WWYD? Amazon reviews.
13I’ve been contacted by a product manufacturer for an item I reviewed on Amazon maybe eight or ten months ago. The review was 5-stars and overwhelmingly positive, noting only a few minor cons with the product.
The manufacturer contacted me, told me they have discontinued that product and have replaced it with a “new and improved” version. The features and specifications I mention in my review would no longer be accurate. They’ve asked me to delete my review and have offered monetary compensation to do so. Considering the request, and the ease with which I could choose to complete their request, I would say they’ve offered a relatively significant sum.
If it was a negative review they were asking me to delete I wouldn’t consider it. Even if it was a mediocre review I would be compelled to let it stand. But this is a shining, 5 star review they are asking me to pop.
Review manipulation is a serious problem with Amazon products. Absolutely. But does this fall into that category? Or is a manufacturer simply attempting to avoid any misunderstanding by prospective buyers who might read the now obsolete specifications in my review?
- 19 comments, 20 replies
- Comment
If you want the money, go for it. If you don’t, you can just edit your review if you feel like it.
Edit: This review was for a purchase 8 months ago, and some items/specs above may no longer be accurate
Did the message come directly from the seller, and matches who you bought it from? It’s not a competitor pretending to be them?
@lichme The message is confirmed to have been sent from the manufacturer/seller.
@lichme The edit is a good idea. Put it as the first sentence.
Could you forgo the money in lieu of the newer version of the product and give them an honest review for the new version?
@jst1ofknd Good suggestion. Although I have no need for the product, taking this route would surely clear my conscience. The value of the item exceeds their cash incentive offer, but they are the maker, so they may be in for about the same total cost either way.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This is an option which would leave my conscience clear, and replenish my stash for the next mehxchange.
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind Yes, this. Tell them you’d be happy to review the updated product if they’d like to send you one.
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind I was going to say the same thing. I would feel conflicted to edit a review without actually trying the new product.
It would be worth asking, see what they say. And for what it is worth, if they say no I would leave my review as-is. It was your true opinion on the item you purchased.
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974
Yup. This.
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind
I don’t care for the “I got it free, but this is an honest review” reviews in general, even tho I totally trust you.
In part I’m sceptical, because the people who do that a lot tend to be very superficial and way way too positive.
In part, because getting something for free in order to test it doesn’t put someone into the same mindset at buying something at a regular or sales price because someone is willing to spend money for it.
So I wouldn’t personally take an updated freebie in exchange for an updated review.
That said, if you chose to do that in these circumstances (updated freebie, updated review), let me emphasize again, I would trust you to do a truly useful review.
So do whatever suits you and seems right.
@f00l @jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind
I really enjoyed this post! (Just to be honest, I received this post FREE thanks to the meh forums.)
I would read this post again, and apart from a small spelling error, this post was flawless! It was very fresh and enjoyable! I think most households would enjoy this post too!
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind @therealjrn
Well, I hope that, as you are a mountain-climbing, multilingual, multi-employed secret agent and parent of 17 home-schooled minor children, that my post helped your shoes fit better while you cook breakfast!
These little things are so important.
@f00l You don’t read AMZN reviews much, do you @f00l?
You were supposed to write back in some kind of Engrish thanking me or restating the selling points of your post.
It’s OK, you’re perfect in every way. Don’t ever change.
@therealjrn
I admit to being remiss and careless in my recent reading of Amazon reviews and seller replies.
/giphy amazon fail!
My 2 cents. The company may be trying to avoid the “I got this free to review” with a glowing review that may be dismissed or cause someone to not purchase.
I think the company should leave the listing as is and have a link to the updated product in a new listing. No need to do anything with the reviews.
I think I would be ok removing a positive review. I can see the reasoning for an edit but I think it would detract from the review or some idiot will skim over it and read only what they want to hear.
@speediedelivery or what they want to read…
@speediedelivery Yeah, I’m missing their angle here. Why does the review content matter so much to them? Is this the “most helpful” review or something and everyone reads it?
What a different type of Amazon seller! Usually you encounter the lowlifes who take over an item listing with hood m good reviews and sell a crappier product on it. Not the other way round.
I agree with what everyone else has said above about seeing if they will let you review the new one. Manipulating the review either way for money seems sketch.
Your review should indicate that you are a verified purchaser. I would opt for the updated review indicating that the manufacturer updated the product and specifications may have changed. e.g.:
This is common with electronics and trend items. Clarify your review and be done with a clear conscience.
The manufacturer could be trying to game fakespot if your glowing review got flagged as an outlier.
The features and specifications I mention in my review would no longer be accurate.
Actually they would still be accurate. A new product should have a new listing with a new set of reviews.
