Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by astura on Thursday October 14, 2021 @01:25AM
(#28860784)
Consumer Reports was (and still is!) so trusted because it is the one publication that lacks the usual conflicts of interest that every other publication has.
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Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by ytpete on Thursday October 14, 2021 @02:21AM
(#28861091)
The Wirecutter (now part of NY Times) is another that doesn't accept freebie products, if I recall.
They do use affiliate links, so they have incentive to want you to buy _something_, but no incentive to give any particular brand or model a biased review.
Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by sgerenser on Thursday October 14, 2021 @06:49AM
(#28862625)
Except when they drop a product from their recommended list when they don’t want to participate in an affiliate program: https://www.xdesk.com/wirecutter-standing-desk-review-pay-to...
Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by acheron on Thursday October 14, 2021 @10:36AM
(#28864860)
I still can't believe people actually click on affiliate/tracking links. I get things based on Wirecutter reviews occasionally, but I always go to the product separately so it's not tracked.
Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by astura on Thursday October 14, 2021 @07:42AM
(#28862991)
YMMV but "review site with referral links" is a category of site I very much wish to avoid.
Re:FTC Puts Hundreds of Businesses on Notice about Fake Reviews
by lazide on Thursday October 14, 2021 @09:34PM
(#28872874)
As long as it's a generic referral program (Amazon?) in general I find it at least somewhat ok - I can see how they're getting paid, and I can assume (maybe?) they aren't getting a special kickback to sell that particular product over another one at Amazon or whatever.
When it's seller specific affiliate programs? It's all just spam basically.