dont put too much faith in amazon reviews

[Bilge_Rat]

a bit old, but priceless, a best selling history author was found to be posting anonymous reviews on Amazon praising his books and trashing those of his competitors:

Historian Orlando Figes agrees to pay damages for fake reviews

Orlando Figes posted reviews on Amazon praising his own work and rubbishing that of his rivals

One of Britain's leading historians, Orlando Figes, is to pay damages and costs to two rivals who launched a libel case after a row erupted over fake reviews posted on the Amazon website.

The award-winning Figes, professor of history at Birkbeck, University of London, admitted in April to posting critical reviews of books by a number of authors, including fellow historians Rachel Polonsky and Robert Service, praising his own work and rubbishing that of his rivals.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010...amazon-reviews

The current scandal seems to have its roots in a critical 2002 review of Figes’s book Natasha’s Dance written by Rachel Polonsky, a Cambridge-based Russianist, who pointed out factual errors in the work and accused Figes of being “cavalier” with his sources. This year it was Polonsky’s turn to suffer when her book, Molotov’s Magic Lantern, received a brutal notice, posted on Amazon by someone calling themselves “Historian”.

“This is the sort of book that makes you wonder why it was ever published,” the review began, adding that Polonsky’s writing was “dense and pretentious”.

Going into detective mode, Polonsky discovered that Historian had previously dished the dirt on other Russianists including Robert Service, the biographer of Stalin (“disappointing”) and Leon Trotsky (“a dull read”). The mystery reviewer also criticised the award of the £30,000 Samuel Johnson prize in 2008 — for which Figes was shortlisted — to Kate Summerscale’s book The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. “Oh dear, what on earth were the judges thinking,” Historian lamented.

The vitriol turned to syrup when praising Figes’s rival work, The Whisperers — “beautiful and necessary”, “enormous compassion”, “superb storytelling skills”. Historian’s gush concluded: “I hope he writes for ever.”

http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle7107147.ece

[ETR3(SS)]

Just saw this as well. It's along the same subject line so figured I would add to the story.

Ever wonder who writes fakes user reviews on the Internet? So does the United States Federal Trade Commission, and they've found their first answer: Reverb Communications.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/p...eviews/1409159

Can't say I'm surprised by this at all.

[Spike88]

That reminds me of a Hobby Store in the area that I had wanted to go to for some Tamiya X25 Clear Green paint. I checked the review online, and most of the reviews were people complaining about the employees of the store being rude. Only two reviews were positive. One by a 3rd party and one from the store owner. Needless to say I just spent the extra four dollars and ordered the paint through Amazon.


But speaking of crappy Amazon reviews read this one:

I Tried Putting This Model Together And In My Opinion It Is Not Worth Putting Together

Second down on this page:
http://www.amazon.com/Gundam-MG-Wing...3200746&sr=8-1

Here's all his reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-...stRecentReview

[Weiss Pinguin]

I dunno, they're simple and to the point, and don't beat around the bush. I think he brings refreshing change of pace from all the usual wordy, tired reviews you read

[Takeda Shingen]

I am sure there is fraud somewhere in most of the review collections, but I have always found Amazon's customer reviews to be very helpful when ordering with the exception of computer software. I have read far too many reviews of excellent games and other programs that are a result of the user failing to update drivers or understand the concept of system requirements. When it comes to software, I place a much higher value on the word of the members here than I do on reviews there, and I have yet to be steered wrong.

[Spike88]

Originally Posted by Weiss Pinguin

I dunno, they're simple and to the point, and don't beat around the bush. I think he brings refreshing change of pace from all the usual wordy, tired reviews you read

But he doesn't explain why.


There is also this one person who reviews things for humor. You can't take his reviews serious, but worth a chuckle if you can find one.

[Castout]

Meh some stupid government are also posting some stupid comments about themselves and trashing online critics and dissident to the point of cyber bullying on youtube and political forums.

This is just the individual type of those tactics. It goes to show the stupidity of the person or in the case of state the establishment behind it.