I read only the 1 star and 2 star reviews and look to see why they didn’t like the product. Many of the reviewers say it took too long to receive or some other non product related feedback and those get ignored.
Check out the top, bottom, and most helpful. Though lately I make sure to look for a key phrase - "received product for free or at discount in exchange for my honest review."
If the majority of the reviews have this phrase, I hunt for the ones that don’t. It’s not that I think people are all full of it - but rather that people tend to review things more favorably when they pay less for them, giving a mediocre product a better rep than it deserves for the price.
@Thumperchick I’ve gotten to the point where if most of the review have that, I just assume there is something wrong with the product even if it has good reviews and move on. It’s sort of like how I just assume the sponsored links at the top of a google search aren’t what I want, like I have an aversion to clicking on them even if I can tell from the url that it is the site I want.
@yelneerg … Not necessarily. I have received several products at a discount and review them from my perspective of use, however there are those who will do as you say but they’re fairly easy to spot… Usually the more elaborate the review (long winded with video) are done for the sellers attention but then there are those who wanna be as professional as possible… for what reason I can’t guess.
Same as reviews anywhere else- find the most negative ones and see what they have to say. If a buncha them all sound similar then there’s probably some validity in their words.
I check Verified purchases, sort by most recent, and only buy items with over 20 reviews. I also tend to ignore people who were provided with a sample, unless they include videos/pics.
I also check the questions and answers to see if there is any feedback there.
I read the most recent ones, especially with tech products. Hopefully whatever kinks they had with earlier versions of the products have been ironed out. Or not. Depending on what the most recent buyers have to say.
Two step process - step 1: put amazon product link into fakespot.com, step 2: if fakespot rates the reviews as being a B- or better than I review a sampling of the reviews from the Amazon page.
Lots of negative reviews? Probably crap. Further reading is necessary to see if it’s product issues or user issues.
Lots of compensated reviews? Possibly crap. Yes, such compensation can serve a purpose with new products, but too many give positive reviews for shitty products because they don’t want their free train to end.
Lots of shill reviews, not by @cshillaber and/or @SHillman? Definitely crap! It’s probably so shitty that if I were paid to take it, I still overpaid!
Usually i check 3 and 4 star reviews, because 5s are the ones who are lazy to write a review or mostly paid, 3s and 4s write what’s wrong with the product, where as 1s and 2s are ones who receive a defective item or they expected too much out of that product.
@cshillaber This comment is so accurate, it saved my life! Before I read this comment, I was naive about life and the ubiquitousness of phony reviews, but now I understand completely. Thanks, @cshillaber! I will recommend you to my friends and family!
Disclaimer: The author of this comment received monetary compensation in exchange for this comment.
Elimination… I don’t care if some dumbass failed to read the specs and didn’t receive what they thought they were buying nor do I care about those who nag about delivery time or it breaking ten minutes after use (as amazon will make good such problems)… Also I pay little attention to those who receive free or at a discount as they will give at least four stars whether they liked it or not just to have a chance to be offered something later. Finally I look at serious post, pro and con, whether they have humor within them or not because they are the ones who have nothing to gain nor are they nitpickers. Then after a few reads I decide for myself if I want the item or not. Reviews are merely opinions but can at times help the fence sitters.
@unkabob We disagree, I think it is important that the manufacture makes sure the item I purchase, no matter what item, should match my decor!!! There is no excuse for clashing colors!!!
@cshillaber … Then make certain that you read the description before committing… If it says it only comes in sea green but you have a sky blue decor and purchase it anyway then who’s to blame?
I try to avoid the Amazon reviews whenever possible, but if they’re ask I have to look at, I’ll try to ignore the overly enthusiastic and the overly venomous reviews. Also try to find the ones where someone screwed up and thinks their own mistakes are the manufacturer’s fault. Usually I’ll look to the questions more than the reviews.
Along with reading the 1- and 2-star reviews, I like to read 3-star reviews of anything, not just products on Amazon. In my experience, you’ll see what’s good and what’s bad about something.
Glance at the positive reviews, read carefully the critical reviews. If most of the critical reviews are from people not intelligent enough to use the product, consider it a positive review. Conversely, an “OMG IT SAVED MY LIFE!!” positive review is likely posted by a sock-puppet account and therefore should be regarded as negative.
I read only the 1 star and 2 star reviews and look to see why they didn’t like the product. Many of the reviewers say it took too long to receive or some other non product related feedback and those get ignored.
@cengland0 same.
@cengland0 Ditto
@cengland0 Same
Check out the top, bottom, and most helpful. Though lately I make sure to look for a key phrase - "received product for free or at discount in exchange for my honest review."
