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| The junkification of Amazon | Login/Join |
Minor Deity |
The last year I tried to order an electric blanket, I ended up trying three, then giving up. One caught fire; two failed rapidly (certainly after the warrantee expired), the last one barely got lukewarm. None that initially worked lasted the season (I used to be able to count on at least one Winter. Note, this includes a "name brand" like Sunbeam.). When you read the comments, quite a number complain their blankets caught fire! The one I got that caught fire (which I complained about) led to an - intended to be - pitiful plea from the seller to delete my published comment. They said they were a small family-owned business struggling to make a go of it and offering me a full refund, plus a working replacement. I wonder how many would-be honest feedbacks are deleted in response to such attempts to cheat consumers out of real comments.
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| Minor Deity |
What do you think of weird name products such as this one with thousands of alleged comments? Does Amazon allow such fake claims of numerous comments to stand? Is there any attempt at quality control at all?
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| Minor Deity |
What does "Amazon Choice" mean?
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity  |
My impression is yes, most of the time. 
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| Minor Deity |
What does "Amazon Choice" mean? What about these alleged "badges"? Does Amazon really have anything to do with them??
Something "interesting"???
What th-?? Anyone ever heard of "Amazon Vine reviews"??
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| Minor Deity |
What is written on Amazon about it: https://www.amazon.com/vine/about?ie=UTF8
Is this an invitation to fraud or is Amazon really trying to create a meaningful, helpful workaround to the rampant dishonesty in manufacturers' reviews? I gather numerous consumers are getting free products in return for positive reviews. What does this mean? That consumers themselves are invited to participate to the fraud others are subjected to? Ones who produce so-called "insightful reviews", by being basically guaranteed to get high quality products in return for writing positive reviews. Moreover, ones with the caveat attached, that this reviewer has actually purchased the product. Are savvy manufacturers who want to get numerous positive reviews, availing themselves of this service to get many positive reviews? N.b. Positive ones which are written in grammatical English. It's certainly a red flag when reviews - and all the more so - product descriptions, are written with usage errors suggestive of non-native English speakers. Is there really any chance that honest consumers would get a randomly chosen product from manufacturers participating in yet another way of scamming other consumers? Is there ANY services sponsored by Amazon really available to help would-be purchasers to avoid defective, shoddy products? Or is this itself just another fraudulent product sold on Amazon? The rabbit hole of Amazon's knowing participation in the scams being perpetrated on their site knows no end.
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
I daresay we buy more from Amazon than anyone. 2-3 packages a day - sometimes more. We’ve learned how to use it but it took some time. The best bet is to only buy real brand names unless quality doesn’t matter. Only buy Prime so it can go back without fees. Don’t look at the 5 star reviews - they’re bogus. The 2 and 1 star reviews tell you what to expect. Everyone has a 4.5 rating - the lower ratings tell the tale. Some of the knockoffs are really good - my $9 KIZEN instant read thermometer is the equal of my $70 Thermopen in every respect. I daresay they’re made on the same line.
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| Minor Deity |
Hmm. Certainly are taking a chance with your assumptions about the meaning of the star reviews. I think there are equally a fair number of counterfeit low star reviews to dissuade rival product purchasers. Your observations about the value of knock-off products are interesting. I'm starting to think one month is an inadequate return period to test the reliability of a product. I always appreciate the lengthened period around the holidays. So many products take longer to fail. I kind of resent reviewers who send in their judgments right after they start to use a product. Do NOT think most bother to correct their review down the road when it proves defective.
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
I don't know if you reported the blanket that caught on fire to the CPSC, but it probably would be a good idea. https://www.usa.gov/federal-ag...ct-safety-commission
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
Are these blankets UL listed? I wouldn’t use one that wasn’t.
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Forum Frequenter |
Amazon is full of junk, but so are most shops, usually dubious quality chinese/asian made stuff. I won't use ebay except as a last resort for used items, but Amazon can be amazing, but yes I do check on the seller being Amazon. This week I wanted a second sharpening stone and also a honing guide. Gone are the days when I'd travel into a city and wander around the best hardware store. I read up and decided not on a traditional stone but on a second ceramic Spyderco benchstone (made in USA) of a grain to complement my first. Now these Spyderco are rather rare in the UK, yet Amazon UK had the one I wanted and cheaper than other shops. Free delivery in 4 days, actually turned up in two. Even more impressive was the result of my search for a honing guide. Found two reviewed that satisfied me, decided I liked a Japanese 'Kakuri' one which will take plane as well as chisel blades. Where then to buy this Japanese rarity? Amazon US, taking ten days with free UK delivery. Job creation? Tax avoidance? Huge ugly distribution centres? All I can say for sure is Amazon currently gives us wide product choice and saves us money.
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
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