Never rely solely on positive reviews

[revmacian]

I am posting this because I feel it will benefit the community. This information serves as an example of why we should never rely solely on positive reviews.

I was browsing the Amazon website to find a nice USB-C hub for my 2019 MacBook Air. I have a habit of reading all of the negative reviews for a product before ever considering the positive reviews. This habit was adopted when I found numerous ways for a vendor to discourage negative reviews. There are also websites which offer paid review services. It is usually easy to read negative reviews and determine whether the review is a result of user error or product failure.

My two-rule system, which I feel applies to everything:
* Never trust a Star rating without reading the reviews
* Always read the negative reviews first

Within five minutes I was able to find several instances where vendors attempted to discourage negative reviews. I have included screenshots from two different product listings below.






I applaud the above reviewers for posting their findings.

 

[decafjava]

Not surprised at all, shilling is still a thing and saw a blatant example on another forum (game related).

 

[44267547]

I’m similar. Anytime I’m about to purchase a product, (rather it be for fitness/tech or car accessories/parts), I want know about what I’m purchasing. I tend to be one of those who reads all the reviews, both good/bad.

Especially if it’s from a smaller company that I haven’t heard of, I like as much external resources as possible. But I agree, I think the ‘negative reviews’ are ones that point out the flaws with a product versus the highlighted features that we know are good. Consumers should be skeptical, because there are paid shills who post these glorified reviews of a product to promote the brand/company.

I personally do a lot of buying from Amazon as a Prime member, and I’m pretty comfortable if it’s sold through ‘Prime’, being I know Amazon will make it right if there is something wrong with the product or it wasn’t listed properly, ect.

Various vendors will do _anything_ to get your money, but investigative homework parsing through reviews is necessary, that means being partial to both good and bad reviews. And it doesn’t have to be for a certain dollar amount, we as consumers just want something that’s listed accurately and reliable for what we’re spending our money on.

 

[maxjohnson2]

You can try FakeSpot and ReviewMeta which are two websites that rate the authenticity of Amazon (and other sellers) reviews.

 

[Huntn]

I look at both positive and negative views. It takes some interpretation. Most of the stuff I get from Amazon is good to satisfactory. I’ve gotten some junk, and returns are usually easy.

 

[benshive]

I look at both positive and negative views. It takes some interpretation. Most of the stuff I get from Amazon is good to satisfactory. I’ve gotten some junk, and returns are usually easy.

Same, although I take reviews from people who received the product for free to review with a giant grain of salt.

P.S., the first link in your signature goes to a video that's set to private on YouTube, in case you weren't aware

 

[velocityg4]

Another annoyance of review gaming is when they add unrelated products to a well reviewed product. Even when it is the same device but different specs or generations. Just because it is a similar product. Doesn't mean all revisions and generations are the same quality. Unless it is different packaged quantities, color or something else unrelated. Reviews should be kept separate. As I understand this is the rule. But sellers combine ASINs all the time.

While I realize policing every attempt to merge products would be overwhelming. They could at least have a flag button. If enough people flag an item as unrelated. The products get separated automatically.

In either instance you have to sift through reviews to see if the product you are interested in is any good. Amazon and other sellers need to add a review filter. So you can see the star rating for only that product. At least Amazon's filters allow you to specify reading reviews for a specific product from verified purchases. But the star rating remains combined.

I've had a seller offer me a bribe too when I left a bad product review. First it was a partial refund. Then a full refund. I never responded and they eventually just gave me a full refund without my request or approval. I left the negative review up and never responded. I think I also reported them to Amazon for the bribe. But can't recall if I actually went ahead and reported them or just thought about it.

 

[jdechko]

My first stop for reviews is almost always the wirecutter. The Wirecutter
A lot like Consumer Reports used to be. They do a lot of good reviews on a lot of things and will pick out what’s good and what’s not. Usually their recommendations are good enough and I’ll buy based on their recommendations unless I have specific needs.
Here are their selections for USB-C hubs: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-usb-c-hubs-and-docks/

 

[Huntn]

Same, although I take reviews from people who received the product for free to review with a giant grain of salt.

P.S., the first link in your signature goes to a video that's set to private on YouTube, in case you weren't aware

I’m thinking that mean that it’s a link that only works if I am signed in? I research that, thanks!

Update: @benshive First link in my signature is fixed. It appears they took it down and put it back up!

 

[max2]

Never trust the internet entirely. That is rule #1

 

[Roller]

I, too, read the negative reviews first. But some are not complaints about the product itself, but something related to, say, delivery problems, which may not be the vendor's fault. I've never returned a purchase to Amazon because it didn't meet my expectations, though there were a few times where doing that just wasn't worth my trouble, so I posted a review instead.

My biggest issue with Amazon has been about Apple products, especially accessories like cables and adapters. I suspect many of them aren't genuine, so I tend to avoid them.

 

[maflynn]

I usually ignore single star and 5 star reviews. Its the middle group that seems to be the most accurate.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I read detailed reviews before buying a product, and find those that set out the pros and the cons to be the most helpful.

 

[adrianlondon]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not used it, but I'm sure my mother would love it for Christmas

⭐
They tried to deliver when I was out. Pathetic service.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I tend to stick to brands I've heard of. Even if you pay a bit more. For example I find Anker to be a good source for cables etc. But some of the no name brands are terrible.

As for reviews I tend to go by volume. The more 5 star or 1 star reviews there are the greater the chance of them being genuine.

However I never write reviews. I'm not doing unpaid marketing work thanks. Got better things to do with my time than assist Amazon in its unhealthy business practises.

