Amazon's funky star rating system

[Miramonti]

A product yielding 4.3 stars would indicate better reviews than a product with only 4.1 stars, correct?......

Not so:

Here are two laundry detergent examples (found randomly while I was surfing for detergent deals), where the 4.3 rated product gets noticeably worse rated reviews than the 4.1 rated product.

Note the percentage of 5*, 4*, 3* etc. reviews:

Exhibit A, 4.3 stars: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IO2YFHK

Exhibit B, 4.1 stars: https://www.amazon.com/Tide-Purclean-Laundry-Detergent-Unscented/dp/B06XRJGJTZ

 

[Mayne]

my sister said it the best the other day "why the fuck am i buying shitty laundry detergent, but i have no problem spending money on coke and cigarettes?"

 

[Pink Jazz]

Don't Amazon Verified Purchases have higher weight towards the total than non-Verified purchases?

 

[dullard]

Don't Amazon Verified Purchases have higher weight towards the total than non-Verified purchases?

Yes, Amazon's rating isn't a straight average of the reviews. The reviews that are newer, have been voted as being helpful, and/or are verified purchases get a much heavier weight.

That said, just get this:

https://www.amazon.com/Tide-Release...de+Plus+Ultra+Stain+Release+laundry+detergent

 

[madoka]

I've complained about this phenomenon on this forum in the past.

 

[Miramonti]

my sister said it the best the other day "why the fuck am i buying shitty laundry detergent, but i have no problem spending money on coke and cigarettes?"

Haha, that's an unfortunate issue of priorities and probably could be said vs. anything else you buy.

Don't Amazon Verified Purchases have higher weight towards the total than non-Verified purchases?

I wish I had more brain power today or I'd add them up...

Yes, Amazon's rating isn't a straight average of the reviews. The reviews that are newer, have been voted as being helpful, and/or are verified purchases get a much heavier weight.

That said, just get this:

https://www.amazon.com/Tide-Release...de+Plus+Ultra+Stain+Release+laundry+detergent

Tide is the Starbucks of laundry detergent. They get so many foolish people paying their ridiculous prices, they raise the laundry detergent prices for everyone. Banish! My wife likes their stuff tho, so if it's at an incredible discount (ie only twice the average....), would I consider it...(but probably not....)

 

[Miramonti]

I've complained about this phenomenon on this forum in the past.

Must not be VERIFIED! Lol holy shiite...

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I thought it was weighted like most customer feedback surveys scores of 1 or 2 carry more weight, like they count twice.
Ex:
One 5 + one 1 counted twice
5+1= 6/3=2

 

[LikeLinus]

I've complained about this phenomenon on this forum in the past.

We can also show you products that have hundreds of joke reviews that are from people who didn't actually purchase the product. It's much smart for Amazon to give a weighted measure to people who have actual verified responses.

 

[BoomerD]

my sister said it the best the other day "why the fuck am i buying shitty laundry detergent, but i have no problem spending money on coke and cigarettes?"

Tell the lazy bitch that if she wants a better laundry detergent, SHE should buy it.