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I have seen a huge increase in product listings being changed from one item to something completely different. For example, a listing had reviews from prior to

I have seen a huge increase in product listings being changed from one item to something completely different. For example, a listing had reviews from prior to 1/18 that mentioned how the product was a metallic ruler however the product page had been completely changed and it was now selling USB wall chargers, using the positive reviews previously posted for credibility. I haven't seen this scam mentioned much. I'd imagine it is people selling their old, unused Amazon product pages to someone else.

okmokmz 8y ago
Ya, ever since products began being listed together in a single listing I've lost a lot of trust in the reviews. For example, when looking at dog beds I found listings where the reviews talked about different shapes, sizes, materials, colors, and manufacturers. Back when I first started using prime it was great because I could find good products quickly, while trusting the reviews and prices. In recent years I've drastically cut my purchasing from Amazon, because it takes much more time and effort to find high quality, authentic items with reasonable prices. I've been considering cancelling prime
- dwringer 8y ago
  When you are viewing the reviews, there is an option to filter displayed reviews to only the currently displayed "style" or subitem. Go down to the reviews and select "See all reviews" and a list of filter selectors will become visible at the top of the displayed results. Where it says "All formats" you can drop down and change this to "Show only reviews for <variation-type>: <variant> [| ...]" where the variant info is based on whatever product you were actually looking for.
  - waisbrot 8y ago
    Too bad this isn't the default. Or better yet, something like "All versions of this product (...) / Just this variant (...)". Similar to the way Apple segments mobile app reviews by release version.
- econochoice 8y ago
  Three years ago I made a significant amount of my purchases each month with Prime. I haven't renewed Prime in over a year and my last Amazon purchase was about 6 months ago. Amazon's prices are no longer cut-throat.
  - nathancahill 8y ago
    Have you found good alternatives? The friction of typing in credit card/shipping details on various websites (with sometimes questionable security) has kept me on Amazon. Shopify and Stripe are moving in the right direction with their "Remember Me" option that works across stores.
    - SomewhatLikely 8y ago
      Chrome does a decent job remembering credit cards. I just have to remember the CVC code.
    - econochoice 8y ago
      Yes. I Google the product I want and I almost always find it listed at a cheaper price on Google Shopping or in the first few links in the search pane. For electronic accessories, I skip the Amazon reseller middlemen, and just use Aliexpress directly. Chrome's autofill works across devices so, besides entering my security code, I haven't manually entered my card info in quite some time.
- dawnerd 8y ago
  Its worse with tech items that are completely different but share the same page and reviews. I'm sure amazon allows it because it ends up making them lots of cash.
bonjurkes 8y ago
I'm not exactly sure if it's for scam or some problem on Amazon side. I was looking for gaming mousepad for a known brand and item was sold by Amazon. Majority of the reviews (mainly 3 stars or less ones) were mentioning as sensitivity of the mouse is not good or one of the mouse button got broken quiet fast. I don't think a well known brand would do this trick but apparently there is a problem and Amazon should fix it.
hippich 8y ago
This is fraud and against Amazon Seller TOS. Reporting is really appreciated by all honest sellers :)
- JshWright 8y ago
  Given how blatantly obvious this is, it seems Amazon doesn't really care...
  - hippich 8y ago
    It is all automated, ML and AI - more you signal them - more likely they do something about it.
- astura 8y ago
  Reports on Amazon go directly to /dev/null most of the time.
koolba 8y ago
I saw this for a product highlighted as a daily deal on Amazon this morning. The listing was for a USB cable but the reviews and customer pics were for a birthday candle.

okmokmz 8y ago

Ya, ever since products began being listed together in a single listing I've lost a lot of trust in the reviews. For example, when looking at dog beds I found listings where the reviews talked about different shapes, sizes, materials, colors, and manufacturers. Back when I first started using prime it was great because I could find good products quickly, while trusting the reviews and prices. In recent years I've drastically cut my purchasing from Amazon, because it takes much more time and effort to find high quality, authentic items with reasonable prices. I've been considering cancelling prime

dwringer 8y ago
When you are viewing the reviews, there is an option to filter displayed reviews to only the currently displayed "style" or subitem. Go down to the reviews and select "See all reviews" and a list of filter selectors will become visible at the top of the displayed results. Where it says "All formats" you can drop down and change this to "Show only reviews for <variation-type>: <variant> [| ...]" where the variant info is based on whatever product you were actually looking for.
- waisbrot 8y ago
  Too bad this isn't the default. Or better yet, something like "All versions of this product (...) / Just this variant (...)". Similar to the way Apple segments mobile app reviews by release version.
econochoice 8y ago
Three years ago I made a significant amount of my purchases each month with Prime. I haven't renewed Prime in over a year and my last Amazon purchase was about 6 months ago. Amazon's prices are no longer cut-throat.
- nathancahill 8y ago
  Have you found good alternatives? The friction of typing in credit card/shipping details on various websites (with sometimes questionable security) has kept me on Amazon. Shopify and Stripe are moving in the right direction with their "Remember Me" option that works across stores.
  - SomewhatLikely 8y ago
    Chrome does a decent job remembering credit cards. I just have to remember the CVC code.
  - econochoice 8y ago
    Yes. I Google the product I want and I almost always find it listed at a cheaper price on Google Shopping or in the first few links in the search pane. For electronic accessories, I skip the Amazon reseller middlemen, and just use Aliexpress directly. Chrome's autofill works across devices so, besides entering my security code, I haven't manually entered my card info in quite some time.
dawnerd 8y ago
Its worse with tech items that are completely different but share the same page and reviews. I'm sure amazon allows it because it ends up making them lots of cash.

bonjurkes 8y ago

I'm not exactly sure if it's for scam or some problem on Amazon side. I was looking for gaming mousepad for a known brand and item was sold by Amazon. Majority of the reviews (mainly 3 stars or less ones) were mentioning as sensitivity of the mouse is not good or one of the mouse button got broken quiet fast. I don't think a well known brand would do this trick but apparently there is a problem and Amazon should fix it.

hippich 8y ago

This is fraud and against Amazon Seller TOS. Reporting is really appreciated by all honest sellers :)

JshWright 8y ago
Given how blatantly obvious this is, it seems Amazon doesn't really care...
- hippich 8y ago
  It is all automated, ML and AI - more you signal them - more likely they do something about it.
astura 8y ago
Reports on Amazon go directly to /dev/null most of the time.

koolba 8y ago

I saw this for a product highlighted as a daily deal on Amazon this morning. The listing was for a USB cable but the reviews and customer pics were for a birthday candle.