@yakkoTDI
I completely agree. What they are doing with this seems a smidge on the shady side.
@jst1ofknd @yakkoTDI Agree as well - if you want to add a disclaimer it should say the review is what you bought back in such and such year and you know there is a newer version, so things might be different.
It does seem a little shady, as the only reason I could think of for them to ask you to remove a glowing review is that maybe some feature you thought was great isn’t so great anymore, or maybe not even there. In which case, it’s their problem if they’re trying to pass off a cheapened version as the same thing - they should give it a distinct model number or something.
Get that money
I have been harassed by a Amazon seller for 3 or 4 months to change out a review. The product was good, but the seller changed shipping times twice. I could have re-ordered the item to get it much faster.
I left a below-average review for the seller and mentioned their changing of shipping dates. They finally stopped bugging me a few weeks ago.
I doubt if I’d change the review…
I’d take the money as long as the product issues were truly addressed.
I think we may be blowing this out of proportion (me included). We’re not talking about some be legal or ethical quandary here. We’re talking about removing an over all favorable review. I change my vote.
/youtube take the money and run
NO, DON’T TAKE THE MONEY. EVERYBODY KNOWS ONLY POOR PEOPLE ARE HONEST.
Do not touch your review.
I used to do a lot of reviews on my own (got my “score” to under 10k) then I got into the “free item for review” thing and tried to be honest - only got things I would actually use and didn’t look too crappy. When they did the clamp down I stopped doing them completely but continued to review the items I actually purchased. About a year later they decided I was still doing sketchy things and completely blocked my ability to review anything. I protested it several times but nothing came of it. Now, about 5 years later they are letting me review again, but ALL of them have to go through review and it takes days for them to get posted and I still can’t add pictures to my reviews.
If it even hints of being unusual they block my review. I got some earbuds off “reddit deals” and tried to review it and it was blocked.
The TL;DR is - If you enjoy reviewing products to actually help people, don’t do anything when a seller asks you to. Someone will report them and then every review will come into question - especially the ones that have been edited recently and Amazon has no sympathy when it comes to their reviews.
Curious, how can you be sure it’s the actual manufacturer of the device and not a competitor pretending to be the manufacturer to have positive reviews removed from their competition?
@cengland0 They first contacted me via Amazon’s messaging service when I bought the product, thanking me for my purchase, and providing links to user guides, and support information should I need it. Later they followed up via direct email to make sure everything was as expected and double checking to see if I had any questions or concerns. The contact person’s name matches, and the domain name matches the company’s website. The recent contact came from that same person.
Take the money and update your review? Take the money and then tell Amazon?
“Send me the newer one I’ll ldo a new review as an update”
I’m with @medz I say, DOOOOO IT
@moonhat
“Gotta make this money.
This money is me.
This money is everything I do and see.
Who are you to judge me?” - Kid Rock
/youtube fists of rage
Well, it’s official. I’m going to hell.
My choice was based on a few points:
Purpose. What was the motivation behind this request to delete the review. Based on my experience with them and their excellent post-purchase customer service and subsequent follow up, I do believe they strive to deliver a decent product and purchase experience. I concluded their stated purpose was genuine (to avoid customer confusion resulting in dissatisfied buyers and an unpleasant buying experience). Marketplace sellers take a serious hit when products are returned to Amazon. I can understand why they would need to avoid that.
And, hey, it was a hunnert bucks people!
So, ya, hell in my future.
@ruouttaurmind damn that is a lot if money to take a review down or edit it!!! Where ya taking us all for dinner not that you are rollin in it
@tinamarie1974 If they’re paying $100 to kill a 5-star review, I wonder what the going rate is for a 1-star?!
@ruouttaurmind hhuummmm. Good question. Let me leave one real quick and see what they say lol
I wonder how many people they reached out to with similar requests?
I get these type requests quite often. The things to note is that they’re ASKING you to remove the previous review. It’s not a condition to receive the new item nor monetary compensation.
That in mind, in situations where I’m sent the same item as originally reviewed, I analyze it and consider the possibility that the first item was a lemon. I then revise my review to fit the item that appears to work as intended. Though often my review does not change.
In situations where an item has been discontinued and an updated item is sent, I LEAVE MY ORIGINAL REVIEW. I’ll then receive the updated item and review it accordingly, being sure to include photos as proof that I own(ed) that particular product since the review may not include the “Verified Purchase” tag.
To be clear, I’ll revise a review if I received a lemon, BUT I make it clear that I did receive a lemon which needed to be replaced. I NEVER simply delete a review.
IDK, it’s a good review they’re asking to be deleted. If it was anything shady, as in they lowered the quality of the product slyly, they’d be happy to have it up. I’d ask for follow up at the least.