Amazon Reviews Not Reliable Any More

[budwzr]

I recently purchased a selfie stick from Amazon based on a 90% 5-Star rating from a few hundred reviews. Should be good, right?

Nope.

Seems that some sellers are giving away free product in exchange for a review. Of course everyone will say 5 star because they want to be contacted again for another promo right?

The product I received was a cheap piece of crap. So I sent it back. Now off to Fry's, Best Buy, etc.

I don't know how many product categories are getting gamed in this way.

[Joe The Dude]

If Amazon will still let you review it, please do so, to let others know it sucks. I always check the low-star-rated reviews, before buying.

It may be too late now, but uploading pictures to amazon would help, too, especially when giving a low rating.
Same goes for long-winded, but well written, and detailed reasons for the suckitude.
Trolls seldom go through that much trouble; in other words, the more believable a bad review is, the better.

[budwzr]

Yeah, but when there's a couple hundred 5 star reviews it neutralizes me as a picky crazy buyer expecting too much, and going on a rant. I did it anyway though, hehehe.

What blew me away is the Amazon Vine reviewers are all in on it too. 5 stars from all of them on a flimsy, cheap, telescopic pole that pulls out of the handle when you extend it.

I bought two of them, and the same thing. Check it out for laughs: http://www.amazon.com/PerfectDay-QuickSnap-Self-portrait-Extendable-Adjustable/dp/B00Z...s=selfie+stick

90% 5-Star? What a crock. Only a few are "Verified Purchasers".

[vhelp]

i do read all the reviews on amazon before i buy. and if i don't see any reviews, i will skip the purchase unless i really need it. but i will google for "review" on products am interested in, in case product was not reviewed (yet) on amazon since its my main (secured) shopping place.

these things sell like hot-cakes, everywhere. its the latest fad i guess. cheapest i seen one for (last week) was $19 at bestbuy. i think they are all mostly plastic, though some are metal.

[budwzr]

The latest ones have a plastic twist-to-lock type pole, which is fine for me. Problem is they don't fit the 6" phones yet, like Nexus6. iPhone6, Note3/4, etc. Especially if you're using a case.

What I'm thinking now is to buy a phone holder only, that adapts to a tripod mount. But there's only one product on Amazon that fits a 3.5" phone and its like $40.

If anyone can help me find a selfie stick with a 3.5" phone capability I would be Muchas Gracias.

[newpball]

I recently purchased a selfie stick from Amazon based on a 90% 5-Star rating from a few hundred reviews. Should be good, right?

Nope.

Seems that some sellers are giving away free product in exchange for a review. Of course everyone will say 5 star because they want to be contacted again for another promo right?

The product I received was a cheap piece of crap. So I sent it back. Now off to Fry's, Best Buy, etc.

I don't know how many product categories are getting gamed in this way.

So what was wrong about it?

I mean we are talking about a product costing lest that a Jackson right? So yeah, of course it is cheap!

[budwzr]

What's wrong about it is the telescoping rod breaks loose from the handle if you put any up and down motion on it, like just moving the stick around.

[TreeTops]

Well I couldn't find Budwzr's review. Unless he signed with a different name.

[budwzr]

Well I couldn't find Budwzr's review. Unless he signed with a different name.

I put it under the sellers comments, check that.

I also made a complaint to Amazon, and they told me to review the seller.

Check here to link to seller: http://www.amazon.com/PerfectDay-QuickSnap-Self-portrait-Extendable-Adjustable/dp/B00Z...A25VTZBLQ2B61C

Feel free to enjoy ALL my comments on Amazon. I tell it like it is.

[budwzr]

Did you find my comment?

See, that's the problem. They bury the bad reviews. Did you see all the 5-star ratings? But most are not "Verified Purchasers". In fact, most of the "Verified Purchasers" give bad reviews.

[TreeTops]

Still could not find your review under budwzr but found some other bad reviews stating approximately what you said in your post. If you click on the 1 star reviews or the 2 star review you get just the bad reviews.

[budwzr]

Maybe I thought I wrote it, but did something else instead, or forgot about it. Dementia, sorry. I can't remember which foot my right toe is on.

Actually, it was Amazon that advised me to comment on the seller's page. Trying to look for that is impossible, they only show like 5 at a time. I'm telling you, this once safe haven of online ordering is turning into wild west.

[mlmiller707]

Yes they are very unreliable. Shipsound has 99% positive reviews. Though if you check with BBB, they have a C-. Too many scrupulous events with them. FYI Prime is always free. Order, cancel, no probs. Great C/S with. Amazon

[ron spencer]

Who buys a selfie stick anyway??? Would OJ?

[DB83]

Well here's the issue.

Amazon are a business, a rather big business now, and they will not do much business if they highlight bad reviews of the stuff they sell.

On the other hand, they really should only allow 'verified' reviews.

But Amazon are not alone with this. Virtually all 'review' sites use the same principal. I once had reason to blast a hotel I stayed at - Fawlty Towers was The Ritz compared to this one. My review was honest. But it was never published.

[KarMa]

I find Amazon reviewers to be heavily screened to provide only the pinnacle of 1on1, customer to customer dialog.
http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Diamond-52-49-Braided-Cable/dp/B00IL3TZSQ