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>But the new rating system isn’t fool-proof, since some fake-review schemers have a way to get around the “verified purchase” requirement. One popular method is
by jasode 7y ago
>But the new rating system isn’t fool-proof, since some fake-review schemers have a way to get around the “verified purchase” requirement. One popular method is to recruit buyers in private Facebook groups with a promise to refund them for their purchase via PayPal after the shoppers show proof of writing a five-star review.
I heard similar gaming techniques are used by makers of diet supplements to build up 5-star reviews. They notify customers that they will send another free bottle of supplements of they leave a 5-star review. This means that the following amazon search results example showing showing overwhelming 5-star ratings are very likely fabricated and can't be trusted:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lion%27s+mane+supplement https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lion%27s+mane+supplement
This is how you get "snake oil" products like noncompliant USB cables or defective Apple chargers into the "5-star" club that amazon buyers unwittingly trust.
- seunosewa 7y agoAmazon should strongly incentivize their customers to report sellers who make such offers to them. This should make the game more dangerous for sellers seeking fake reviews.
- martin_a 7y agoIf I'm somewhat "vulnerable" to "free stuff", this will not work. Couldn't care less about Amazons problems with fake reviews if I get something for free (that I kind of like).
- mrec 7y agoDoesn't that just shift the game to joe jobs against the competition? There's no reason the offerers need to be closely/obviously tied to the seller. If I'm flogging Foo brand widgets and you're flogging Bar brand widgets, I offer $$$ in exchange for 5-star Bar reviews, report it and bingo, you get a kicking from Amazon.
- alok-g 7y agoAny such incentive by itself be prone to abuse.