Amazon user reviews

When I am considering making a purchase on Amazon one of the first things I check is who is actually selling the item, Amazon or someone else. I am more cautious when the seller is not Amazon itself. I read the reviews carefully and I like to see a lot of reviews for any given item. It is usually fairly easy to weed out the reviews that don't really focus on the product. Those include things like products arriving late or packages damaged in shipping, etc. I also dismiss reviews that are lacking in detail. I want to know about both the pros and cons and I appreciate people who take the time to write reviews that include those kinds of details. I also look for any common points, both good and bad, that appear in multiple reviews. I read good reviews and I definitely read the bad ones. So far I have found most of them to be quite helpful.

If I am trying to find the best item to buy, I will rely first on Amazon reviews (one star and two star reviews pointing out flaws in the product), and maybe Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is not as useful as it used to be. It only lists a few items of each type, and lists them in a brief chart that does not really tell you very much. The older Consumer Reports magazines would devote a few pages to reviewing the items in more detail. Other than for automobiles, Consumer Reports now devotes the longer multi-page reviews to consumer issues, rather than consumer hard goods. I bought a Mr. Coffee K-Cup coffee maker on sale in Walmart, and it stopped working after a couple of months. I read all the reviews for K-Cup machines on Amazon, and finally decided to give up on K-Cup machines completely, as they all seem to be junk. To make coffee, I am presently using up my supply of K-Cups by emptying them into a pot of boiling water (1 K-Cup per quart of water). I remove the boiling pot of water from the heat, empty in the K-Cups, stir for a few minutes, let the coffee settle, then pour it through a filter and filter holder into a stainless steel water pitcher. When the pitcher cools, I cover the top with plastic wrap and a rubber band, and put it in the refrigerator for use over the next few days. So I found the Amazon one star and two star reviews to be very helpful. They saved me from wasting more money on K-Cup machines. You can't do that by looking at them on a store shelf.
I also have a retirement hobby of writing Amazon reviews, and I recently received emails from companies wanting to put together a stable of Amazon review writers. One company was even willing to pay for the reviews of free products. I told them no thank you, for many reasons. I am not looking to start up a paying business. I don't want to deal with any of their rules and conditions. I don't like other people making rules for me to follow, I prefer to make my own. I don't want a houseful of free junk that I can't use. I am not even willing to pay the postage on these free items listed on Amazon, under Amazon's new coupon code system. I have no desire to subscribe to the Amazon Prime "free" shipping program. And last, but not least, how impartial can a review be when you are getting paid to write it, or being told what to write and how to write it? I can think of a few other reasons, but as Frank Sinatra said in the famous song, I did it my way, and on my own.

I read reviews of any major product that I'm interested in purchasing BUT I am very choosy about on which site I read those reviews, some are filled with 'fake' reviews (easily detected because of poor spelling, grammar etc). I also take every review with a grain of salt...I've been criticized for a lot of the reviews I post, but as I point out, each person is unique in his/her perspective and needs that the product has to fulfil, so where one reviewer's expectations weren't met by the product, it doesn't follow that everyone's needs won't be met necessarily.

About 90% of what we purchase, that is not food or gas, we purchase from Amazon. The main reason are the user reviews.

It's a shame that many times reviews are fake, paid for. Some of them are easy to recognize. Amazon helps in two ways.

1) Vine reviews are actual products sent to a select group of people for free just for writing reviews. Those reviews have proven to be actually a little more negative than the average review. In other words just because they received the product for free doesn't guarantee a positive review. I pay more attention to Vine reviews than non-Vine reviews.

2) Amazon indicates when someone has actually purchased a product. This helps a little although it is quite possible for someone to be paid to buy a product in exchange for a positive review.

I ignore very short positive reviews because they aren't helpful and I suspect many of them are fake.

I don't like to rely on user comments when there are very few because they might all be fake. I really like to see products with 100+ user reviews.

I am skeptical of reviews that are five stars and 100% positive comments. In fact when I begin to research a product for purchase I will normally look at the 3 star reviews first. But I also begin by looking at the bar chart for a clue about the overall acceptance, or rejection, of a product.

I generally do a lot of research before buying almost any product. I also tend to be diligent about writing detailed reviews for other potential purchasers.

When actually looking to buy a product, I usually throw out the best and worst ratings and rely on those in the middle. It's common knowledge that shills are used to (both) attract and dissuade potential customers. Those will probably reside at the extremes. The more reviews the better. I also pay attention to the dates as one can get an idea of how long a product or item has been around.

I need to admit that I'll often read reviews about products I really have no intention of buying and do so just for the entertainment value. Some of the most hilarious writing comes from these reviews. I find these to be much better than what comes out of the mouths of today's professional comedians.

