Fake reviews on large online shopping site?

brettcta

Joface wrote: »

Well.........

I have to go all coy again here...... I don't want Amazon to ban me LOL

But the reviewer does seem to really like Hama's products (various brands but all Hama's products). If you pull up a list of Hama brands from their UK website you can see how nearly every single one of the reviewers reviews are Hama products

how are they going to ban you?

Joface_2

brettcta wrote: »

how are they going to ban you?

I really don't know? But I did highlight the reviews to Amazon. I am a big Amazon shopper but It would be better if all the reviews were genuine. I guess the introduction of 'amazon verified purchaser' reviews will help.

Anyhow, did you look at the reviews.

Well over a hundred reviews, more than 95% of which are for Hama products.............

brettcta

Joface wrote: »

I really don't know? But I did highlight the reviews to Amazon. I am a big Amazon shopper but It would be better if all the reviews were genuine. I guess the introduction of 'amazon verified purchaser' reviews will help.

Anyhow, did you look at the reviews.

Well over a hundred reviews, more than 95% of which are for Hama products.............

answer = they won't

Joface_2

brettcta wrote: »

answer = they won't

That is good to know.



So back to my original request....... Should I bother to do anything or not worry about it. I was hoping someone else could look through the reviews so that they can confirm (or not) my thoughts and give suggestions as to what (if anything) could be done.

markmas

The reviewer Livvy Couch "Olivia" (UK) is undoubtedly posting fake positive reviews, and Amazon should have removed them when the op reported them.

This is just a selection...
For example Memory Cards:

18 Jun 2010
Hama SecureDigital (SDHC) 8Gb Card, Class 2
"I own a Canon Powershot A1100"

8 July 2010
Sandisk 64GB Extreme Professional Compact Flash Card 90MBS
"I bought this for my Cannon EOS 350D"

12 July 2010
Sandisk 4GB SDHC Card Twinpack - Retail Pack
"when we went on holiday my husband and I both brought cameras so we used one card each."

12 July 2010
Sandisk 16GB Memory Stick Pro Duo MSPD Card - Retail Pack
"I tend to consistantly buy Sony compact digital cameras (as I find they are extrememly reliable and last forever)"

Hold on, 3 days later... Oh, must buy loads of camera/camcorder batteries...

15 July 2010
Hama Li-Ion Battery CP 852 For Samsung
"I brought this battery to replace the one in my old Samsung VP-352 camcorder"

15 July 2010
Hama 7.4V/1600Mah Li-Ion
"I brought this as a spare battery for my Samsung camera"

15 July 2010
Hama Li-Ion Battery CP 861 For Panasonic
"This battery works a treat in my Panasonic GC5020 camcorder"

15 July 2010
Hama Digi-Power 7.4V/750Mah = Samsung Ia-Bp85St
"Brought this for my Samsung SMX F30 as a spare"

15 July 2010
Hama Li-Ion Battery DP-896 Suitable For Minolta (Equivalent to NP-900 & NP-500)
"I brought this to use in my Minolta E50"

So that is at least 6 different cameras, and 2 different camcorders she has purchased items for in one month. All of which are 'her's' or her husbands. I have not included the memory cards she has bought for her relatives, or her phone.

14 July goes on a microphone buying spree:
14 July 2010
Hama DM-40 Dynamic Microphone - Silver, with 2.5m Cable
14 July 2010
Hama Dynamic Microphone DM-60
14 July 2010
Hama Mono Directional Microphone RMV-01

There are plenty more examples like above.

Everything listed above she has given glowing 5 star reviews. To gild the lily further she often seeks to counter previous negative reviews.

In recent reviews she goes further and creates stories of bad service from other shops to compare to the wonderful service via Amazon (and hence this supplier).

Azari

I have sent Amazon the following email:

---

You should know that you are being discussed an the Money Saving Experts forum by people concerned that the reviews of some of your products are 'fake'.

The whole thread is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3914229

A particularly complete analysis is given here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=52589275&postcount=26

I, and, I am sure, a lot more of your customers, rely on honest reviews in helping us make product choices and it is essential that Amazon demonstrate complete integrity in this respect.

I would urge you to take this matter seriously and act to remove suspect reviews so that we can continue to rely on Amazon as a trustworthy source of information.

---

I would urge anyone else who is concerned about fake reviews to do likewise.

Off_PeakReturn

Azari wrote: »

I have sent Amazon the following email:

---

You should know that you are being discussed an the Money Saving Experts forum by people concerned that the reviews of some of your products are 'fake'.

The whole thread is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3914229

A particularly complete analysis is given here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=52589275&postcount=26

I, and, I am sure, a lot more of your customers, rely on honest reviews in helping us make product choices and it is essential that Amazon demonstrate complete integrity in this respect.

I would urge you to take this matter seriously and act to remove suspect reviews so that we can continue to rely on Amazon as a trustworthy source of information.

---

I would urge anyone else who is concerned about fake reviews to do likewise.

Way to go, Azari, person of action! I've just emailed Amazon, too.

Joface_2

markmas wrote: »

The reviewer Livvy Couch "Olivia" (UK) is undoubtedly posting fake positive reviews, and Amazon should have removed them when the op reported them.
.

:j. Great work Markmas,

Azari wrote: »

I have sent ........

Off_PeakReturn wrote: »

Way to go, Azari, person of action! I've just emailed Amazon, too.

You too Azari and Offpeakreturn :T :T

I will be very interested to see what happens.

Sheldon_Cooper

I've sent an email as well. This is important. Please, as many people as possible, email them.

theoldcynic

Here's a comment or two on one of her 'reviews'....

You're obviously not the first to spot this Joface, I wouldn't worry about any libel or being banned...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1G7ADYJPSKA3L/ref=cm_aya_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0029V7O8Y#wasThisHelpful

Initial post: 12 Mar 2011 00:28:25 GMT
P. Clarke says:
livvy 'Olivia' You are obviously a professional reviewer or maybe a machine, all your reviews are 5 start no matter what you are reviewing, and so transparently and artificially positive, with language betraying a commercial motive, Amazon should stamp your reviews with a huge 'BIASED' warning. Tell us what you really think, or maybe you don't even own this product atall.