An unfortunate recent change for anyone using Amazon as a general review resource is they login-gated links to everything except the summary page. So without an account or logging in one can't view lower starred reviews.
The emails look like this: ----
Hi David, Thank you for supporting our test. To leave a review on Amazon, we need you to order it on Amazon first, then we refund you as soon as you send us the order details.
If you are worried about the price, let me know the total in your cart, and I'll send you the money to cover it so you can make the purchase.
Please have a look at the steps below, if you have any questions, or encouter any difficulties, just don't hesitate to let me know.
You can check the following to participate the free test of $highbudgetcamera
● Go to Amazon.com and search for "camera specifications". Look for our camera (refer to the image below). It should be on Page 1.
● Purchase the camera and let us know your Order ID by replying to this message. You could use the 10% coupon on product page to reduce the order price.
● Try out the camera for 3 to 5 days and then leave a review on Amazon. Don't forget to send us a snapshot of your review.
● You will receive a full refund + a small gift: extra 10$ cash (by Paypal or Amazon Gift card).
Thanks again, -Some Russian name representing a Chinese company
If I look at any product on Amazon now, say a USB C cable, it’s full of fake reviews. Take this one as an example which came up as a sponsored link - 4.3/5 rated - https://amzn.eu/d/bHCXNQG - 7% of reviews are 1* and variously say that the description is misleading in capabilities of the cable, the cable broke, etc.
If you look at the 5* reviews and click through to any profile writing them, they’re giving out all 5* reviews on a totally random array of cheap Chinese products. On top of that they’re always on products that no real person would buy since they’re always a mixture of things aimed at young/old and male/female, and yet the reviews are all written in the first person. If you’re not at least skeptical you will end up wasting money on rubbish. You have to now look at the distribution of reviews rather than the overall average since fake ones at 4 and 5 star swamp all else.
Here in the U.K. I prefer Argos for small purchases I used to make from Amazon, but it’s not got the full range of items you might want to buy online unfortunately.