Yeah, I see a vast number of obviously fake reviews on there. The system has become a bit of a bad joke. Though disallowing comments on reviews of course stops anyone pointing out that a review is obviously fake.
Yeah, I see a vast number of obviously fake reviews on there. The system has become a bit of a bad joke. Though disallowing comments on reviews of course stops anyone pointing out that a review is obviously fake.
To me that just emphasizes the point that 'free speech' is not as simple an issue as some make out. Speech is rarely free, it almost always has a price-tag.
"Yes, you have a Constitutional right to free speech -- but that doesn't mean I am required to let you express it on my premises in any way you see fit."
Is fine, and an entirely defensible point, to the extent that I frequently say it myself. Except when someone's "premises" become the dominant venue for speech that can actually be heard. The more the "public square" moves to privately-owned spaces the more problematic that becomes.
I don't, though, think Amazon reviews are at the forefront of this issue. They aren't really about politics and the public interest. The main thing seems to be that the basis of their business-model (getting the customers to provide added-value to their site at no cost to Amazon, and relying on customer feedback to asses the quality of the products) isn't working very well. Though it doesn't seem as bad as Ebay, where their feedback system has clearly been struggling for a long time.
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
Um, hmm. I mentioned above, that Michael Bloomfield set, the top negative review had a myriad of comments, something like 30 or 40, I'll look for it...
It's this one, I can't see any comments for it, the Comments widget is gone now. It the Comments included several by people involved in producing the set including the documentarian who did the DVD, Bob Sarles:
Brett
3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2014
For an indication of how good this box set could have been, peruse Bloomfield's fairly vast catalogue and check out tunes that display his astounding virtuosity, tasteful tone, frenetic runs, and soulful, expressiveness that DID NOT make the cut. The list is too lengthy to name them all, but the excluded songs date as far back as Bloomfield's early to mid-1960's audition for John Hammond and his stint with Paul Butterfield to his instructional album for Guitar Player magazine. There are so many odds and ends that would have made this set mind-blowing and it's a damn shame they continue to flounder on import CDs that are either out of print or overpriced.
And now on to the documentary included in the set as disc 4. You've got to be kidding me. The man's life and career did not cease after the famed Super Session album. What about his playing with Otis Rush and Janis Joplin and Muddy Waters? What about his first solo album and all the albums and projects that followed. Granted, they were spotty and not always terribly successful, but they deserve mention.
I'd say the common thread that plagues this set (pardon the mixed metaphor) is Al Kooper. Kooper seems intent only on highlighting aspects of Bloomfield's career of which he was a part. We get it, Kooper...he played with you. But he also played with many other musicians. If you really want to pay tribute to your friend and peer, then you need to choose the choicest cuts, not just the stuff that bears the name Kooper on it. Some might think I'm being too harsh and that the set is in fact a loving tribute. Be that as it may, but the point of any box set is to offer a comprehensive view of one's career. Too much good stuff is missing to call this set comprehensive.
57 people found this helpful
- - - -
Check out this Amazon review of From His Head To His Heart To His Hands
Could have been better
www.amazon.com
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
Apoplectic? I wasn't even angry, much less apoplectic. I simply saw you say you didn't see value in a retailer allowing honest feedback on purchases. That's what I saw.
Well, I never said they didn't have the right to screen comments for inappropriate content. Amazon has always AFAIK never posted reviews without a period of gestation, which I assume includes some kind of inspection for appropriateness. However, I did notice that comments were not subject to similar gestation, so I had to wonder about that. Why weren't they similarly careful? Maybe that's why they decided to jettison the whole thing. Still, it's a shame.
But that's not what they did here. I have no quarrel with them censoring inappropriate content. I would have issues with them deleting any negative reviews. In this case they have axed a long standing feature, being comments, basically wiping out probably 100s of thousands of comments, if not millions.
Last edited:
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
There are a couple of sites I know of that evaluate Amazon reviews for value and legitimacy and I use one of them very very frequently, being Reviewmeta. There's a widget after the URL bar in my browsers for it, that like kind of like [R]. Here are the sites and a site comparing them:
www.reviewmeta.com
www.fakespot.com
https://reviewmeta.com/blog/fakespot-vs-reviewmeta-for-analyzing-reviews/
At reviewmeta they have algorithm(s) that take a product's reviews and produce what they figure is the legitimate rating. For example, suppose it has an Amazon generated average of 4.6. Reviewmeta might come up with 4.3. It varies a lot from product to product.
