Amazon Reviews - are they truthful?

[Richard Crowe]

I was asked to write a review on an order for Vanilla ears.  I had been quite disappointed with these ears and so indicated that in the feedback.  However, Amazon bounced back the feedback with the following statements...

Thank you for submitting feedback on your Amazon Marketplace order. We regret to inform you that your recent feedback has been removed. We highly value customer input, however we occasionally remove feedback that does not meet our feedback guidelines. Please take a moment to review the details of the removal below. You may then choose to revise and resubmit your feedback.

We appreciate your understanding.

Your feedback comment: These ears were smaller and thinner than any ears I have previously purchased on the four occasions when I ordered ears from Amazon. I did not return the ears because I needed them and could not wait for a replacement.

Reason for removal: Feedback submitted was a product review and not related to seller. I would think that the seller and the product are linked.  Perhaps, I should resubmit the feedback to read... "I enjoyed doing business with these people so little, that I will never order from them again..." I had problems with Amazon previously when I went on a rampage against them selling books that promoted dog fighting.  They countered by saying the books did not "promote" dog fighting. I wondered about a book on the "How To" of dog fighting not promoting that vicious activity... In fact, Amazon had purchased a forum on which I was a contributor and when I placed negative comments about the dog fighting books they were selling (in response to queries on the forum about the integrity of Amazon), I was bounced off the forum. I joined twice more under different email address and continued to shine a spotlight on the dog fighting books.  I am happy to see that I APPARENTLY WON and that Amazon removed the books on the "how to" of dog fighting and the only books remaining on that subject are historical.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well, that I wouldn't do.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I really don't know what is going on.  I, too, posted a somewhat negative book review on Amazon and was asked "by the author" ( at least that is what the email said) to remove it in exchange for the audible version of the book I reviewed.  Weird.

[F, Calla & Luca]

yes, I use Amazon a lot! And I too try to give honest reviews. pro or con and they do get posted.

[Sally S Miles]

I've been posting reviews for years and never had one bounce back - some have been far from favorable and all have been honest.   I've had a couple of vendors that I won't go back to - but all have been smoothed by Amazon and I've been satisfied.

[F, Calla & Luca]

 I got an email from a vendor. I had purchased two longer power cords for my mini iPAd. They were junk. I thought I posted about the product but apparently I posted about the vendor. The vendor contacted me about the review and asked me to remove it and said they would be happy to refund my money. I did remove the company review, posted again as a product review and they sent a refund to my credit card. So yes, I do for the most part believe the Amazon reviews and they do post them. Here's mine:

These cords are made very poorly. One pulled apart very quickly and one just didn't work. I ended up buying the cable from Apple.

[DJ & Chance]

Hmmm.  Food for thought, Richard.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Okay, I think I have the definitive proof. I was looking for a table to allow me to do even more things, like photo editing, I should not be doing in in bed. Read the reviews for this table : )

I could not include a link because my account keeps coming up but here is the item:
Rolling Laptop Desk w/ Tiltable Split-Top Table

Hospital Food Tray Computer PC

[Camilla and Darwin]

I tend to think this had to do more with the placement of the comment and less about the negative content. After all there are many negative product reviews on Amazon.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Hmmm.... Makes you wonder.  I wrote a bad review on the Cannon website and they posted it - I know it isn't Amazon, but it was negative.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sometimes the seller makes the product and sometimes they just distribute it. So there are often separated on the web. For instance you could buy a Nikon lens from a reputable dealer or a shady one. The latter may try to upsell you or may not ship on time etc. but the lens quality is strictly Nikon's responsibility. I think it's a good idea to have ratings for both the supplier and the manufactured product. B and H for instance is generally well thought of but the lenses they sell may be just OK or great.