Amazon is keeping a running tally of actions it has taken to fight fake reviews. On Wednesday, it updated the post to summarize actions it had taken in 2023. It took action against 58 “bad actors” in the US, it said, including 14 new lawsuits. And it filed 13 new lawsuits and 2 criminal referrals against 61 bad actors in China; and it took action against 44 bad actors in Europe and the UK, including 9 new lawsuits.
Amazon product reviews have long helped it differentiate its site from other retail and ecommerce platforms, but thanks to how lucrative positive product reviews can be for sellers, they’ve been rife for abuse.
“In recent years, an illicit “fake review broker” industry has emerged to exploit the value reviews bring to consumers,” Amazon wrote in its update this week. “These brokers approach customers directly through websites, social media channels, and encrypted messaging services, soliciting them to write fake reviews in exchange for money, free products, or other incentives.”
Amazon Vice President of Selling Partner Services Dharmesh Mehta referenced the update in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday and wrote: “In 2024, we’ll build on this momentum by investing in additional proactive tools and technology to detect and stop fake reviews from ever appearing in our store, and we will hold even more fraudsters accountable. We will continue to ensure that reviews remain a trustworthy and insightful resource for customers.”
Meanwhile on eBay, buyers be like: “If you don’t give me free items, I give you bad reviews”.
Don’t believe it.
This was just last month a product I have sold for 11 years.
A five star feedback as received from this buyer.
A Review was left on a ladies panty sale stating that she loved the product but it appeared to her that some of the panties in the set fit a little different than the next one so they must be counterfeit.
To begin with this is not a high rated brand. It is a brand sold in discount stores.
And It is not a brand that would be counterfeited. I am a 17 year seller, My metrics are perfect, Ive sold the product for 11 years.
I get in inquiry about the product from Amazon. I send them manufacturer invoice. Then photos of product front back both sides of tag showing upc.
Still not satisfied. I show them the catalog page from the manufacturer. Still not satisfied.
I get a letter from the CEO stating they have the exclusive rights to this brand and product and that they give me exclusive rights to sell this product on Amazon. (keep in mind I have 1 competitor of about 1-year tenure).
I still get turned down to sell my brand. The other seller has not got exclusive rights to sell the brand I do and Amazon still says in the best of the community they will not grant permission to sell my own product. -What based on a review probably set up by the competitor.
And i you see the posts on social media pages for Amazon what does it say. Over and Over and Over and Over the abuse and false cancellations of peoples account or product pages totally useless and totally false.
We feel like we are living in the twilight zone with Amazon.