Fake reviews on large online shopping site?

Joface_2

Does anyone have some words of wisdom on getting fake customer reviews removed from a rather large online retailer....

(I won't mention the retailer unless a mod says I can)

The 'reviewer' has posted loads and loads of reviews, nearly all of which are all for items manufactured by one company. All are 5 star, informative, and generally extremely positive. The timing of the reviews also supports the view that they are fake, for example multiple similar items being reviewed on the same dates. The items are electrical,tech type of things. Although manufactured by the same company there are a number of well known brands involved.


Can anything be done? Trading standards perhaps? Or should I not bother as everyone knows not to trust reviews anyhow?

missile

Most online retailers have a system to reduce the number of bogus reviews. It seems this retailer does not accept your suggestion these reviews are spam.

Few of us would purchase on the strength of one glowing review. If you have experience of the items then perhaps you can post a more accurate review?

wary

Joface wrote: »

I have also noticed that negative comments on this reviewer have been removed.

What do you mean? People have posted to question this reviewer's authenticity rather than to review the item in question?

You could always beat them at their own game and post a highly negative review for each fake positive review to balance it out ... if you have the time and the inclination.

withabix

Name the company and post a link to one of the items.

Then we can all have a look and complain!

Squire_Fulwood

I have issues with an on line retailer also. It's not that they post fake reviews, it's because they cherry pick genuine ones.

They turned down one I wrote because I mentioned the price of the item (which was clearly displayed on their web site). Subsequently when I write reviews I write spoof ones saying that a firm that cherry picks its reviews must be flaky in other things too .....etc.

They have not accepted any of my reviews for the past couple of years.

The retailer the OP is writing about may be using genuine reviews also but only the good ones.

Joface_2

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

I have issues with an on line retailer also. It's not that they post fake reviews, it's because they cherry pick genuine ones.

They turned down one I wrote because I mentioned the price of the item .

Totally agree.

I once gave a previously unrated £1 (inc p&p) stocking filler a 5* rave review only to find a find a few weeks later that the price had risen dramatically :eek: it was a third party seller. Luckily I could edit my review and since then I have always included how much I paid. That was on Amazon.

Am I ok to post the details of the online retailer (.... it is a very very big online retailer . ) I would also love to post the reviewers details on here but I don't know if I can. Can someone more knowlegdeble than me let me know. I would hate to get myself banned.

LouLou

I've read on the Shopping Telly forum that QVC are notorious for not publishing negative reviews (whether it's true or not, I have no experience of!).

Usually you can tell the overly gushing, enthusiastic ones. On skincare forums there's always a latest "rave"..if anything it makes me more cautious to wait and see feedback before I press buy (when it's something really new and untested by the public).

I've found Amazon fine for putting both negative and positive viewpoints on, no problems at all. They will blank out details about pricing and URLs but most sites would do that anyway. Unless you mean another site..

david39

At least with QVC they give you a full 30 days to try the product out and send it back if you are not satisfied.

I've done this several times, and never had a problem with them doing so.

LouLou

I'm not rubbishing QVC at all, never had any bother the few times I've used them, just that the reviews may not be all that they seem..

There are people who abuse the 30 day money back guarantee promise, but that's a whole other story for another thread!

vuvuzela

Joface wrote: »

Totally agree.

I once gave a previously unrated £1 (inc p&p) stocking filler a 5* rave review only to find a find a few weeks later that the price had risen to nearly £10. :eek: it was a third party seller. Luckily I could edit my review and since then I have always included how much I paid. That was on Amazon.

Am I ok to post the details of the online retailer (.... it is a very very big online retailer . ) I would also love to post the reviewers details on here but I don't know if I can. Can someone more knowlegdeble than me let me know. I would hate to get myself banned.

You won't be banned for posting factual information here

Joface_2

Well, If anyone is prepared to do a little of their own investigation look at, for example, the reviews on Amazon for Hama PC Headset "hs-10 Camouflage"
Remember that some manufacturers produce a number of different brands.