pay us or don't leave reveiw: Amazon

[cyflyer]

If I want info on a movie, I'll usually go into Amazon and read the reveiws, and occasionally its been fun to leave an opinion/reveiw on something I've seen for others to be informed likewise. It seems Amazon have now decided that they do not want other peoples' reveiws and require that you make a purchase from them, before you can post a reveiw. How petty can you get ? They should be grateful for all the informed reveiws people go to the trouble of posting, whether or not they bought from them.

[ROF]

I have found too many times, especially in their movies and music that the reviews for the product is not really for that product but is for another version of the product. At that point the review is almost worthless because the review is not for the product I am purchasing. I would prefer people review the product being sold, not some Betamax cassette version from the 80's.

[cyflyer]

Yeah that happens occasionally for a small percentage, but generally, you get a good idea about the movie you're interested in.

[lordsmurf]

I can't believe this ... but I agree with ROF.

There are far too many reviews these days where people are referring to the VHS version, leaving reviews before the products are even released, or dumping "it sucks" type comments.

Married With Children DVD box set reviews have to be some of the most worthless on all of amazon, because so few come from people who actually purchased the exact DVDs listed on the page.

[Faustus]

If you want to know why its easy to figure out. Lookup the large number of sex toy reviews in the system thanks to amazons 3rd party sellers or lookup the reviews on a the David Hassleholf Greatest Hits CD (sp?).

Funny stuff, but Amazon wants it to stop.

[cyflyer]

My "Halliwells" book is great for older movies, but then I hear talk of a film title thats more recent and I want just some 'idea' of what its about, some reference. The editorial reveiw they start with, plus most of us are intelligent enough to sift through the 'trashers' or vhs versions etc, to get a better idea of what the actual movie is about, than we knew before. People reveiw the movies on Amazon after they've seen them on the 'big screen' which I think is very helpful to anyone thinking of seeing that movie. Also, most reveiws that refer to, say, the vhs version usually say "this reveiw refers to the vhs version" which is fair comment. Now, when you click on "reveiw this movie/dvd/etc" you get a message saying "you must use your account to make a purchase before you make a reveiw" or along those lines.

[rallynavvie]

I believe you're also required to purchase the item in question on NewEgg before being allowed to post a review. Many e-commerce sites do this to prevent people like salesmen or reps from a company to post bogus reviews and such. Obviously having purchased the product means you're showing some initiative and probably not simply a spammer.

[Conquest10]

How many of the reviews do think actually bought the David Hasselhoff CD?

[Faustus]

How many of the reviews do think actually bought the David Hasselhoff CD?

One night bored I read a bunch of them. I'd say.... zero.

[NiteLite]

I just saw some reviews of Aug 15, 16 of a DVD not released yet?
Maybe they pre-ordered or something.
I agree with ROF and lordsmurf
The cross posting of reviews is terrible.
Looking at SACD or DVD-A products and most reviews are of the standard 2 channel CD version. Must be an easy job to have moderating their reviews.
NL