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Amazon Dark Patterns

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Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#271

Post by always_good »

DenisM wrote: post #232
always_good wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I confronted someone who left this sort of my review on my mobile app to ask why they gave me one star if they were so pleased. It was the only review under five stars. They said that they wanted their review to appear in the "top negative review" column since it didn't have a shot at the "top positive review" column. I was dumbfounded.

I had a similar story - user said that even though their review is wrong, "I'll let it stay because I don't feel like changing it". Really makes you question what is going on in the heads of people around you.

I noticed my ex-girlfriend rating our Uber driver 3/5 stars once we arrived at the airport. I asked her what was wrong with him. She said he was fine but it was just an average ride, nothing exceptional. And that she's only given out one 4/5 and zero 5/5's.

Not her fault. What choice do you have but to assign your own arbitrary meanings to each star, and how aren't those going to vary from person to person?

I never looked at 5-star rating systems the same.

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#272

Post by gideon_b »

virtualritz wrote: post #62

I was looking for a 2nd USB C charger for my new MacBook and found one[1]. It had 378 5 star, 'verified purchase' reviews. All filed on July the 12th, 2018! I reported this to Amazon via Twitter on July the 18th [2] (Sorry, German). I checked yesterday and despite Amazon promising to look into this, all reviews where still there. So I tweeted to them again and, at last, they're deleted today. But why is this not dete…

The company makes 378 real purchases then mails 378 real products to random addresses scattered throughout the US. This allows them to leave verified reviews.

There's a whole industry around this - The Reply All podcast interviewed people who make these reviews. They talk about the economics of reviews and Amazon's reluctance to admit there is a problem.

https://www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/124

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#274

Post by alexwilliamsca »

phyzome wrote: post #270
alexwilliamsca wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've noticed this as well. The trick is to _remove your credit card_ from your Amazon account. It significantly reduces the "traps" and prevents them from automatically subscribing you to Prime. I now purchase Amazon Gift cards instead (also, free shipping when using a gift card).

Oh hmm, the gift cards thing -- are the gift cards no-overhead? Like, can you buy a $100 gift card for yourself for $100, and then use it to buy things with free shipping?

Yes, exactly! In Japan there's also no fees or sales tax on Amazon gift cards (physical ones), and you can purchase them in arbitrary amounts I think max 100,000 JPY (~$1000 USD). Amazon.com provides one-day free shipping with gift card purchases, but could have a surcharge for oversized, heavy, or international items. I'm not sure if any of this applies to digital gift cards though.

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#275

Post by digitalpacman »

seren wrote: post #60

Prompted by this post, I wanted to check what happened to the 1-star review I have left 6 months ago. (Product worked for 3 days and then stopped, and after a replacement, the same thing happened). Sure enough, I have 0 comment in my profile, and I just checked, it has also disappeared from the product page. This is shady as hell, because I am 100% sure I wrote this review. I even wrote it twice, once on amazon.com a…

This happened to me directly on Logitech's website. It's why I'll never buy their products again. I received a wireless headset that didn't keep a full day charge longer than 30 minutes. I had to use it plugged in (powering) 24/7. I submitted a 1 star review stating my problem and they removed my feedback without even telling me. It was just gone a few weeks later when I checked it, hoping they hadn't removed it.

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#276

Post by digitalpacman »

SamuelAdams wrote: post #111
seren wrote: post #60

Prompted by this post, I wanted to check what happened to the 1-star review I have left 6 months ago. (Product worked for 3 days and then stopped, and after a replacement, the same thing happened). Sure enough, I have 0 comment in my profile, and I just checked, it has also disappeared from the product page. This is shady as hell, because I am 100% sure I wrote this review. I even wrote it twice, once on amazon.com a…

Consider the other side of this argument: should reviews be timeless? Many times a (good faith) vendor will make small, incremental changes to a product that addresses concerns that low-star reviewers point out. However, the product page remains the same - it does not distinguish between "Seattle Coffee Beans - Batch A" and "Seattle Coffee Beans - Batch C". It simply says "Seattle Coffee Beans". So if you leave a rev…

Yes. Because it represents how you've chosen to run your business. You are allowed to judge the business based on their previous behavior.

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#277

Post by degrews »

always_good wrote: post #271
DenisM wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a similar story - user said that even though their review is wrong, "I'll let it stay because I don't feel like changing it". Really makes you question what is going on in the heads of people around you.

I noticed my ex-girlfriend rating our Uber driver 3/5 stars once we arrived at the airport. I asked her what was wrong with him. She said he was fine but it was just an average ride, nothing exceptional. And that she's only given out one 4/5 and zero 5/5's. Not her fault. What choice do you have but to assign your own arbitrary meanings to each star, and how aren't those going to vary from person to person? I never l…

I agree it's frustrating that most sites leave it up to each individual user to decide what each star rating means.

On the other hand, I don't think it's really a problem as long as users are consistent. It doesn't matter how "harsh" they are as long as everyone has similar odds of getting a harsh reviewer.

I do tend to leave slightly below-average ratings because I like leaving room for truly exceptional products/experiences to get a higher rating.

Re: Amazon Dark Patterns

#278

Post by sigotirandolas »

CannisterFlux wrote: post #74
sigotirandolas wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve also noticed that they don’t let me ship a lot of products (mostly food, but also random harmless electronics) to shipping points or Amazon boxes in my city (in Spain), telling me they are full (they are not, they let me ship other products there and it tells me it’s full with literally any shipping point or Amazon box). They only let me ship it to a home address. I can’t prove it’s not a bug, but it seems such…

I don't like to defend Amazon because they are getting shadier all the time, but I always ship to a Correos office near my flat from amazon.es and haven't had this problem (yet?). Maybe it isn't the same thing as the box though. I've seen random 3rd party items that can't be left at Correos, but they do tell you at the start of the process.

Is your Correos box a regular PO BOX? I tried getting shipped things to a Correos P.O. Box with Amazon and they often sent by SEUR or similar and they were unable to ship it to a Correos PO Box and requested manual pickup.

I agree with other commenters that this behavior is not very dark and probably mostly bad UX, but it stuck me as they maybe not telling me that due to regulatory/shipping/safety issues it was better or more economic to ship directly to home.

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