I haven't personally found fake reviews to be an insurmountable problem. Firstly they seem rather obvious when you read them. And secondly. usually when buying something on Amazon I already know exactly what product I'm looking for, I don't recall ever needing to care what Amazon's reviews say.
The most obvious example are the fake memory cards (memory cards, along with the very occasional CD, are all I ever buy from Amazon these days - and always direct from Amazon). Some of them have vast numbers of positive reviews, despite being very obviously fake cards.
One I looked at recently had loads of 5-star reviews that were clearly reviews of a completely different product (a memory-card holder). I don't get how the seller managed to wrangle for those reviews to be attached to an entirely different product listing than the one they were referring to. As I say, the system just appears 'broken'.
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
Ebay feedback is pretty much a joke. I once gave a seller negative feedback and the seller dumped all over me, just smeared me. Ebay later changed their policy with regard to feedback (I think) and if you leave negative for a seller the seller can't dump on you, but I'm once burned twice shy and don't bother to leave feedback even if the seller screwed me. Why bother? Most people don't read Ebay feedback, and Ebay's policy of allowing you maybe 50 characters is just WTF stupid.
Ebay has a review feature now, and that's 100 times more useful than the feedback feature which is pretty much for reviewing the SELLER, not the product, although with the limited number of characters allowed you do see occasional pithy remarks about the product. Also Ebay feedback is NOT product specific, it's only SELLER specific [well, you may be able to filter it, not sure, but I usually don't bother]. Crazy shit there. A high % of Ebay sellers have a super wide range of products. Making sense out of Ebay feedback is a super iffy matter.
I am grateful about one thing particularly still at Amazon, being the fact that you can edit your review of a product indefinitely. AFAIK, they are pretty unique in that.
Amazon isn't very good at keeping the products properly categorized/labeled. They conjoin reviews sometimes for actually differing products, so the reviews you see are effectively blanket reviews for differing products. You see some reviews that aren't for the product you are trying to evaluate. It's best when making reviews at Amazon to specify [either in your review title or the review itself] what you are reviewing for this reason. It takes a few seconds, but it's the thoughtful thing to do.
You just made my point there. I think a lot of the time it isn't the seller that fucked it up, it's the Amazon personnel handling the system who don't sort out what's going on with respect to certain products.
Last edited:
Yeah, sellers used to retaliate against any buyer who left negative-feedback, thus making buyers reluctant to leave it.
But since removing the option for feedback for buyers, it just leads to the opposite problem - it makes it impossible to warn anyone about crooked buyers or to trust their feedback if you are a seller. There's very little protection for sellers on Ebay, which is why i hate selling things on there, it's really stressful because you are never safe from a buyer making a dubious or outright-crooked claim against you.
The fact that paypal allow 'item not received' claims to be made up to 6 months after a sale is ridiculous.
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
I like it, it works for me, but I'd never dream of cheating/lying about not receiving something. I stopped selling on ebay, partly because I haven't figured out how to ship cheaply. I think Ebay sellers have a discount shipping system, but I haven't navigated that. Maybe not being able to suss out illegitimate buyers may be a reason too, I didn't notice that. I used to have 100% feedback but I stopped paying attention. They axed that? Never noticed.
Yeah, I'm fine with buying things on ebay, but I gave up selling, not because I got ripped off, but because I found it too stressful, never knowing if I might be.
Buyers can claim items not recieved or not-as-described, and because paypal are worried about credit-card claim backs being made against them up to 6 months after the sale they reserve the right to take funds back from a seller for the same time duration. That means as a seller you can't be sure a sale won't suddenly be reversed till 6 months later. And that's too late for you as a seller to claim for any items lost by the postal service - the postal service here has a much shorter deadline for allowing claims.
Also, as a seller you occasionally get buyers who you notice - from looking at the feedback they've left for other sellers - have done nothing but complain about 'items not received' for every single thing they ever buy. That makes you very nervous at selling to them.
Torn Mind
Lifer
- Nov 25, 2012
- 12,004
- 2,748
- 136
I do consider the comments section valuable because it can exist to confirm or deny the validity of a review.
I know that a brake line tool had a bunch of positive reviews but one 3-star review that in my experience, was totally accurate. So I commented a confirmation that the tool had those flaws.
