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Original poster

Pointless/useless online reviews

40 replies

toffeechai · 11/09/2022 11:02

This person has oh-so-helpfully left a four-star Amazon review for a book they haven’t actually read yet.

Just, why?

See also: people who say they haven’t used the item yet but leave a review about it being delivered.

Guess some people don’t realise it’s meant to be a product review. Anyone else seen any useless reviews lately?

OP posts:

Blossomandbee · 11/09/2022 11:04

Argos is usually full of reviews like this, or people reviewing the store/parking/ease of collection rather than the actual product

Pixiedust1234 · 11/09/2022 11:16

Its because argos or amazon etc send an eao5omated email asking them if they are happy with the product. Some people don't realise its for a review to be put up online, they just assume is customer relations and think "how lovely, they actually care!"

Pixiedust1234 · 11/09/2022 11:16

*automated

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/09/2022 11:17

This reminds me of a joke Lee Mack told, mentioning his career and the glowing reviews he'd received - and then went on to say the reviews were actually from eBay and read 'nicely packaged' or similar!

I think a lot of people don't realise that, when Amazon or whoever ask you to leave a review, it's optional and not a summons. If you don't want to or have nothing to say, you don't have to - and shouldn't. It's the same with Amazon Answers, where somebody thinking of buying the item will ask a question about it and you'll get one person giving a useful answer and four people saying "I don't know"!

I also think that ratings without even one or two words' comment as to why you gave it your rating should be got rid of - useless - especially as so many people seem to think that 1 star is great and 5 stars is rubbish, so you've no way of knowing that is actually their opinion.

Added to this the people who clearly don't understand what they're buying, but will still review it anyway. An extension lead that works perfectly gets 3 stars 'because it's only an extension lead - boring!' (did you expect it to do an impromptu cabaret act as well?); or they buy a copy of Noddy In Toyland and then criticise it for being very basic and really childish - and give it a rating based on their personal opinion of it rather than how much their young child did or didn't enjoy it!

toodlesthen · 11/09/2022 11:33

I hate when someone adds a review based on it arriving damaged. Such a waste of everyone's time. Wait until you've received the replacement!

Original poster

toffeechai · 11/09/2022 11:38

I also once saw a review where they said they took off a star because they had wanted to buy a completely different product that was sold out.

OP posts:

ChimChimeny · 11/09/2022 11:47

I also think that ratings without even one or two words' comment as to why you gave it your rating

We get notifications on our echoes asking us to give reviews and you don't have to say anything just give a star rating so that's probably how those appear

Work2live · 11/09/2022 11:50

“Bought as a gift for my sister, I think she’ll like it.”

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/09/2022 12:08

I hate when someone adds a review based on it arriving damaged. Such a waste of everyone's time. Wait until you've received the replacement!

Yes. Even when items arrive in perfect condition, a review one week later only tells part of the story. Which? do the same. You get a review of how well it performs when new, but not a clue on longer-term reliability. I'd rather have something a bit less singing-and-dancing that won't let me down rather than something that gives its all for six months and then keeps failing.

We get notifications on our echoes asking us to give reviews and you don't have to say anything just give a star rating so that's probably how those appear

Ah, that explains it, then. What's the point of them doing that, though? Could Alexa pipe up "How many stars would you give your recent X book?" at the exact same time as somebody has asked when you're having your lunch break? Even though it was the best book you've ever read, it still hears you saying "One" and assigns it accordingly?!

Cynderella · 11/09/2022 12:11

Work2live · 11/09/2022 11:50

“Bought as a gift for my sister, I think she’ll like it.”

This. So annoying.

MarmiteCoriander · 11/09/2022 12:12

Some sites have the option to tick whether the review is useful or not. If I see ridiculous ones like the examples above, I always tick the 'not helpful' box.

BlackandJello · 11/09/2022 12:22

"Bought this as a Christmas gift so not tried it yet". 5 stars

YorkieTheRabbit · 11/09/2022 12:32

The Amazon review for a stock pot they ordered that was too big, the dimensions were on the product description. They then went on a rant regarding the post office being closed when they went to post it back.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/09/2022 12:48

The number of people who order Windows-based computer hardware that clearly says 'not compatible with Apple devices' and then give it one star because they've found it doesn't work with their Mac.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 11/09/2022 12:52

This pisses me off so much - I like to read reviews to make an informed decision, particularly about expensive items, and when there’s multiple 5 stars that say ‘bought as an Xmas present but I’m sure the recipient will be thrilled!’ it pisses me off. Or, as you say, the ones saying delivery was shit. Or, I broke it a week after delivery, disappointed it didn’t last long (literally just read this one - it was about a glass teapot!).

Or those confusing ones where the review is absolutely glowing, but they’ve left one star.

User354354 · 11/09/2022 13:48

Blossomandbee · 11/09/2022 11:04

Argos is usually full of reviews like this, or people reviewing the store/parking/ease of collection rather than the actual product

Argos is a nightmare for 5 stars reviews which say

'Xmas present, not yet opened but looks good'

'Brought for GC, looks great, not sure if it's any good'

It infuriates me

DancingBudgie · 11/09/2022 13:55

All the above, but in addition there's the Q&A on Amazon to drive you mad.
Q. Is this product black or white?
A. I don't know, I bought it as a gift.
Why bother bloody answering if you can't give the answer!!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/09/2022 14:03

Why bother bloody answering if you can't give the answer!!

I think a lot of people don't realise that they're one of many people who receive the email via a bot, and that it isn't a personal request just to them. Nobody is going to even know, much less think you rude if you ignore it. The way it's worded might also even make you think that the would-be buyer somehow knows that you bought it and they have asked you.

It's even more frustrating when you do give a non-answer as that generates an email to the asker. They get excited that they're going to find out the vital detail that they need to know and just read "Sorry, mate - not a clue" - it's almost like accidental algorithmical trolling

RunsLikeaLittleFatDuck · 11/09/2022 14:10

"Bought this for my wife and she loves it."
Yeah thanks for that ... great help!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 11/09/2022 14:13

"Bought this for my wife and she loves it."
Yeah thanks for that ... great help!

Makes me think of the MN threads when somebody says "Well, my husband thinks...."

Thelnebriati · 11/09/2022 14:19

We've had some batshit feedback on Ebay, including one bloke who said 'I have deducted a star as the envelope was sealed in an uneven manner', and several people complained about receiving an extra free gift.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 11/09/2022 14:26

Thelnebriati · 11/09/2022 14:19

To be fair, if you send people stuff they didn't order it's going to be split between "ooh free thing" and "great, unsolicited crap to throw away".

MrsJamin · 11/09/2022 14:29

I manage a product and read our app reviews. Most of the time when reviewers leave one star it's because there's a quirk in their hardware that has a resulted in a bug in the software that we were unlikely to anticipate. Did they get in contact with us before the 1* review? Of course not, it's very very frustrating. People don't really consider that their reviews are read and that their ratings contribute to how new people perceive the product.

imnottoofussed · 11/09/2022 14:36

It's the same with tripadvisor q and a section. People answer it with "I don't know we didn't do such and such". Just don't bloody answer if you don't know 🤦‍♀️

Helgadaley · 11/09/2022 14:36

I've read so many stupid reviews - 1 star because it was delivered late. Sorry, that's the post office you're reviewing, not the product.
About a book - 1 star because I bought it second hand and the cover was torn.
Then, 1 star but fabulous comments.
Reviews on books are the worst. 5 stars, looking forward to reading it. 1 star, because I didn't like the characters. 1 star - it was too long / too short.

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