General Question regarding Online Book Reviews

[MorraRose]

This is a question regarding book reviews online, such as Amazon, and not necessarily reviews of literotica writers (and partly a rant): Okay, so, I’m reading a book club book which I will not name because I’m not here to discuss the book but rather the publishing industry; the book in question, by a proven author, is wordy, slow, boring, no character arcs, some cliches and marks of lazy writing, etc, has an average 60% 4-5 star rating on Amazon. I read several of those reviews and a number of the 3-1 star reviews, and I agree with 3-1 star reviews. So, my question is, how does a book that’s so flawed get sooo many good reviews? And hey, if anyone’s game, play Guess the Book ( or not ). Thanks for brooking my long-winded question/rant.

 

[lc69hunter]

I buy a lot of e-books on Amazon, and rate them. I buy a fair amount from the same authors. Some people rate the book based upon writing skill, etc. Others on the story, and what they liked or disliked about it. I rate primarily on the content, willing to overlook minor writing errors.

Because buy and rate so many, I can give a bad review and still get it published. For example, I gave one of my favorite authors a 2 yesterday, explaining (it was a hotwife/husband's friend situation) that I didn't like the way the wife and friend denigrated the husband, unlike most of her other books. The review just got published.

I also buy a lot of Sci-fi series and encourage the new writers.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

A certain percentage of the reviews for anything online are fake/bots/paid for whatever so that explains some of it.
As for the rest, there's no accounting for taste.
I mean I've got one word for you: Twilight.
She made more money off that than every active writer in the AH will probably make combined over our lifetimes by writing and it's not good.

 

[lc69hunter]

A certain percentage of the reviews for anything online are fake/bots/paid for whatever so that explains some of it.
As for the rest, there's no accounting for taste.
I mean I've got one word for you: Twilight.
She made more money off that than every active writer in the AH will probably make combined over our lifetimes by writing and it's not good.

I've always wondered how many reviews are fake. At least I know mine isn't.

 

[NotWise]

FIrefox has an option to filter out invalid ratings at a few online stores, including Amazon. I think they remove ratings from reviewers who didn't buy the product. If you use it, the ratings are likely to be much lower.

I used that a few months ago when looking for open-air earphones. Most of the products had very high unfiltered scores. With the filter many of them had no "valid" votes. The set I bought had valid votes and a good score, and they turned out to be a good product.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I've always wondered how many reviews are fake. At least I know mine isn't.

And that doesn't even factor in corporations being shady.
Bought a product from a major retailer using their app, through my account. So I'm a verified purchaser.
Thing arrived torn up. The packaging was fine. Whatever happened to it happened before it got boxed up.
Gave the review, uploaded pictures as proof.
Waited a week, review isn't showing up posted it again. That one never showed up either. Wasn't even 1 star, the product works as advertised it just had cosmetic issues.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

There are sites such as Book Award Pro that charge writers to get them authentic reviews.

Thousands of people make money reviewing products that they never purchased or, in the case of books, read. It's one of the most hyped 'work from home' opportunities.

Amazon claims that these reviews are violations of their terms, and will occasionally delete ones that are blatantly false, but their efforts are hit and miss to say the least.