course there’s some bias to push the more expensive yet “reasonable” option.

That said rtings at least standardizes their tests so you can ignore the editorialized part of the review.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wrote a negative review for glass that broke by itself in the fridge 5 times (out of 6 pieces). Amazon removed it. I asked why and was sent a link by a bot-like sender. Some months back I gave a so so review on AirBNB and had it removed. I asked why, I was sent a link and cut and pasted guidelines. Responding using Reason led to being completely ignored. Then I discovered a reddit subgroup where hosts tell each oth…

Does Amazon notify you when they remove one of your reviews? I've done numerous reviews over the years and have never got such a notication, but your comment has me wondering if my reviews are still there!

They do. It’s always a catch all “violation of our policies” and very rarely a real reason.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#348

"Amazon does not accept product reviews based on anything except the product" would be a more accurate title. There is another way to review sellers - perhaps this would be a better place for reviewing a seller.

And yet half the reviews seem to be about shipping or something

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#349
post #335
post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're implying the review is about the product. If the review is about the company (e.g. a restaurant), then a 1-star review is warranted, if you feel that a company which games reviews is a 1-star company. I certainly do.

Reviews about the company or service rather than the product are a pet peeve of mine for food. I want to know if it is good food first and foremost. I could care less if the waitress gave you a dirty look when you asked that your steak be cooked well done.

What if you watched the server sneeze on the food, but it tasted delicious?

You can't separate the service part of the job from a company that offers services.

Some review systems offer breakdowns to separate these two components.

Re: Amazon disallows pointing out paid reviews

#350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the comment is more directed at folks who, and I noticed this weird behavior the other day myself, post tirades about the cardboard box being slightly damaged (while the goods and packaging inside are completely fine). These in particular are more akin to saying: "hey this protective outer barrier did it's job, had a scratch on the shipping label, and successfully protected the contents. The contents were IN…

The behaviour you describe would be considered normal in Japan. There it's not a sub-culture. Pretty much any Japanese buyer would consider the packaging as part-and-parcel. And they'd complain in case of defective packaging, regardless of its functional impact.

That's so ridiculous to me. But the Japanese are also big on robot and virtual girlfriends. To each their own.
Post reply on HN