I shop Amazon more than I do brick and mortar and so reviews replace hands-on examination and are taken very seriously by me. I have a standard that helps in my decision to purchase: I never buy products with less than 10 or no reviews, I do not buy if over 20% of the reviews fall between 1-3 stars, I don't buy if the negative reviews are of a consistent nature (ex: defective product), I bypass those with poor customer service and if the style of comments appear familiar across several reviews then I'm suspicious. I will retain my confidence and respect for Amazon if they do pursue the suit and I hope they win and kick those vendor out. BTW - I'm one of those buyers who answer questions and write reviews on every item I've bought so far. That sharing aspect is a level of honesty I expect and one of the reasons I like Amazon.

Not sure I understand the difference between options B and C? Both appear to mean that user reviews are disregarded. How about replacing current option C with 'Of some use'?

If we pay no attention to the user reviews, then what criteria do we base a purchase decision upon - Amazon seller's descriptions (limited and sometimes incorrect) or a product photo (often misleading)? Sure, if you've visited a physical store and seen, touched, smelt, licked (OK, maybe not licked) the product then at least you have an idea of what you're buying. Doesn't tell you how reliable or easy to use though.

Customer reviews are important but, like many folk have already said, you do need to apply common sense 'filters' to all reviews and, over time, develop a 'strategy of interpretation' that works for you. You certainly can't make a judgement call based solely on star rating - you need to read the entire review. A case in point: I was looking at user reviews with intent to purchase a bicycle rear light. Read a two star review that said something like 'not much use to me as I don't cycle at night.' Duh!

This is HUGE! While I usually detest when The Big Gorilla of Retail throws it's weight around, I am behind Amazon 1000% on this one. Reviews aren't worth much is someone can game their system, and I don't like buying things sight unseen unless there are a few reviews behind it. I also take Yelp reviews with a big grain of salt, and hope everyone else does too!

There should be no penalty in here for any retailer or company conducting business with Amazon that it's selling or producing a fake review. If you produce a fake review it tells me you have no integrity for your product, your company, let alone for consumers. They should all be booted out!
One way to minimize these, perhaps will be a way to link or synchronize the user ID that posted the review with their Amazon account with recent purchases that matches the product that is being reviewed. In my oponion it's a loss for Amazon in the end because customers will stop shopping there.

The level of importance of Amazon's review system is very valuable to me when making a purchase. Many, many times I have changed my purchase based on (generally bad) reviews. HOWEVER, I do take them with a grain of salt. Especially if there are only a few reviews, they are all dazzlingly positive, or if similar products don't match up.

Also, the vendor feedback is important. As a huge Amazon shopper, I realize the importance of feedback from the customers so I make attempts to offer feedback on the item purchased, shipping, and vendor when possible.
Yes, it takes an extra amount of time - as does responding to this forum. Generally, time I have saved from driving to different stores looking for something. But, the feedback system is clearly one of Amazon's best assets.

I wondered if they were combating false feedback when the tag "Verified Purchase" first appeared.

I am a member of the Amazon Vine program and take reviewing very seriously. I am ALWAYS honest. If a product is good, I say so. If a product is bad, I say so. I try to be clear about why I do or don't like something and also, if applicable, how to make it work for you. As a professional technical author, expressing this is important. What I don't like is reading a review that states only that it arrived late or broken. This is not a review. This is about delivery, not product. A good product review is one that discusses the merits, or lack of, in a product. Nobody pays me for my reviews, but as I value a useful review from someone else, I try to do my best to be helpful.

When I check out others' reviews, I start with the 1 stars, then the 5 stars and then look at the overall balance. The total overall number of reviews and their values is very important. For example, 1 review only means very little where as 300 reviews of which 250 are 5 star is revealing. 5 reviews, all of 2 stars or less is also revealing. You don't need to read them all to find out what you want. I never buy anything on Amazon without first looking at the review stats.

Interestingly, even when I am honest in saying that something is poor in quality, these reviews are seldom popular. People seem to want to read only good reviews. Personally I'd rather know what people really think to help me choose.

I have found that even Consumer Reports Ratings are not reliable. People lie on them. Ever watch the Shopping channels and how people call in and rave about a product, they never put on any that complain. Some even give you points for favorable reviews. I read a few and look for those that give 1-3 stars and see what they say. Some complaints are not legit as the person posting did not understand the product.

I buy a lot from Amazon and take the reviews seriously. I research purchases thoroughly including the full range of user reviews and other site reviews. I am a Consumer Reports subscriber. My user reviews are generally written a few weeks after using the item. I try to point out not only item quality but also any interesting ways to use the product,especially electronics/computers/hardware. I always hope authors of user reviews are open and honest! Terry Dennis

I find the ratings important in my purchase of a product or the vendor used

I rate on Amazon and used to be pretty active on CNET, but I wouldn't be surprised if some readers thought I was a shill for some products. I believe in giving a five star review for a product that deserves it!! With so much junk being sold world over, I feel a good product deserves the highest rating it can get, to assure the averages make it plain that it is a superior product. Too many times I see very critical reviews, that are obviously staged by competitors to a manufactured product, trying to push the competition off the market. I try to counter act this as long as the product or service is actually the best I've even tried. I may come off as emotional some times, because I believe so strongly in this. This doesn't lend me as much credence as I would like, but I give up gravitas to praise for things I strongly believe in, and I can be that way about good products - I just can't help it!

I try to put as much detail as to why I like it so much, in hopes folks won't think I'm just another paid typist working in a sweat shop for some foreign manufacturer. One can always review my other posts easily, so they can see I can be a spoiler for bad products too! I can also be just as critical of a bad product as I can be a cheerleader for excellence as well. I want others to have an easier time of shopping for the best, as I don't want anyone to go through the same process I had to again. As others here have already said, it is difficult enough to buy sight unseen, without people putting stumbling blocks in front of us.

I also don't mind getting emails from Amazon to help other answer questions about products I've reviewed. Once again, to make other's experience as smooth as possible. Unfortunately Amazon does a poor job describing features of their stock, and it can be very frustrating, so we reviewers have to stand together to make the world a better place, in my not so humble opinion!!

When I look at reviews, I usually look at the number of reviews, the more reviews there are, the more likely a good percentage are valid - especially if from verified purchasers. Also I will usually ignore the very bad ones and the very good ones. I will also go to other sites and read reviews, too many times the shills will go to different sites and post the very same review.

A. Very important

If it is not a "Verified Purchase" comment then I treat it with less importance.

I even read eviews on items I am not going to buy on Amazon.
I leave reviews on most products I buy on Amazon. A few times I'll leave a review on a product bought elsewhere.

Who cares about who liked it. Always check and see the negative reviews if they're all petty comments or comments from people who have trouble knowing how to load batteries then the product is probably doing what it's intended to do. Remember people who can't figure something out aren't a reliable commentators. But real people who've used and can tell you what didn't work is way more enlightening.

PS Always take Consumer Reports with a grain of salt as well. Real user reports are usually better. Once again if there's nothing bad being said it just might be good. Most people will always rank something high regardless if they've actually used it. It's how Apple has convinced so many people that they have a great product. Don't read the good Apple reviews read the bad ones about durability, battery life, etc it won't tell you that Apple products are terrible just not as good as most people claim.

PPS Equally frustrating are these fake review sites that just repost other content under their own review but the reviews lack any real technical rigor. They do nothing but waste your time or all they do is compare specs.

I never use a "single" review source to sway my choice to buy a large item or even an important one. I will search many sources to establish a overall view since many different users makes a better pictures.

I read someone saying that if you find someone using one of these fake review sites to up the ante on their products and they should be allowed several chances. I would say that Amazon sets a policy and informs all of those who sell that the policy is full compliance.

Any site that uses, purchases, a review process to increase their sales for any reason is eliminated from the site permanently. This way you stop this. They should also make sure that their is enough information about a company that it could be validated. If you don't do this step, a company will continue to change its name to keep on selling.

If you can force enough information, then you can slow if not stop all future attempts to continue this practice.

That's what they are to me.
I look for repetitions, cookie cutter type reviews. A lot of the same words and I generally stay away. If it looks or is priced mediocre then I wonder if there is something wrong with product or seller. I then check out other sites.

...I use Linux. I go to the Search box for the reviews, put in "Linux" and read other's experiences. If most claim it works "out of the box" (or ISO), and gave good service, it's a go. If the item advertises as "linux capable" but others tell of needing to download and compile and then install a mod to the kernel, and even then it works only on "cold days in hell", I look elsewhere. Low rated reviews are also good once you've weeded out the obviously ignorant ones by newbies.

Amazon bugs me for a review before I have unpacked the product- over half the reviews on anything are written before the buyer has subjected the object to the test of time. A review only describing a TV as having a great picture is not as valuable as one discussing months of tribulations.

What bothers me more is when the website itself manipulates the reviews. It is widely believed that Yelp puts unfavorable reviews in a unseen Not Recommended area unless the business owner pays Yelp more than $400 per month. A fellow physician friend got a good Yelp review which for no reason was put in Not Recommended. The patient was unable to get Yelp to print the review. As a physician I am particularly upset when we can't respond to inaccurate reviews due to patient privacy concerns. We had one review that bitched about her LASIK- the reviewer gave enough information (city of residence, first name) that we could determine she never had the procedure.

In summary, I think I can spot some phony good reviews, but the most damaging ones are the phony bad reviews from competitors.