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Amazon's Incentivised Reviews - biased ratings on products

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    #2
    robnet77
    Registered Users Posts: 461 ✭✭robnet77


    Even the not biased reviews end up being somewhat biased, because the user may not have researched the market before getting a product, therefore the item they received may be much more expensive than a similar one with similar performances.

    For example, you can see many coffee beans are rated at least 4.5 stars, and they have very high prices but most reviewers don't mention the high price as a negative point.

    I have read many such reviews and found that only 10-20% (probably) seem genuine and not biased, and 90-95% of them will give 4 or 5 stars.


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    #3
    crabbypaddy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭crabbypaddy


    Interesting you'll still have to read the filtered reviews though I guess as tons of amazon reviews are the 'just got it, haven't opened it yet, looks good' type, and lots of 4 star reviews will say things like 'its bad quality but ok for the price' the bad reviews are often the most useful when researching as they will often point out design flaws, reliability issues, missing features and suggest an alternative or higher model that is better value.


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    #4
    Doge
    Registered Users Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Doge


    I became one of the cretins you mention last week when I got a free desk lamp for reviewing another product i bought from the same seller.

    The desk lamp is feckin awesome though so I couldnt find much negatives to say about it! :pac:


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    #5
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Amazon reviews are full of drivel. You have to filter out the crud to find useful ones.

    They should have a system of flagging useless reviews, so you can filter them out if you want to.

    useless review. Bought a pen. Its not spoon. Etc.


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    #6
    johnny_adidas
    Registered Users Posts: 1,977 ✭✭✭johnny_adidas


    Doge wrote: »
    I became one of the cretins you mention last week when I got a free desk lamp for reviewing another product i bought from the same seller.

    The desk lamp is feckin awesome though so I couldnt find much negatives to say about it! :pac:

    Did they randomly contact you with it, or did you opt into something or put it in your basket? Just wondering how it works


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    #7
    The Wolverine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 370 ✭✭The Wolverine


    Yeah I noticed recently more and more reviews have a "As a disclaimer, I got this product for a significant discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review"

    Honest and unbiased my hole :pac:

    Amazon should remove any of these reviews and give the sellers a warning or they are risking damaging their rep tbh


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    #8
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 9,002 ✭✭✭893bet


    I only read negative reviews. You can decide if complaints are anyway legitimate. Some are but often its clear that the customer was the problem and they didn't understand the function or had too high expectations (for lower price products).


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    #9
    dodzy
    Registered Users Posts: 10,022 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    893bet wrote: »
    I only read negative reviews. You can decide if complaints are anyway legitimate. Some are but often its clear that the customer was the problem and they didn't understand the function or had too high expectations (for lower price products).

    The only reviews that ever mattered in amazons history. Take a few mins and wet yourselves....

    https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B002HJ377A#customerReviews


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    #10
    Doge
    Registered Users Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Doge


    johnny_adidas wrote: »
    Did they randomly contact you with it, or did you opt into something or put it in your basket? Just wondering how it works

    The product I bought was new and only had 2 reviews a few words long.

    They emailed me asking if I would leave a review and it said photographers are needed also, so I did an in depth review with lots of photos, emailed them to let them know and they asked would I like to review the desk lamp.


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    #11
    Greenmachine
    Registered Users Posts: 5,063 ✭✭✭Greenmachine


    Guessing that those, are given free item to review are more easily pleased, tend to right more positive reviews. Sometimes a seller doesn't want a wart and all review especially if it is going to lead the charge.
    kind of the same with student surveys that provide competition for honest student feedback.


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    #12
    yoshimitsu
    Registered Users Posts: 540 ✭✭✭yoshimitsu


    Not all reviews of "free/discounted" products are necessarily biased. I found some of them to be quite accurate and helpful to make a decision between different alternative products.
    Same thing with unbiased reviews, they can be utterly useless... "It took 2 weeks to receive the product... so 1 star!".
    I generally look at the average score and the read a couple of positive reviews and a couple of negative ones.
    I myself try to be active in writing reviews for recent products or products that have few reviews. People can ask questions and comment your review which is also helpful.
    I would completely bash the amazon review system, it's often better than the alternative (paid review on tech blogs anybody??).
    But amazon could do a better job at filtering reviews and really highlighting the useful ones about the product and its features.


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    #13
    TriStar6
    Registered Users Posts: 350 ✭✭TriStar6


    dodzy wrote: »
    The only reviews that ever mattered in amazons history. Take a few mins and wet yourselves....

    https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B002HJ377A#customerReviews

    Off topic, but you have to read https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veet-Men-Hair-Removal-Cream/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK


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    #14
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,117 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    Cá bhfuil an bargain?


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    #15
    myshirt
    Registered Users Posts: 5,245 ✭✭✭myshirt


    What about the reviews on the Veet hair removal cream? Does anyone want to question the sincerity of those?

    If so, try the product for yourself and see whether you agree or disagree with the top 3 reviews.

    https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK


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    #16
    GBX
    Registered Users Posts: 11,990 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    snubbleste wrote: »
    Cá bhfuil an bargain?

    I think people are drawn towards the bargain alert forum to post about retailers they have previously bought from with success but to raise awareness of shill type issues?
    It seems there are some threads with no actual bargains but gain residency within the BA forum not to be moved for a while.

    Like would this thread be more suitable in one of the below?
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=583 Online buying & Auctions?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=235 > Rip off Ireland


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    #17
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,117 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    GBX wrote: »
    Like would this thread be more suitable in one of the below? http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=583
    Online buying & Auctions?
    Obviously


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    #18
    rustledjimmies
    Registered Users Posts: 1,082 ✭✭✭rustledjimmies


    snubbleste wrote: »
    Obviously

    Get over yourself. People come here for Bargains and this is bargain related for sure.

    I've never been to the Online buying & Auctions section and I'm sure many others here also haven't.

    Thanks, OP.


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    #19
    Kenny Logins
    Registered Users Posts: 9,060 ✭✭✭Kenny Logins


    Amazon questions are hilarious.

    Q: Does this have USB 3?

    A: No idea, I decided to go with a different laptop from a local shop. If you look at the pics tho, it looks like it might be USB 3. ..or 2. HTH


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    #20
    Satriale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,023 ✭✭✭Satriale


    dodzy wrote: »
    The only reviews that ever mattered in amazons history. Take a few mins and wet yourselves....

    https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B002HJ377A#customerReviews

    Great bargain, thanks, ordered one dark green and one night blue!


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    #21
    brevity
    Registered Users Posts: 8,540 ✭✭✭brevity


    http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37551069
    Amazon is cracking down on the practice of companies offering free products to customers in exchange for a review.
    In future, such reviews can only come via the online store's own program, Amazon Vine.
    A recent study suggested that those who received free or discounted items were much more likely to write a favourable review.
    Having product reviews that shoppers can trust has been a huge factor in Amazon's success.
    The online retail giant has always prohibited compensation for reviews but had made an exception for reviewers that disclosed that fact.


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