Amazon's new review rules?

[Nick B]

Amazon apparently may have new rules around submitting reviews, has anyone seen this confirmed by Amazon?

Amazon updates rating rules as part of crackdown on fake online product reviews

 

[Brian G Turner]

It links to here:
About Amazon Blog - Update on Customer Reviews

which ends with:

The above changes will apply to product categories other than books. We will continue to allow the age-old practice of providing advance review copies of books.

So it looks as though it's aimed at areas where review products can be seen as gifts, even bribes.

 

[Venusian Broon]

I note in the official Amazon statement on this:

The above changes will apply to product categories other than books. We will continue to allow the age-old practice of providing advance review copies of books

EDIT - Brian beat me to it

 

[Droflet]

And the god speaks.

 

[Nick B]

Ahh, ok. I'm at work and didn't see the link there. Thanks Brian

 

[Jo Zebedee]

But watch out for review exchanges - being cracked down on.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I've not seen this covered online, but I've noticed that Amazon.com has changed the review listings for products to display "verified purchase" reviews by default, with an additional click required to "view all reviews". I presume this will eventually roll-out across international sites.

 

[Dave]

I only wanted to say that "something" has definitely been changed regarding the visibility of their review listings. I have a very old, out of print, book in a wishlist, which now appears to have an old review that was never visible before. They must have changed the priorities somehow regarding which reviews come first.

 

[Cathbad]

I've not seen this covered online, but I've noticed that Amazon.com has changed the review listings for products to display "verified purchase" reviews by default, with an additional click required to "view all reviews". I presume this will eventually roll-out across international sites.

I saw this too. I was also refused permission to add a review, because I "haven't made a purchase with a verified credit card". Of course, I have - I'd just forgotten to log on. But I had no idea that was a rule?

 

[Brian G Turner]

I was also refused permission to add a review, because I "haven't made a purchase with a verified credit card". Of course, I have - I'd just forgotten to log on. But I had no idea that was a rule?

This has been in place for at least a couple of years. Presumably, to stop people easily creating sock-puppet accounts.

 

[Nick B]

There may also be a purge apparently. A few years ago, Amazon purged loads of reviews that were by people that the authors were 'friends' with on social media. So authors lost a lot of reviews by valid fans who were friended on facehook and so on.

 

[Cathbad]

There may also be a purge apparently. A few years ago, Amazon purged loads of reviews that were by people that the authors were 'friends' with on social media. So authors lost a lot of reviews by valid fans who were friended on facehook and so on.

That's ridiculous! Fans "friend" authors to keep up with their work!

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut... :/