Comment by xp84
2 years ago
And it’s bonkers how little they care about things that impact the customer. I’m a “Vine” reviewer (free* products in exchange for a review). Sellers game this system by listing a dozen or two duplicate SKUs and submit them to Vine, each in very small quantities (<5). Then, they wait for the reviews to come in. Then any of the SKUs which got negative reviews are deactivated, and the rest of the listings are merged into one. Instant highly-reviewed product! A complete mockery of what both reviews and Vine are supposed to be about, yet Amazon turns a completely blind eye. I mean, one non-skilled FTE could do the job of policing Vine for abuse like that, and they do not even care a bit to try.
*Note, they 1099 you for full retail value so really it’s just a discount of 100% minus your marginal fed and state income tax rate!
Re: Vine reviewers (recipient of a free product): whenever I see only their reviews on a product, always 5 stars even on the most garbage chinese-made ones, I know what to avoid.
To me, seeing their review is an indication of terrible product that decided to pay off some easily corruptible reviewers that give away 5 stars just to keep receiving free stuff.
I understand your explanation, but as a user, established brands don't have to pay off reviewers at all.