5 ms·

If Amazon doesn't fix their horribly astroturfed review system, they will be worthless in a few years after enough people get burned.

dazc 5y ago
Have to agree, not just this but multiple versions of every imaginable product - most of which is complete junk. Many times I have just given up and gone elsewhere. I thought they made a smart move with their own branded stuff but a lot of this is just as bad quality.
- sokoloff 5y ago
  I’ve generally found Basics products to be in the solid B+ (at worst) to A- (typically) level of quality. It’s not going to be junk in my experience.
  - NeutronStar 5y ago
    You've totally changed my minds on how shitty they Basics products are, thank you!
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    I've found them to range from unusable, to adequate, to simple and perfectly designed for purpose (and readily available from dozens of Chinese manufacturers through other channels.)
  - dazc 5y ago
    Amazon have multiple own-brands besides the Basics range though.
MattGaiser 5y ago
So many Amazon reviews are clearly purchased and they purchase the reviews by putting cards in the packages with their products.
mcv 5y ago
I wish that was true, but Amazon is huge and ubiquitous, and even if everybody aware of this issue decides on a hard boycott, that still leaves the majority of the world's population. There is much more wrong with Amazon, but they survive and thrive simply because of their scale.
- tmpz22 5y ago
  Agreed at their scale the number of customer churn that falls into the acceptable category is colossal.
anonuser123456 5y ago
What do you think is easier, for Amazon to fix their ratings system or for a competitor to implement the worlds most sophisticated vertically integrated logistics operation? If customer really start caring, they will fix it. The ratings thing is a blip for them. Only sophisticated customers are aware of it... and sophisticated customers are the exception, not the rule.
- spoonjim 5y ago
  Grocery stores, Walmart, Target, etc have an equally sophisticated logistics system. After getting one counterfeit product from Amazon I shifted all of my purchases of kids products (diapers, lotion, sunscreen, etc) to brick and mortar retail.
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    Me, too. Locally you get to inspect the product, which eliminates most Amazon-class difficulties, and also there's somebody who has to physically hide from you if you have a complaint.
  - sjg007 5y ago
    Target and Walmart are the most likely. They just have to work on their search and recommendation engines.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  > Only sophisticated customers are aware of it. It doesn't take an extraordinary amount of "sophistication" to notice that the products that you ordered are cheap, broken and/or counterfeit trash when they arrive. They don't deliver any more quickly than anyone else anymore either. Unless you're on Prime; I think they prioritize Prime.
  - jefftk 5y ago
    > notice that the products that you ordered are cheap, broken and/or counterfeit trash My experience with the products I've received ordering from Amazon has generally been very good, comparable to products I bought in person. Things are generally as advertised, and work correctly. My guess is that Amazon is doing well because mostly people have an experience similar to mine, and are happy to keep ordering?
fnord77 5y ago
I think that ship sailed. don't know a single person who is happy with amazon. only thing missing is a substitute
- sokoloff 5y ago
  I am generally happy with Amazon. Most times I can get something from Amazon tomorrow or the next day for a competitive price. I’d say that 97% of my orders are delivered on-time and to-spec. When they’re not, it’s almost never been a hassle to get it fixed. I had one order last year where I was unhappy with Amazon’s treatment on the issue. They were willing to give my money back without hassle, but that wouldn’t fix my wife’s car’s charging system, so I had to make something work.
- colinmhayes 5y ago
  amazon is one of the most rusted institutions in America. 70% of americans view it favorably. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OgPzcB75uxXiFmTjUUb-ITIr7BFdFFhw/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OgPzcB75uxXiFmTjUUb-ITIr7BF...
  - sokoloff 5y ago
    Amusing typo inverts the meaning (rusted vs trusted).

dazc 5y ago

Have to agree, not just this but multiple versions of every imaginable product - most of which is complete junk. Many times I have just given up and gone elsewhere. I thought they made a smart move with their own branded stuff but a lot of this is just as bad quality.

sokoloff 5y ago
I’ve generally found Basics products to be in the solid B+ (at worst) to A- (typically) level of quality. It’s not going to be junk in my experience.
- NeutronStar 5y ago
  You've totally changed my minds on how shitty they Basics products are, thank you!
- pessimizer 5y ago
  I've found them to range from unusable, to adequate, to simple and perfectly designed for purpose (and readily available from dozens of Chinese manufacturers through other channels.)
- dazc 5y ago
  Amazon have multiple own-brands besides the Basics range though.

MattGaiser 5y ago

So many Amazon reviews are clearly purchased and they purchase the reviews by putting cards in the packages with their products.

mcv 5y ago

I wish that was true, but Amazon is huge and ubiquitous, and even if everybody aware of this issue decides on a hard boycott, that still leaves the majority of the world's population. There is much more wrong with Amazon, but they survive and thrive simply because of their scale.

tmpz22 5y ago
Agreed at their scale the number of customer churn that falls into the acceptable category is colossal.

anonuser123456 5y ago

What do you think is easier, for Amazon to fix their ratings system or for a competitor to implement the worlds most sophisticated vertically integrated logistics operation? If customer really start caring, they will fix it. The ratings thing is a blip for them. Only sophisticated customers are aware of it... and sophisticated customers are the exception, not the rule.

spoonjim 5y ago
Grocery stores, Walmart, Target, etc have an equally sophisticated logistics system. After getting one counterfeit product from Amazon I shifted all of my purchases of kids products (diapers, lotion, sunscreen, etc) to brick and mortar retail.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  Me, too. Locally you get to inspect the product, which eliminates most Amazon-class difficulties, and also there's somebody who has to physically hide from you if you have a complaint.
- sjg007 5y ago
  Target and Walmart are the most likely. They just have to work on their search and recommendation engines.
pessimizer 5y ago
> Only sophisticated customers are aware of it. It doesn't take an extraordinary amount of "sophistication" to notice that the products that you ordered are cheap, broken and/or counterfeit trash when they arrive. They don't deliver any more quickly than anyone else anymore either. Unless you're on Prime; I think they prioritize Prime.
- jefftk 5y ago
  > notice that the products that you ordered are cheap, broken and/or counterfeit trash My experience with the products I've received ordering from Amazon has generally been very good, comparable to products I bought in person. Things are generally as advertised, and work correctly. My guess is that Amazon is doing well because mostly people have an experience similar to mine, and are happy to keep ordering?

fnord77 5y ago

I think that ship sailed. don't know a single person who is happy with amazon. only thing missing is a substitute

sokoloff 5y ago
I am generally happy with Amazon. Most times I can get something from Amazon tomorrow or the next day for a competitive price. I’d say that 97% of my orders are delivered on-time and to-spec. When they’re not, it’s almost never been a hassle to get it fixed. I had one order last year where I was unhappy with Amazon’s treatment on the issue. They were willing to give my money back without hassle, but that wouldn’t fix my wife’s car’s charging system, so I had to make something work.
colinmhayes 5y ago
amazon is one of the most rusted institutions in America. 70% of americans view it favorably. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OgPzcB75uxXiFmTjUUb-ITIr7BFdFFhw/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OgPzcB75uxXiFmTjUUb-ITIr7BF...
- sokoloff 5y ago
  Amusing typo inverts the meaning (rusted vs trusted).