Sunday, October 18, 2015

Amazon going after fake reviews but mine is still posted

I have always wondered why YELP and Amazon Reviews and other review sites work as well as they do since a company COULD flood one with false reviews (high marks for their company or low marks for their competitors). From what I've seen this does not seem to be a big problem.

Even so, it is A problem, and amazon is taking action on it. See here for details.

A while back I posted a review that is... not sure its false, but I am surprised they allowed it and still allow it. What happened: I bought a copy of my own book Bounded Queries in Recursion Theory (Gasarch and Martin) since my dept wanted a copy to put in one of those glass cases of faculty books. I bought it used for about $10.00.  I got email from amazon asking if I wanted to review it, so I thought YES, I'll review my book! I wrote:

This is a great book. I should know, I wrote it.
I am surprised Amazon ASKED me for my opinion.
Seriously- I also have a survey which says whats in the book
better, email me if you want it, gasarch@cs.umd.edu

That was in November of  2014. Its still posted. Is it a false review? Not clear since everything I say in it is true and I am honestly saying who I am.

If Amazon removed it I would be surprised they noticed.

If Amazon does not remove it I'm surprised they allow it.

Is it possible to be surprised both ways?

3 comments:

  1. Technically not allowed (Sentiments by or on behalf of a person or company with a financial interest in the product) but it's such a minor infraction I'm sure Amazon doesn't care. It's people pretending to be dozens of satisfied customers that are the big issue, not a single positive review that states upfront the reviewer's bias.

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  2. Bill: This would be great opportunity to correct the typos in your review of your own book.

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    1. Yes, I noticed the typos as I was typing in the blog and was thinking of fixing them (and adding a link to my survey) but your comment pushed me to do it. Thanks.

      But I wonder- I submitted the corrections and they will email me when they approve(?) it. So I wonder if now they will notice.

      Agree with Paul- that a book ranked 2,922,504 is not going to get
      their attention, nor should it.

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