 

[Healer Flame]

Booking.com has the most reliable and helpful reviews about Hotels.

 

[HDFan]

There are also websites which offer paid review services.

Which ones are those? The only ones I know about are the free ones, such as

ReviewMeta.com - Amazon Review Checker

reviewmeta.com

Fakespot - Love Everything You Buy

Fakespot spots, analyzes and identifies fake reviews and counterfeits - helping you out when buying stuff online.

www.fakespot.com

These were mentioned in a Consumer Reports report on hijacked reviews, where ratings of, say, a iPhone adapter is boosted by including reviews for a coffee mug, dust blower, and motherboard.

I look at the one and 2 star reviews, at % of 5 star reviews, and review quality as measured by independent websites.

 

[D.T.]

As for reviews I tend to go by volume. The more 5 star or 1 star reviews there are the greater the chance of them being genuine.

Yeah, I'd buy a 4.4 with 5K reviews over a 4.8 with 5 reviews

I actually have some neat insight into some of the backend of Amazon, especially the buyer analytics, that includes return behaviors, analytics for buying trigger points, etc. A good friend (unbelievably bright "kid", worked with him years ago) has been involved with their internal analytics team for several years, built components of the massive analysis engine that automates many of their processes (based on the aforementioned data, using adaptive learning, heuristics), neat stuff.

 

[Ruggy]

I sometimes check out the review on UK, USA and because I live in France, the French site of course.
What's really funny is to see the same review on all three sites, and of course, one in French, telling the same story about how they bought it for their husband and he was so happy with it etc.
It makes you realise how sophisticated the fakes can be sometimes.

 

[revmacian]

Which ones are those? The only ones I know about are the free ones, such as

ReviewMeta.com - Amazon Review Checker

reviewmeta.com

Fakespot - Love Everything You Buy

Fakespot spots, analyzes and identifies fake reviews and counterfeits - helping you out when buying stuff online.

www.fakespot.com

These were mentioned in a Consumer Reports report on hijacked reviews, where ratings of, say, a iPhone adapter is boosted by including reviews for a coffee mug, dust blower, and motherboard.

I look at the one and 2 star reviews, at % of 5 star reviews, and review quality as measured by independent websites.

One of the sites I mentioned was actually banned from these forums recently for spamming - I know because I was the one who found and reported them. You can find them if you look for them, I won't list them here because they are a burden to society.

 

[ucfgrad93]

When looking at reviews, I always start with the lowest reviews.

 

[Clix Pix]

I'm another who always reads as many reviews as possible, both the positive and the negative, plus pays close attention to the ones in the middle. I look at the percentages, too, and the context. If there are ten negative reviews and six of them are really irrelevant to the quality of the product itself (they complain about the packaging or the shipping process, something related to Amazon's processes rather than the merchandise) I discount those right off the bat. Ditto with the positive reviews, if a lot of them are not really about the product but the shipping/packaging, timely arrival, etc., I disregard those. A "review" such as "ordered for my sister and she loves it" really is not in the least bit useful or helpful.

Like AFB, I tend to go for the brand names I recognize and trust rather than taking chances, especially if it is something which I am going to connect to an expensive electronic device. I have no desire to kill or damage my iPad, iPhone, computer or camera because I tried to save a few bucks on a cable or some peripheral. Usually I purchase Apple's own cables and dongles when they are needed rather than a third party brand.

A lot of times I will read reviews and then make my purchase locally, where I can actually see and handle the item prior to spending my money on it. Other times that is not as important, or the item isn't available in a store in my area.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

I try and read reviews, but a lot of reviews can be trying to push the reviewer's agenda or opinion, rather than a neutral review on the product.

For products', most of the time I just buy the product and see for myself. If i've decided it's good enough for me, I'll be the judge.

If it's about a company or say a restaurant/pub then I will look into reviews prior to going, especially new restaurant's.

 

[compwiz1202]

I'm another who always reads as many reviews as possible, both the positive and the negative, plus pays close attention to the ones in the middle. I look at the percentages, too, and the context. If there are ten negative reviews and six of them are really irrelevant to the quality of the product itself (they complain about the packaging or the shipping process, something related to Amazon's processes rather than the merchandise) I discount those right off the bat. Ditto with the positive reviews, if a lot of them are not really about the product but the shipping/packaging, timely arrival, etc., I disregard those. A "review" such as "ordered for my sister and she loves it" really is not in the least bit useful or helpful.

Like AFB, I tend to go for the brand names I recognize and trust rather than taking chances, especially if it is something which I am going to connect to an expensive electronic device. I have no desire to kill or damage my iPad, iPhone, computer or camera because I tried to save a few bucks on a cable or some peripheral. Usually I purchase Apple's own cables and dongles when they are needed rather than a third party brand.

A lot of times I will read reviews and then make my purchase locally, where I can actually see and handle the item prior to spending my money on it. Other times that is not as important, or the item isn't available in a store in my area.

The ones that annoy me are where the stars don't match the comments. Don't give five and then list cons. Not five to me unless nearly perfect. Or one or two with barely any complaints except something minor.

 

[Tech198]

I look at both positive and negative views. It takes some interpretation. Most of the stuff I get from Amazon is good to satisfactory. I’ve gotten some junk, and returns are usually easy.

Usually i take the review as person only.. that may not mean its fake, and may not men its a false product, only to THEM, which to ME means noting because its just a personal view. Just because someone doesn't like it, doesn't mean others won't.

I see this stuff all the time on eBay, but it doesn't put me off from buying...

I reckon, if you only favor on the 90-100% positive only/mostly positive then your not looking at the big picture.. The odd negative or even 50/50 can be tolerated.