Fake Amazon reviews and what you can do

[JT20]

All the red highlighted items are what I call "Amazon Junk Chinese Fake Brand" items that are highly rated because they're:

1. Substantially cheaper than the competition, so mad consumers are less likely to ding the product for being crap.
2. Monitored for bad reviews by the sellers who will give a complete refund of the purchase price in exchange for a good review.

These brands are not hard to spot.. they're made up words.. almost like they were told by Bezos to make their origin obvious. Not once in 5+ years of noticing these products on Amazon have I seen a brand name that was a decent attempt at sounding established (something like "Rugged Hoses" or "Classic Tools").. it's always some janky combo of words like QQLAB or SARGSKY.


They come up in ANY search related to popular and common items like electronics, hand tools, shop tools, clothing, kitchen gadgets, health gadgets. They don't appear much when it comes to food or cosmetic items like cologne, aftershave, etc.

I flat out don't buy these brands unless the established brand (like Goodyear) appears to sell the exact same item at a huge markup.

Shopping for well known brands is one way to avoid being suckered on Amazon.

Does Goodyear even make a good tire? Goodyear is the one I remember being expensive.. seemingly, just because it said Goodyear.

SimpleTireDirect or DirectTireDiscount.com (if I got those websites right) have some really amazing prices on both on and off-brand tires (which I cannot help but wonder if they are all made at the same place, anything from Nankang on up) and if you select Pep Boys as an installer you're likely coming out ahead, especially if doing all 4.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I flat out don't buy these brands unless the established brand (like Goodyear) appears to sell the exact same item at a huge markup.

The Goodyear brand air hose is probably made in the same China factory.

 

[SZR48207]

The Goodyear brand air hose is probably made in the same China factory.

Maybe that one on Amazon, but I have a legit USA made Goodyear rubber air hose that lasted me over a decade with no issues. Funny enough I bought it at Harbor Freight of all places.

 

[Andrew1972]

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.

Do they use the internet? He makes far more money on his web services than retail by intense margin.

 

[Andrew1972]

The product has to be decent or over rated for me to review it. An non Amazon email sent asking for it is very tacky and invasive.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Do they use the internet? He makes far more money on his web services than retail by intense margin.

Yep they use the internet constantly. I didn’t know he had any stuff other than Amazon on the internet.

 

[alarmguy]

As a followup, I attempted to post a review of a product I bought and then realized there were some highly suspicious reviews for that product. I stated my concerns (all factual) and added that I would update my review after I had used it long enough to give a full review. Sure enough, Amazon refused to allow the comment - based on their list of potential reasons for this it would have to have been this item:

Any attempt to manipulate Community content or features, including contributing false, misleading, or inauthentic content, is strictly prohibited.

Interesting. My comment was trying to question/expose likely inauthentic content.

One thing some may forget is that a lot of manufacturers will list product reviews on their own website, and it's not unusual for those comments to have originated on other sites (Amazon being a common one).

First let me say I hate Amazon and they are my last resort purchase place. With that said, their reviews are not a "forum" so I can see their point about not allowing you to scrutinize other peoples reviews. I agree with that. Just because someone might think something is odd or off about a review does not mean its fake. Actually Amazon could be accused of being discriminatory against the way certain people of different nationalities type and as well, dont agree with your way of thinking.

You can not have the public questioning or exposing inauthentic content just because "you think" it is inauthentic. The entire site would become a "oil debate" and worthless. The smart, like us, will be able to tell for ourselves.
You do have the option to "Report Abuse" and also to "Comment"

 

[stockrex]

I am sure some high profile atty is collecting these review denials and going to file a class action law suit against amazon.
As a frequent buyer on amazon, I see this is a them cooking their books and overt attempt to mislead me the consumer. I am tempted to post my youtube review of the item so it is picked up by google

 

[PandaBear]

I typically just look for a pattern in the 1 star and start from there. You may even see genuine reviews then suddenly they change inventories and now it is bad. Patterns on the same failure over and over will likely tell you the real picture, and it is not something they can dilute enough. If you only see user error leads to 1 star then that's expected and I'd trust the good reviews.

 

[walterjay]

I had purchased a self closing recessed medicine cabinet from Home Depot. Parts of the self closing hinge popped out and needed replacement. I called HD and they informed me that there are no parts available for a replacement so tough luck. I wrote an honest level headed review for the unit and submitted it. HD would not post it saying that it did not meet their product review requirements. So what is one to do? So I have a hard time believing reviews.

 

[SZR48207]

I had purchased a self closing recessed medicine cabinet from Home Depot. Parts of the self closing hinge popped out and needed replacement. I called HD and they informed me that there are no parts available for a replacement so tough luck. I wrote an honest level headed review for the unit and submitted it. HD would not post it saying that it did not meet their product review requirements. So what is one to do? So I have a hard time believing reviews.

I've had the exact same experience when I tried to write a review on the Walmart.com website.

 

[stockrex]

wow, that is super shady of Homedepot and Walmart,
I would post your experience still on gardenweb other diy websites.

 

[Silver]

Amazon is so old hat with its fake reviews, fake products and randomly generated brand names.

I literally trust the random ebay seller far more than Amazon's direct sale items, not to mention their fly by night "sellers".

No matter how common it is, it's wrong and should not be tolerated.

 

[Silver]

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.

Our Walmarts are doing their part in population control. During the pandemic, they've rearranged stores so you have to spend more time in them wondering around looking for what you need with even more lost people, they've closed entrances, forcing more people closer together, and also shortened hours in order to ensure more people in the store at the same time.

They are truly a force to be reckoned with when it comes to curbing the world population!

 

[alarmguy]

I read the low rated reviews, in the following order, 1 star, 2, 3, 4 and then 5.
I try to match up what matters to me. Good tip on looking up profiles.
I rather know the "bad" low star reviews vs the good

 

[Dave Hess]

I buy 90% of what I need on Amazon and just stick to the name brand items I need.

 

[Duffyjr]

Been a Prime member for a while and always figured the free shipping helped pay for the annual fee. Then a few years ago I signed up for the Amazon/Chase card. It gives me 5% back on any purchase at Amazon, 2% back on restaurants, gas station, drug stores and 1% back on every thing else. So I use that card all month for every thing and pay it off at the end and I usually end up with around $30ish a month back, that more than pays for the Prime membership fee.

But you do have to watch what you buy but that's true any where these days.

 

[PandaBear]

I buy 90% of what I need on Amazon and just stick to the name brand items I need.

The problem is, many seller have the same inventories and Amazon mixed up their inventories and then sell them the same way.

It works in theory if they are the same, but if some are fake, or some are old stocks pass best by time, then you are getting the bad stuff even when you order the good ones.

This is why I don't buy food and vitamins off Amazon.

 

[Mainia]

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!

What is wrong with Bioperine?

https://www.formulatehealth.com/blog/bioperine-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-do

 

[mightymousetech]

I avoid Amazon as much as possible. So much fake and counterfeit crap it’s unbelievable.