Fake Amazon reviews and what you can do

[Touring5]

I've come to learn that a lot of product reviews on Amazon are fake - even when involving "verified purchasers".

I was looking at bluetooth earbuds and found a product at a great price with lots of reviews and and a high rating. For some reason I started clicking on the profiles of the reviewers and a high percentage had a history of purchasing this obscure (TOZO) brand before and/or some drone product. Very high, like 80% I'd guess. What are the chances?

Then I was looking at some health supplements earlier this week. Checked the reviews and almost every single 5-star review was from someone with only 1 review. The 4 star and lower reviews were all from people with multiple reviews. Hmmmm.

Turns out there are some apps and browser extensions that can analyze the quality of a given Amazon product's reviews. I gave one a try, and sure enough it flagged both of those products for the very reasons I observed. Other products I have purchased were generally deemed as legitimate.

The extension I'm using is from ReviewMeta, but there are others I believe.

 

[samven]

I have also noticed that many times the reviews are for multiple different items sold by the same seller, but you would not know that unless you find the filter button and even then the total star score is for all their products. You have to go through all the reviews to see if its the item you are interested in. It really makes the ratings useless, particularly the 5 star reviews from people who just opened the box but have not had a chance to use it.

 

[daves87rs]

This has been going on for years. When my company launched a few products on Amazon- a copy would pop up a month later, with almost 500 reviews. Seems that they find so many different ways to get around Amazon polices.....

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yup, i've been using the reviewmeta add-on as well.

A lot of Amazon reviews are junk.

 

[Leo99]

Can't be worse than the car dealer reviews:

I stopped in a _______ dealership expecting the usual run around. Met a great salesperson, Dave David, and he made me feel right at home. He answered all my questions and gave me a great price on my new _______. The finance guy Steve Stevens worked with us to meet our budget and made us very happy. It was the best experience buying a car I've ever had and I'll be going back for all my next purchases. They even gave us a great deal on our trade-in!

 

[OIL_UDDER]

It's frustrating on both ends. As a seller we try everything to get a honest review but people just don't take the time, even if they really like it and add koozies! Would be awesome if more people provided feedback or even just a star rating. Oh well we will keep after it!

We did get our first video review yesterday! Pretty thrilled about that.

 

[JT20]

I have employed a pretty good method about this.

First, look at all the 5-star reviews. Read what they say.

Then, look at all the one, possibly two-star reviews. See what they said. Of course, ignore the "DO NOT BUY THIS!!!!" reviews.

But don't be afraid to look at the one-star reviews.

You can usually get a decent feel for what you are buying based on these.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Glad I don’t use amazon lol. But have come across lots of fake Google reviews one of which got my coworkers terminated because it made up stuff about them and anytime a bad review mentions your name before they verify it you are gone.

 

[kschachn]

Glad I don’t use amazon lol. But have come across lots of fake Google reviews one of which got my coworkers terminated because it made up stuff about them and anytime a bad review mentions your name before they verify it you are gone.

You seem proud of that since I’ve seen you say it several times. What’s wrong with it? I’ve used Amazon since before 2000 and buy quite a bit there, and I’ve never had a bit of trouble. What’s been your experience?

 

[philipp10]

Want to hear something funny? Go on Amazon and look at their olive oils. Almost everyone has 4.8 or 5 stars....lol.

 

[AutoMechanic]

You seem proud of that since I’ve seen you say it several times. What’s wrong with it? I’ve used Amazon since 2008 and buy quite a bit there, and I’ve never had a bit of trouble. What’s been your experience?

My parents don’t allow it (yes I still live at home lol) they don’t like the CEO for a reason I can’t mention here but they don’t like him and they feel it puts the retail stores out of business so they don’t allow it at our house.

 

[Dave Hess]

Everything is manipulated....

I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[kschachn]

My parents don’t allow it (yes I still live at home lol) they don’t like the CEO for a reason I can’t mention here but they don’t like him and they feel it puts the retail stores out of business so they don’t allow it at our house.

Ahh I see. You said you were glad about it so I thought maybe you had a specific problem.

 

[JC1]

Do you homework before you order a product.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Ahh I see. You said you were glad about it so I thought maybe you had a specific problem.

Nope my sister has a prime membership she orders practically everything from there she has had a few mess ups like when she ordered a car seat for her kids they sent the wrong one so the kid was without a car seat for 6 more weeks and had to stay home with one of them that’s the only big mess up she has had it took her a week to send it back lol

 

[zzyzzx]

Fakespot.com grades Amazon reviews.

 

[Zee09]

My parents don’t allow it (yes I still live at home lol) they don’t like the CEO for a reason I can’t mention here but they don’t like him and they feel it puts the retail stores out of business so they don’t allow it at our house.

You have to do what you have to...right? My brother was the same way with Walmart in the day.

 

[AutoMechanic]

You have to do what you have to...right? My brother was the same way with Walmart in the day.

That’s right even though I am an adult I still respect their rules because it’s their house. We haven’t been fans of Walmart recently since they started closing at 8:30 then 10 so they aren’t open 24 hours anymore and we are night time people so that kinda hurts us lol but we still shop there.

 

[zzyzzx]

Can't be worse than the car dealer reviews:

I stopped in a _______ dealership expecting the usual run around. Met a great salesperson, Dave David, and he made me feel right at home. He answered all my questions and gave me a great price on my new _______. The finance guy Steve Stevens worked with us to meet our budget and made us very happy. It was the best experience buying a car I've ever had and I'll be going back for all my next purchases. They even gave us a great deal on our trade-in!

I have seen these reviews numerous times. You would have to be pretty stupid to believe them. https://www.dealerrater.com/
Is actually pretty good. It's interesting how the service department at every car dealer gets terrible reviews.

 

[Zee09]

Funny I'm in the top 14k reviewers on Amazon.
I got thrown off once for saying I did not like the Bioperine in a supplement.
Was on a 3 month suspension. Basic review, no foul language or attacks.
Weird!