Newegg Reviews: Biased and filtered?

[Lemodular]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy

Originally posted by: Lemodular
Ever noticed that there are conflicting reviews where some customers would say that the fan is loud where others will say it's whisper quite? I think not only they filter but add their own comments to beef up the reviews

I disagree on that. Quietness is a relative thing. And I honestly doubt that they edit comments.

True, but when one states that is screams like a banshee and another says barely audible then there is a big difference either that or the reviewer is deaf and/or exaggerating. I doubt that they "edit" any posts, what I meant is they "add" fictitious post.

**disclaimer: I'm not accusing any sites of these practices it's just through observations and inferences that I make these claims.

 

[shud]

Does Newegg have anything in place where you can only review products that you've ORDERED?

Any fanboy could just go on there and pump up or bash whoever they felt like if you can just write a review for the hell of it regardless of buying it from Newegg or not.

 

[threesevens]

I have been a customer of Newegg for years, 4 to be exact. I always read the reviews and never stop there in my hunt for info. I have read thousands, perhaps 10's of thousands of Newegg customer reviews. What is generally found is that Newegg has the best info all in one place and of course this is in general terms.

With that said, there are thousands and thousands of negative reviews on Newegg and plenty of positive reviews that actually provide any useful info. It is extremely doubtful that they do not allow any negative reviews to be posted.

In regards to them not posting any negative reviews, it seems they simply do their best to remove misleading reviews, either positive or negative. Like was mentioned in this thread, one reviewer claims the fan is loud and the other reviewer claims it is quiet, this is the nature of subjective opinion. The same example could be applied to defective items. One customer could receive a defective item and think the product is terrible and the manufacturer is terrible whereas the next customer to post a review did not receive a defective item and they believe it is the best product in the world and the manufacturer is the top in the industry.

One reason I believe there is a large quantity of positive reviews versus negative reviews is due to the fact that a majority of customers that get working products and the products meet at least what they were expecting are happy. Some negatives seem to rarely offer any reason for the dislike, simply that it is a terrible product, or it is a terrible product because the luck of the draw defective came their way. Manufacturers make little or no money and neither due vendors or resellers like Newegg, especially Newegg on selling items that are primarily defective or terrible as an inherent quality. So even if there were items that were inherently defective or simply terrible products and collect a substantial quantity of negative reviews they would not last long on the site due to the substantial losses incurred; by the customers (customers become upset), by the reseller (good resellers take care of their customers), by the manufacturer (manufacturers must be good to their resellers), ect... Everyone loses when it comes to defective products or very poor quality products, in general terms of course, the shipping companies make out very well. When the products are removed from the site, so would all the reviews for those items and it would also lend to the appearance that only positive reviews were posted.

Considering how Newegg treats their customers and the exceptionally flexible services they provide, I doubt there would be any benefit for them to encourage the sales of inherently terrible or defective products or simply decline all negative reviews.

 

[imported_g33k]

I don't even bother posting reviews there anymore. I've taken time to post thoughtful and in depth reviews of a product. I made sure it was well written and could be easily understood. Only for newegg to never post it.

 

[leigh6]

Very difficult decision for a company to post negative reviews. For example. "Motherboard wouldnt boot, All I got was beeps, had to RMA". Should they print this? For all they know the guy (or gal) might have not installed the video card and is just an idiot. I think their position to screen negative reviews is appropriate.

Just my opinion, Leigh

 

[Powermoloch]

I would think so. But lately, I seen a few bad reviews here and there in newegg

 

[chupacabra21]

Although they do say that neg posts may at their discretion be deleted I think that it is still very misleading. Newegg has to move product and they can't afford to have stuff that they have paid for sit on shelves because buyers are swayed away buy the neg reviews. I think we all understand that, but the review system and the way they have done it is one of the attractive features that has built newegg in the past (along with their service of course).

But, Why have a customer rating feature if you are only going to post the 4 to 5 stars reviews?

I dislike newegg for filtering so much now but still use them because they have yet to screw anything up and are so competent. So for now I am willing to look past this dishonesty.

 

[imported_Reck]

I can tell you their hard drive reviews are very heavily censored.

 

[KBtn]

The worst part of the reviews are when people go on and on about how great the shipping is (it's FedEx 2 day...big deal......did they expect someone to walk the part over on their back??). I swear that sometimes I try to actually find out if something performs well and is worth the money, but it is so hard to read through all the Newegg butt kissing ...Oh Newegg is soooo wonderful...kiss kiss. Do these people think the company is going to send them free stuff or write them a thank you letter for the kind words??? I wish they would just limit their ranting to a reviewing the product. Oh yeah, the other Newegg product review irritation is when people post reviews and don't actually have or have never used the item, they just say how good it is based on other reviews they read..what is that crap???

Typical Newegg review:
Newegg is soooo wonderful. I love Newegg so much kiss kiss kiss hug hug. You guys at Newegg are the bomb and the shipping is just incredible. I have never heard of receiving something in 2 days. How do you guys do it? It must be the magic that Newegg has. Wow, Newegg I love you, will you marry me? Did I mention how great the shipping was? What is FedEx? I've never heard of it, is that a codename for the Newegg shipping department? This graphics card is the best! it is sooo fast in games like battlefield 2 and source. I don't have it yet, but I am cutting aunt Sue's grass for the summer and plan on getting one from Newegg (who just happens to have the best shipping in the world). I love you Newegg, you rock !!!

 

[Cheesetogo]

Is amazon.com the only one who does not filter their reviews? (for things other than innapropriate content)

 

[fishstickz]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Is amazon.com the only one who does not filter their reviews? (for things other than innapropriate content)

Amazon has the position where they are the dominant online retailer of media... they have the leverage to say "we won't filter reviews on our site, and if you don't like it, take your business elsewhere". Any company who has a range of products (like most publishing companies) can not afford to _not_ do business with Amazon, lest they lose all those potential sales. Amazon shipped out something like $7 billion last year in inventory. So publishing firms are stuck there- even if some of their products are shat upon in the user reviews.

Newegg does not have that position. There are several other online merchants who compete for that market share in the build-your-own computer market- Zipzoomfly, Monarch, Outpost, ActBuy, etc. Newegg does not have the leverage to anger their suppliers who have the ability to take their products elsewhere. And that is the heart of the basis of the Newegg filters- they can't, for instance, p1ss off a major supplier like AMD who might pull their products from Newegg.

I trust Amazon.com reviews more, but I always look for opinions elsewhere on any online product I am going to purchase. Any information you see on a product retailer's page is guaranteed to not to be unbiased.