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Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

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Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#141

Post by sithadmin »

post_break wrote: post #87
DiabloD3 wrote: post #66

I see no reason why to buy anything but Anker. I once tried to purposely destroy an Anker MicroUSB cable (bought a 5 pack that had three 3ft, one 6ft, one 1ft, didn't need the 1ft), by grabbing the head of it with clamping pliers and yanking the fuck out of it with the cable wrapped around my hand, and bending it to near 180 degrees repeatedly for about 5 minutes. I could not kill it without straight up taking wire c…

Aukey now rivals Anker, if not exceeds. Check them out.

So far they've been exceeding when it comes to QuickCharge 2.0 devices.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#142

Post by vidarh »

mikeash wrote: post #117
maxerickson wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, no pitchfork in hand here, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Amazon didn't appreciate that sort of activity.

For sure. I'd hope they'll be self-aware enough to realize that it would be crappy to yank the reviews or punish the reviewer for recommending another store where the products aren't broken when Amazon is full of broken products. But I wouldn't be very confident of that.

I don't think Amazon worries about bad reviews, as long as they don't see only bad reviews. Bad reviews create trust in the reviews: Seeing bad reviews makes me reasonably certain that products with problems will get called out most of the time.

And often I end up buying products with bad reviews in preference to those with perfect reviews because bad reviews gives me faith a product has been reviewed "enough" by real people, and often the issues brought up are not important to me.

I'd say that for Amazon, these reviews are fantastic: Next time I want a type C cable, I'll check his reviews and buy one of the ones he gives good reviews - probably at Amazon. This is like popping into that store where you trust the staff because they talk shit about "their" own products when they're no good even if it means steering you to less profitable products.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#143

Post by cbsmith »

radiorental wrote: post #25

What I find interesting here is that Benson is essentially using his employer as a reputation guarantor. I guess depending on the company's HR that could fall either way of a) This is great, we're getting nice PR b) Mr Benson, we need to have a quiet word about what it is you do here and what Google is not in the business of. Really interesting. edit: I assumed this is part of his job. I just find the publishing of t…

At least for me, the Google name adds zero credibility (nobody can tell if you are a dog, or unemployed, on the Internet). The detail of his reviews, and their high rating, is what sells it for me. That there is a plausible explanation for why he's doing it is just icing on the cake.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#144

Post by ocdtrekkie »

Johnny555 wrote: post #120
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Arguably though, if a USB cable is $20 through Google, and $2 through an off-brand, I may want two of them, but buy six and consider any that don't work or stop working disposable. And still be saving money over buying from Google. Consumers need to be aware of the risks they take when they buy bargain brand, but it doesn't negate the benefits of having bargain brand available.

Unless, of course, the $2 cable over-charges your $600 phone and the battery explodes or it burns out the charging circuit, then it's a false economy.

That's a risk. But for the millions of people who successfully use $2 cables every single day, many of whom can't afford $20 cables, they're pretty glad $2 cables exist.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#145

Post by poizan42 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #74
bkmartin wrote: post #17

The average consumer has no idea if one of these cables will actually do what they proclaim. The only way to really know is when other customers review the product, which we know is barely useful most of the time due to fraudulent reviews. Great job on the part of this Google engineer for writing such clear and technical reviews of the products. Now that an expert has called some of these cables out as not adhering t…

Amazon users do rely heavily on reviews, generally. I think with the Google engineers' reviews promoted to the top by the number of people who have marked them as helpful, market forces will finish the job. Few people will buy them, and those that do will have done so against solid advice. Amazon, of course, can delist things or not at their pleasure.

Or the seller creates a new account and keep selling the cables until another bad review. And then does the same again and so on.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#146

Post by nuclearghost »

thomnottom wrote: post #129
Roodgorf wrote: post #84

My favorite is the only other review on his profile from years ago of the Orange Box soundtrack.

I was scrolling through the comments thinking "No one else here noticed his rave review for the Orange Box Soundtrack?"

Surprised none of the USB cables were a triumph

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#147

Post by kajecounterhack »

DiabloD3 wrote: post #66

I see no reason why to buy anything but Anker. I once tried to purposely destroy an Anker MicroUSB cable (bought a 5 pack that had three 3ft, one 6ft, one 1ft, didn't need the 1ft), by grabbing the head of it with clamping pliers and yanking the fuck out of it with the cable wrapped around my hand, and bending it to near 180 degrees repeatedly for about 5 minutes. I could not kill it without straight up taking wire c…

Anker++, their chargers and cables are super solid. Most of mine are from them.

Aukey is similar, I recommend them also based on the two chargers from them I own. I don't have any cables though so YMMV.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#148

Post by vacri »

radiorental wrote: post #133
eloisant wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually this post explains why he's doing that: https://plus.google.com/+BensonLeung/posts/LH4PPgVrKVN It kind of makes sense: he worked on products that use USB-C (Pixel laptops), but if the market is littered with bad cables USB-C will have a bad image which will be bad for the products he worked on. So what he's doing is in the interest in his employer, and for the benefit of the products he worked on. He's not d…

I understand the rationale, but isn't the current s.o.p. to ship a good cable with the product? "if the market is littered with bad cables USB-C will have a bad image which will be bad for the products he worked on." I don't buy this tail wagging the dog argument. Sorry.

People frequently buy multiple cables for various reasons. For example, I have three microUSB cables for my phone, which only came with one - for charging at my home computer, work computer, and in my laptop bag.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#149

Post by vidarh »

radiorental wrote: post #133
eloisant wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually this post explains why he's doing that: https://plus.google.com/+BensonLeung/posts/LH4PPgVrKVN It kind of makes sense: he worked on products that use USB-C (Pixel laptops), but if the market is littered with bad cables USB-C will have a bad image which will be bad for the products he worked on. So what he's doing is in the interest in his employer, and for the benefit of the products he worked on. He's not d…

I understand the rationale, but isn't the current s.o.p. to ship a good cable with the product? "if the market is littered with bad cables USB-C will have a bad image which will be bad for the products he worked on." I don't buy this tail wagging the dog argument. Sorry.

I don't see why shipping a good cable with the product makes a difference. My house is full of USB chargers, because I want to be able to charge multiple devices several places in the living room as well as our bedrooms. Then there's the portable battery packs etc.

One cable per device is insufficient for a lot of us.

Re: Google engineer writing Amazon reviews on USB-C cables that don't work

#150

Post by ctdonath »

jarek wrote: post #82
ctdonath wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a Y-Combinator startup waiting to happen.

How will any company, especially a VC funded company, avoid problems and dilemmas seen by other online-submitted-reviews companies like Yelp that basically turn the company into either a fake review haven or a protection racket?

By focusing on what makes this reviewer notable: he's a verified buyer, systematically reviewing products, and with a resume to show he's worth listening to. We don't want reviews from any & all yahoos who sign up, we want reviews from vetted people who have a professional interest in checking numerous products with appropriate knowledge, and can write meaningful descriptions suitable for general audiences.

Personally, I'd very much like to see such a thing applied particularly to high-knockoff topics like USB cables (see lead post), camera batteries, printer ink, and other items where a lot of companies are providing a lot of low-price alternatives (some quality, some dangerously bad) to high-dollar brand-name accessories & consumables. For some there's WAY too many options, with HUGE variation of price & quality, to do anything other than either "buy cheap & popular and hope" or "pay thru the nose but it will work".

FWIW: if you sign up as an advertising associate https://affiliate-program.amazon.com with Amazon you can get up to 10% from every link you provide that turns into an actual sale. Build a website featuring appropriately curated reviews linking to Amazon and you could make a good buck - IF you can get enough readers. Over the years I've made a couple hundred dollars doing so, just by posting links when relevant to blog comments. Focused as a business? I'd expect good returns if done right, plenty to hire good unbiased reviewers.

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