I
started this blog because I’ve always found that I have some very definite
opinions about the books I read. I wouldn’t call myself a voracious reader –
more of an avid reader with a limited amount of time in which to read. I never
thought much about posting my reviews anywhere else, other than on here. However,
when I received a nice request from a fellow book blogger, asking me to post my
five star review on Amazon and Goodreads I wanted to oblige. Imagine my
surprise when I was greeted with this message from Amazon’s powers that be:
What?
Although Amazon has become a super giant in the retail industry, I have only
purchased from them once. And that was for an item that I found impossible to
find at any of my local retailers. Said item was a mere 19.99 (plus shipping
and handling) so it didn’t amount to the fifty dollar minimum requirement. It
got me thinking...is it fair of Amazon to do this? After all, Barnes and Noble
doesn’t require reviewers to reach a minimum purchase before allowing them to
post reviews.
I
get the supposed reason behind this. The number of fake positive Amazon reviews
has steadily skyrocketed over the past couple or so years. Consumers were sick
of it. I was sick of it. I do go to Amazon (and other websites) to check out
reviews on a variety of products before I decide to make a purchase. I don’t
want to read a bunch of glowing reviews from people who have received a "free product in exchange for a review”. I don’t care what anyone says. Receiving a
free product in exchange for a review most definitely skews your opinion.
Review
clubs are now banned from Amazon and that’s a very good thing. Amazon is really
starting to crack down on fake reviews and biased reviews. That’s also a good
thing. But, requiring reviewers to purchase at least $50 worth of products
before granting them permission to post a review is, in my humble opinion,
wrong. I get a lot of my books from the library, Half Price Books and at places
other than Amazon. Does that make my opinion of these books less valuable? Of
course not.
I could go to Amazon, purchase some things and then receive permission to review but I won't, just on principle now. I have since signed up for a Goodreads account (Goodreads was cleverly acquired by Amazon in 2013, by the way) and I've begun posting reviews there. I also post to Barnes and Noble. That's good enough for me.
What
do you think about this? I’d love to know.
Next
time...the topic of Amazon verified reviews...
Bob
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