The comment section also could become "unofficial support".
I know that a brake line tool had a bunch of positive reviews but one 3-star review that in my experience, was totally accurate. So I commented a confirmation that the tool had those flaws.
The comment section also could become "unofficial support".
mindless1
Diamond Member
- Aug 11, 2001
- 8,636
- 1,691
- 126
I block significant parts of Amazon's site, so it is possible you were previously seeing something they changed after I had started blocking thing, so I never saw what is missing for you now, but currently what I'm seeing is the same as it has been for quite a while.
I see that review by Brett, a "32 comments" link at the bottom that when clicked, shows them, and I see a "Comment" button at the top right of the comments list which when clicked, opens up the comment box to leave a comment.
On any of these comments, I can also click "Leave a reply" under the comment and get a post box to reply to that individual comment.
Screenshot attached, this is on Firefox. HOWEVER, I do see it missing on the latest version of Chrome so this looks like just a temporary site bug that doesn't affect all browsers.
Last edited:
VirtualLarry
No Lifer
- Aug 25, 2001
- 56,570
- 10,203
- 126
Would it be ironic, if this whole thread were spawned, by a Muse browser-fail?
Amazon.com: Official Comments on Customer Reviews
Help for Amazon.com community features
www.amazon.com
Last edited:
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
It would be ironic. However, consider this:
1. The OP has an official statement from Amazon (quoted elsewhere) concerning their imminent shutdown of the feature.
2. I see a Business Insider article devoted to the shutdown of the feature:
Amazon is shutting down the feature that lets anyone comment on product reviews. Sellers say it will make it more difficult to respond to customer feedback.
Amazon is removing the ability to comment on product reviews, a change that sellers say would make it more difficult to engage with customers.
www.businessinsider.com
Amazon is shutting down the feature that lets anyone comment on product reviews. Sellers say it will make it more difficult to respond to customer feedback.
Eugene Kim Dec 15, 2020, 12:46 PM
Amazon is removing the feature that allowed anyone to comment on customer reviews.
Amazon said it's shutting down the feature because it was rarely used.
But sellers say it was a popular feature that allowed them to respond to individual reviews, answer unfair criticisms, or share updates to their products.
Amazon is shutting down the ability to comment on individual product reviews, a change that sellers say would make it more difficult to directly engage with customers.
The feature, which allows anyone to comment under Amazon's product reviews, was particularly popular among brands and sellers because it let them respond to customer questions or feedback that may have been unfairly critical, according to e-commerce consultants who spoke to Business Insider. It's important for sellers to keep reviews positive, given the majority of shoppers look at them before making a purchase.
In an email sent to sellers on its marketplace, Amazon said that it's removing the comments feature on Wednesday due to the lack of engagement.
"While reviews and feedback are important to our customers and sellers, the comments feature on customer reviews was rarely used," the email said. "And as a result, we are retiring this feature on Dec. 16,2020."
The email also said that Amazon is developing "other opportunities" to connect with customers. For example, Amazon has a separate messaging service that allows sellers to directly talk to customers.
Screen Shot 2020 12 15 at 11.57.03 AM
Amazon is shutting down the commenting feature under product reviews, which sellers say were useful in responding to unfairly negative feedback. Amazon
In an email to Business Insider, Amazon's spokesperson confirmed the change, adding that more than 80% of the comments were left by customers, not sellers. And when it was used, the vast majority of the messages were short, declarative statements, like "Thanks," the spokesperson said.
Sellers who spoke to Business Insider, however, say the change comes as a surprise, as they have heavily relied on the commenting feature to directly respond to customer reviews or share new updates about the product.
Rachel Johnson Greer, a former Amazon manager who now runs the e-commerce consulting agency Cascadia Seller Solutions, said the move is "confusing" because it reduces consumer engagement. Customers generally expect a response from the seller when they leave a comment, and the removal of this feature will only increase "customer dissatisfaction," even compared to some of Amazon's competitors, she said.
"Reducing customer interaction is not a good plan for increasing engagement and sales," Greer said. " If they're really trying to make the site interactive, like Instagram or Facebook or YouTube, they need better engagement and interaction, not less."
James Horey, CEO of Reviewbox, a company that helps online merchants, said that the change will have a "pretty huge negative effect" because brands use it frequently to communicate information for warranties, returns, and product defects.