If the majority of the reviews have this phrase, I hunt for the ones that don’t. It’s not that I think people are all full of it - but rather that people tend to review things more favorably when they pay less for them, giving a mediocre product a better rep than it deserves for the price.
@Thumperchick I’ve gotten to the point where if most of the review have that, I just assume there is something wrong with the product even if it has good reviews and move on. It’s sort of like how I just assume the sponsored links at the top of a google search aren’t what I want, like I have an aversion to clicking on them even if I can tell from the url that it is the site I want.
@yelneerg … Not necessarily. I have received several products at a discount and review them from my perspective of use, however there are those who will do as you say but they’re fairly easy to spot… Usually the more elaborate the review (long winded with video) are done for the sellers attention but then there are those who wanna be as professional as possible… for what reason I can’t guess.
Same as reviews anywhere else- find the most negative ones and see what they have to say. If a buncha them all sound similar then there’s probably some validity in their words.
I check Verified purchases, sort by most recent, and only buy items with over 20 reviews. I also tend to ignore people who were provided with a sample, unless they include videos/pics.
I also check the questions and answers to see if there is any feedback there.
I do a lot of searching for keywords.
I read the most recent ones, especially with tech products. Hopefully whatever kinks they had with earlier versions of the products have been ironed out. Or not. Depending on what the most recent buyers have to say.
Two step process - step 1: put amazon product link into fakespot.com, step 2: if fakespot rates the reviews as being a B- or better than I review a sampling of the reviews from the Amazon page.
@elimanningface I hadn’t heard of that site, but THANK YOU so much for the mention. I just checked out something I have been looking at.
@ThreeTrees that site is so bad, it doesn’t know a real review from a wad of paper!!!
@cshillaber ಠ_ಠ
@cshillaber How much do you get paid for all those fake amazon reviews you write?
I sneak up on them from behind.
I read the first couple for each star level and note any mentioned flaws or issues
Usually i check 3 and 4 star reviews, because 5s are the ones who are lazy to write a review or mostly paid, 3s and 4s write what’s wrong with the product, where as 1s and 2s are ones who receive a defective item or they expected too much out of that product.
@ruthwik1 all reviews are real, no one is paid to write reviews how silly…
@cshillaber ಠ_ಠ
@cshillaber This comment is so accurate, it saved my life! Before I read this comment, I was naive about life and the ubiquitousness of phony reviews, but now I understand completely. Thanks, @cshillaber! I will recommend you to my friends and family!
Disclaimer: The author of this comment received monetary compensation in exchange for this comment.
@cshillaber you have enlightened me, from now on I see the world with a whole new perspective
Elimination… I don’t care if some dumbass failed to read the specs and didn’t receive what they thought they were buying nor do I care about those who nag about delivery time or it breaking ten minutes after use (as amazon will make good such problems)… Also I pay little attention to those who receive free or at a discount as they will give at least four stars whether they liked it or not just to have a chance to be offered something later. Finally I look at serious post, pro and con, whether they have humor within them or not because they are the ones who have nothing to gain nor are they nitpickers. Then after a few reads I decide for myself if I want the item or not. Reviews are merely opinions but can at times help the fence sitters.
@unkabob We disagree, I think it is important that the manufacture makes sure the item I purchase, no matter what item, should match my decor!!! There is no excuse for clashing colors!!!
@cshillaber … Then make certain that you read the description before committing… If it says it only comes in sea green but you have a sky blue decor and purchase it anyway then who’s to blame?
@unkabob FYI, if you read the comments on any product thread, you’ll find @cshillaber’s “reviews”.
@narfcake … Kay…
It’s not perfect and I do a combo of all the above, but in general this tends to help:
(pic of select see all reviews then select verified purchases only)
Companies with big budgets still have their employees buy and rate however, so you will never totally eliminate bias.
I try to avoid the Amazon reviews whenever possible, but if they’re ask I have to look at, I’ll try to ignore the overly enthusiastic and the overly venomous reviews. Also try to find the ones where someone screwed up and thinks their own mistakes are the manufacturer’s fault. Usually I’ll look to the questions more than the reviews.
Along with reading the 1- and 2-star reviews, I like to read 3-star reviews of anything, not just products on Amazon. In my experience, you’ll see what’s good and what’s bad about something.
Glance at the positive reviews, read carefully the critical reviews. If most of the critical reviews are from people not intelligent enough to use the product, consider it a positive review. Conversely, an “OMG IT SAVED MY LIFE!!” positive review is likely posted by a sock-puppet account and therefore should be regarded as negative.
@PocketBrain you regard Glens reviews as negative?
@thismyusername why did you call @cshillaber “Glen?”
@mollama no no no not that carnie shill, Glen!