A Bribe for a 5-Star Review
I buy almost everything on Amazon. Recently, I ordered a back stretcher. It took half an hour to assemble, and after the first use, it changed shape. However, this story is not about quality but about a card that was included with the item.
In the box, I found a gift card that wasn’t a gift card but rather a promise of a $20 Amazon gift card for a 5-star review. Hmm! A bribe for a good review.
I looked at the card more closely, and it had the following text.
WARM TIPS: Please DO NOT upload gift card pictures in the review; it will affect your account.
This is not only a bribe. It contains a threat.
Initially, I assumed it was Amazon, but it makes more sense that the company making this thingy is behind it. I gave Amazon the benefit of the doubt and went to their website to leave a 1-star review. I related the card’s story to warn others that the 5-star reviews can’t be trusted. Amazon rejected my review as it didn’t comply with their guidelines. Is Amazon in on it?
I wrote a different 1-star review, which did comply. It seems I can complain about the product, but I can’t complain about the bribe and threat.
I called Amazon’s customer service, and they promised to investigate. This was three months ago. This crappy product, with a stellar average 4.6 rating, is still out there.
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Faizal R:
I rarely give a review.
13 July 2023, 4:23 am