3 ms·

> Sorry this is an incoherent argument (generalizing from a single data point). I've heard plenty of anecdotes of this stuff (maybe a couple dozen?) but even th

> Sorry this is an incoherent argument (generalizing from a single data point). I've heard plenty of anecdotes of this stuff (maybe a couple dozen?) but even that's not nearly enough for me to feel confidently say "this is a widespread problem". I had the opposite reaction. I was a bit surprised that OP was surprised this was happening. Roughly 20% of my amazon purchases have had some kind of card in them with an offer of money for a good review. I guess I just figured it was widespread thing. I only ever get cards with cheap mass manufactured items under $30, mostly electronics like cables or adapters along with a few cat toys.

cperciva 6y ago
I'm not surprised that paying for fake reviews happens. I am surprised that Amazon is complicit in the practice. I expected this would be a cat-and-mouse game with Amazon blacklisting vendors upon seeing evidence of them committing fraud.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  I'm pretty sure that you or I can identify some products on Amazon that very likely have paid reviews in under 5 minutes. If we had access to sales data, we could be essentially certain of it. Type "Bluetooth" into the search bar. Find the product linked below. Does it seem likely that 45,403 people have given a review for a random Bluetooth FM transmitter? https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Smartphones/dp/B018E0I01I https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter... (not an affiliate link) Type in "phone mount". Do people really feel so strongly about their $12 phone mount that 55K+ of them would write a review of that particular phone mount? What's the matter with those apparently higher-quality phone mounts that have only 500 or so reviews? Do the cheaper rando-brand-name pad-printed ones really out-sell and get out-reviewed by a factor of over 100x? Do 14K people in just over 4 months feel strongly enough about a pack of straws to write a review? https://www.amazon.com/StrawExpert-Reusable-Silicone-Cleaning-Stainless/dp/B08C56GYS1 https://www.amazon.com/StrawExpert-Reusable-Silicone-Cleanin... (also not affiliate) "Wow, they totally made my drink colder!" "These are amazing, not boring regular straws; I'll be buying more to give as gifts!" "I will DEFINITELY be buying more of these, not only for our house but as gifts because these are great!" "with plastic straws costing so much, I thought I'd give these a try. I bought this set specifically because I needed shorter and longer straws." That's a reviewer who really knows what they need in the straw department and has made a major dent in their budget by buying these! "the pouch is a lifesaver since this purchase came with many straws" I should go look for reviews on hip waders... It strains credibility to think the company that can deliver speech-recognition can't spot incentivized reviews. If this is a cat and mouse game, the mice are dominating.

cperciva 6y ago

I'm not surprised that paying for fake reviews happens. I am surprised that Amazon is complicit in the practice. I expected this would be a cat-and-mouse game with Amazon blacklisting vendors upon seeing evidence of them committing fraud.

sokoloff 6y ago
I'm pretty sure that you or I can identify some products on Amazon that very likely have paid reviews in under 5 minutes. If we had access to sales data, we could be essentially certain of it. Type "Bluetooth" into the search bar. Find the product linked below. Does it seem likely that 45,403 people have given a review for a random Bluetooth FM transmitter? https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Smartphones/dp/B018E0I01I https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter... (not an affiliate link) Type in "phone mount". Do people really feel so strongly about their $12 phone mount that 55K+ of them would write a review of that particular phone mount? What's the matter with those apparently higher-quality phone mounts that have only 500 or so reviews? Do the cheaper rando-brand-name pad-printed ones really out-sell and get out-reviewed by a factor of over 100x? Do 14K people in just over 4 months feel strongly enough about a pack of straws to write a review? https://www.amazon.com/StrawExpert-Reusable-Silicone-Cleaning-Stainless/dp/B08C56GYS1 https://www.amazon.com/StrawExpert-Reusable-Silicone-Cleanin... (also not affiliate) "Wow, they totally made my drink colder!" "These are amazing, not boring regular straws; I'll be buying more to give as gifts!" "I will DEFINITELY be buying more of these, not only for our house but as gifts because these are great!" "with plastic straws costing so much, I thought I'd give these a try. I bought this set specifically because I needed shorter and longer straws." That's a reviewer who really knows what they need in the straw department and has made a major dent in their budget by buying these! "the pouch is a lifesaver since this purchase came with many straws" I should go look for reviews on hip waders... It strains credibility to think the company that can deliver speech-recognition can't spot incentivized reviews. If this is a cat and mouse game, the mice are dominating.