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I totally agree. But where do we draw the line for fraud? I just ordered a $5.00 product, a pair of interesting-looking-at-first-glance earplugs for swimming, t

by Fezzik 7y ago

I totally agree. But where do we draw the line for fraud? I just ordered a $5.00 product, a pair of interesting-looking-at-first-glance earplugs for swimming, that are utter garbage. Included was something I had never seen - instructions for leaving a positive review that would allow me to receive a $10.00 Amazon gift card. This clearly appears to me to be buying positive reviews... which should not be allowed... but is not fraud... I do not think. Given that the product is cheap, I can see how people would leave positive reviews - lo and behold, the product has nearly a 5-star rating with 100+ reviews! I can guarantee nobody who swims would rate this product above 2 stars. Online reviews are a wonky and game-able system.

asxd 7y ago
It seems fraudulent in that it would evidently not be an honest review, complicated by the fact that the review would essentially be paid promotional content because you were paid for it.
jedberg 7y ago
That sounds like a pretty clear case of fraud. It would only take one report with pictures of that coupon to remove the product. But why would they. They have your money already.
- Fezzik 7y ago
  Do you really think so??? Not asked sarcastically... I just tossed it in the trash because I thought it was despicable. I have a hunch that is what most people do who do not just claim the gift-card. What a heist.
sincarne 7y ago
I just bough a £20 Switch controller that had a card in it telling me to email them for a £20 gift certificate if I left them a positive review. Obviously this works; it’s the best rated off-brand controller.
exikyut 7y ago
It would be very interesting to link the store in question. I'm very curious what other products they sell/what sort of store they have. Because you're basically being paid $5 to receive the product. Basic economics says this is financially nonviable in the long term. Something VERY interesting is happening behind the scenes with the store you stumbled upon. I read these two articles recently that will probably resonate with your experience: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20961523/amazon-walmart-target-package-delivery-sales-tax-montana-roundup https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20961523/amazon-walmart-... https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18140799/amazon-marketplace-scams-seller-court-appeal-reinstatement https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18140799/amazon-marketpl...
pizza234 7y ago
The problem is higher level; Amazon simply profits from fraudulent behavior. There are several things that Amazon could correct, and it doesn't. I've tried to report other types of clear-cut frauds (e.g. "placeholder" ads with good reviews), and either I couldn't find a way, or they didn't care. The late borderline-scammy behavior of Amazon is obvious in different ways, for example how they intentionally make opaque the shipment origin and price. The most ridiculous allowed misbehavior I've experienced is an item sold in a number of trivial variations that took hundreds of (search) pages. It was obliterating any chance of looking similar items from other brands.
sporkland 7y ago
You could leave a 1-star review explaining the product was garbage and they tried to entice you into a good review for money? I often look at the one star reviews to see if anything is up with a product.

by Fezzik 7y ago

asxd 7y ago

It seems fraudulent in that it would evidently not be an honest review, complicated by the fact that the review would essentially be paid promotional content because you were paid for it.

jedberg 7y ago

That sounds like a pretty clear case of fraud. It would only take one report with pictures of that coupon to remove the product. But why would they. They have your money already.

Fezzik 7y ago
Do you really think so??? Not asked sarcastically... I just tossed it in the trash because I thought it was despicable. I have a hunch that is what most people do who do not just claim the gift-card. What a heist.

sincarne 7y ago

I just bough a £20 Switch controller that had a card in it telling me to email them for a £20 gift certificate if I left them a positive review. Obviously this works; it’s the best rated off-brand controller.

exikyut 7y ago

It would be very interesting to link the store in question. I'm very curious what other products they sell/what sort of store they have. Because you're basically being paid $5 to receive the product. Basic economics says this is financially nonviable in the long term. Something VERY interesting is happening behind the scenes with the store you stumbled upon. I read these two articles recently that will probably resonate with your experience: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20961523/amazon-walmart-target-package-delivery-sales-tax-montana-roundup https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20961523/amazon-walmart-... https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18140799/amazon-marketplace-scams-seller-court-appeal-reinstatement https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18140799/amazon-marketpl...

pizza234 7y ago

The problem is higher level; Amazon simply profits from fraudulent behavior. There are several things that Amazon could correct, and it doesn't. I've tried to report other types of clear-cut frauds (e.g. "placeholder" ads with good reviews), and either I couldn't find a way, or they didn't care. The late borderline-scammy behavior of Amazon is obvious in different ways, for example how they intentionally make opaque the shipment origin and price. The most ridiculous allowed misbehavior I've experienced is an item sold in a number of trivial variations that took hundreds of (search) pages. It was obliterating any chance of looking similar items from other brands.

sporkland 7y ago

You could leave a 1-star review explaining the product was garbage and they tried to entice you into a good review for money? I often look at the one star reviews to see if anything is up with a product.