Removing the feature would make the product reviews less useful because the most high-quality reviews tend to have lots of comments under them, he said. It's possible that Amazon is removing the feature in part because some sellers have abused it to use it as a channel to solicit customers or illegally promote alternative products, he added.
"My best guess is that Amazon is trying to 'clean up' the review responses to make it more useful to shoppers," Horey said.
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
Ah... I stopped using Firefox on this machine about a week ago, I am using Chrome. Will have to try on Firefox and see what's what. Hmm. So what's all this about??? 'Tis confusing.
My Firefox has been super laggy on this machine. I'm nowhere near out of memory. If I shut down Firefox and turn it back on all my pages and tabs come back and I have the same problem. I have a tab manager extension that I figure is part of the problem. If I shut that off or remove it the problem may disappear. Meantime Chrome seems to be working for me, plus I subscribe to NY Times Online, who recommend Chrome.
Leymenaide
Senior member
- Feb 16, 2010
- 752
- 368
- 136
You have a great idea. I was told many years ago by a wise man that none of us were smart enough to have a unique idea. What separates us is acting on the idea. You have done 50k of a500k market study do the rest an you have a great future. Going forward would be a wild ride. Ove 50 % of my business was between Ontario and Nova Scotia you would get great Canadian support
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 65,674
- 14,064
- 146
Just to update this...Amazon must have fixed whatever problem they were having with the reviews of that particular set of headphones because last night I was able to post my comments.
Last edited:
You're as bad as Alanis Morissette!
Even if that were the case, I fail to see wherein lies the 'irony'. It would just be a mistake.
nakedfrog
No Lifer
- Apr 3, 2001
- 61,250
- 16,736
- 136
Who out there is printing webpages often enough in 2020 for that to be a useful feature? Trying to remember the last time I printed one... definitely been quite a while.
Ctrl+P does bring up the print prompt, but doesn't jump straight to the print preview the way it does if you click Print from the menu.
Torn Mind
Lifer
- Nov 25, 2012
- 12,004
- 2,748
- 136
Like if I wanted to print to pdf an invoice from Ebay for a hard copy?
Although I need to go to print preview anyway.
mindless1
Diamond Member
- Aug 11, 2001
- 8,636
- 1,691
- 126
I am constantly printing webpages, but to PDF not paper. There are several reasons, including the most basic that webpages change, products disappear, and I want a record of it, with more info than on a purchase receipt.
- Jul 11, 2001
- 39,998
- 9,658
- 136
I don't know how you're getting those Comments. I just opened Firefox for the first time in over a week or two and still can't see those Comments on Brett's review about that box set. I use NOSCRIPT but I'm Trusting all content on Amazon.
Last edited:
mindless1
Diamond Member
- Aug 11, 2001
- 8,636
- 1,691
- 126
^ I am not running the current version of Firefox. I'm running a souped up, well worn in, old version 54 that will have to be pried from my cold, dead, hands. 
Sometimes, the extensive mods and blocking I do with it, breaks sites, so I run latest Chrome too but as you see, the latest isn't always a solution. Yes there are some Firefox add-ons that slow it down, even create memory leaks so you have to choose carefully. The memory space in Firefox is apparently not infinite, can run out before your main system memory is exhausted including the x64 version.
Just now, I let IE11 go online for the first time in ages, and it can see the Amazon review comments too.
Maybe this is an experiment by Amazon, put the statement out there that they're going to do something then gauge the internet response. It seems pretty coincidental to have both of these things happen within the span of a couple weeks.
Is there an official statement by an Amazon rep instead of just 3rd party questionable info? Sorry if someone linked that already but there is only so much time and so much text to read...
Sometimes, the extensive mods and blocking I do with it, breaks sites, so I run latest Chrome too but as you see, the latest isn't always a solution. Yes there are some Firefox add-ons that slow it down, even create memory leaks so you have to choose carefully. The memory space in Firefox is apparently not infinite, can run out before your main system memory is exhausted including the x64 version.
Just now, I let IE11 go online for the first time in ages, and it can see the Amazon review comments too.
Maybe this is an experiment by Amazon, put the statement out there that they're going to do something then gauge the internet response. It seems pretty coincidental to have both of these things happen within the span of a couple weeks.
Is there an official statement by an Amazon rep instead of just 3rd party questionable info? Sorry if someone linked that already but there is only so much time and so much text to read...
Last edited:
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 20K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter