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Original poster

Amazon Vine - is it worth it?

14 replies

FizzingAda · 06/11/2023 09:57

Have been invited to participate in Amazon Vine - you are able to,ask for products for free, and you have to write honest reviews about them. Has anyone used it, are there any catches? (I usually write a review about anything I buy from Amazon anyway).

OP posts:
Sparticle · 08/11/2023 10:05

I got invited a few weeks ago and it's been good so far. I can order up to three items a day up to the value of £82, but tbh most items are less than £30. I've ordered all sorts, a pair of leather shoes, chargers, apple watch straps, phone screen protectors, leather belt for DH, robot toy for DCs, make up etc.

The most annoying thing is that often (perhaps 50% of the time), I click on something to order it and either the item details crash or it says tat the order hasn't gone through once I've clicked 'order'. There were some nice shoes I wanted, plus a handbag but although they've been showing a few a days now, I just can't order them.

Also, you can only access it via the web, it won't show up on the app.

You have 30 days to review the items but I'm trying to do them within a day or two. You aren't meant to give them away, sell the item or order for someone else and are supposed to hang onto them for 6 months in case it's asked for back but apparently that is rare. I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth though so I am sticking to the rules! (I'm not worried about getting things for people in my household though.)

Original poster
FizzingAda · 08/11/2023 17:52

Thanks Sparticle. I did sign up yesterday and had a good look round. There is a lot of dross on Vine, a bit like when they do Black Friday, but I did find three things I wanted to order. However, like you it only accepted one item (which arrived today). Maybe as we are newbies we are restricted until they see how we do the reviews? Anyway, will give it a go and see how it works out.

OP posts:
Sparticle · 09/11/2023 10:54

There are some VERY odd things on there too - shower enema douches and other adult items and some things that are definitely for storing or grinding weed! Whatever people need reviewing I suppose 😂

NotSoLittleDove · 10/11/2023 14:31

Ooh, how did you get invited? Have you written a lot of reviews?

Original poster
FizzingAda · 10/11/2023 16:27

I' e been on Amazon for donkey,s years, we live in the sticks so are quite a long way from lots of shops. I always read reviews when I buy something, and usually write a review myself. I suppose I review about 70% of purchases. I leave a proper review, not 'good', or 'bad', or only a few meaningless words. I don't know if it goes by the number of your reviews, or the likes they get, or if Amazon actually read them to see if they are useful. You can't apply for Vine, you have to be invited. I had never heard of it til I got invited last week.

OP posts:
NotSoLittleDove · 10/11/2023 19:02

Good luck, sounds interesting ... assuming the products needing review are actually any good ☺️

Sparticle · 10/11/2023 22:36

Well today I ordered some hand towels, a 1000 piece jigsaw (we like jigsaws in my house) and a £70 adjustable kettlebell, which I'm particularly excited about. Missed out on an oil radiator though which was a shame.

I've had two duff items so far, one was a kids' watch with a rubbish thin strap and the other was a set of three large household sponges that were supposed to magically expand from their vacuum-packed state but have stayed at 1cm thick Hmm But everything else has been great so far.

NotSoLittleDove · 11/11/2023 09:41

Sparticle · 10/11/2023 22:36

Well today I ordered some hand towels, a 1000 piece jigsaw (we like jigsaws in my house) and a £70 adjustable kettlebell, which I'm particularly excited about. Missed out on an oil radiator though which was a shame.

I've had two duff items so far, one was a kids' watch with a rubbish thin strap and the other was a set of three large household sponges that were supposed to magically expand from their vacuum-packed state but have stayed at 1cm thick Hmm But everything else has been great so far.

Sounds exciting! Do they give you a deadline by when you have to review an item by?

Sparticle · 11/11/2023 14:30

NotSoLittleDove · 11/11/2023 09:41

Sounds exciting! Do they give you a deadline by when you have to review an item by?

Show quote history

I have a feeling it has to be within 30 days but I can't find that now. I'm at silver status and they monitor my participation across six months - in that time I have to review at least 100 Vine items and 90% of my Vine orders to be upgraded to gold status (which would be up to 8 items for any value). I've reviewed 33 items so far, 92% of my Vine orders.

Pinkgin76 · 04/01/2024 21:46

Hi how many reviews did you have to leave before receiving invite please

Original poster
FizzingAda · 04/01/2024 22:07

I had a look on Amazon but can't see any record of all the reviews I've left over the years, so can't say how many. I probably buy a couple,of things a month, and usually review them, so it adds up. I don't know their criteria for invitation though.
i've been on it two months now, and had five items. A lot of time I select an item and get an error message saying it's unavailable, which is rather annoying. I gather it's because they are items from abroad. There is a FB group for Vine, and everyone is complaining about it and saying what a load of rubbish is on it at the moment. It's quite disappointing really.

OP posts:
Jaikido · 18/03/2024 07:11

Sparticle · 08/11/2023 10:05

I got invited a few weeks ago and it's been good so far. I can order up to three items a day up to the value of £82, but tbh most items are less than £30. I've ordered all sorts, a pair of leather shoes, chargers, apple watch straps, phone screen protectors, leather belt for DH, robot toy for DCs, make up etc.

The most annoying thing is that often (perhaps 50% of the time), I click on something to order it and either the item details crash or it says tat the order hasn't gone through once I've clicked 'order'. There were some nice shoes I wanted, plus a handbag but although they've been showing a few a days now, I just can't order them.

Also, you can only access it via the web, it won't show up on the app.

You have 30 days to review the items but I'm trying to do them within a day or two. You aren't meant to give them away, sell the item or order for someone else and are supposed to hang onto them for 6 months in case it's asked for back but apparently that is rare. I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth though so I am sticking to the rules! (I'm not worried about getting things for people in my household though.)

Not sure if you've become aware yet so thought I'd share that each item you can get is up to £82 each and not the total for all 3. As a silver member you'll not see any item that costs more than £82 listed so you don't need to spend time checking price tags just click of you're interested. Hopefully this speeds up the process for you as things tend to go quickly.

CrowleyKitten · 18/10/2024 01:30

definitely worth it. it costs nothing. you only get things if you apply for them, and you just have to keep your reviews over a certain percentage to not get kicked off the programme. it's win win.
I even had an £80 vibrating, heated shiatsu foot massager from it. it's amazing. I've had a lot of brilliant stuff from them. some days there isn't much to choose from, but it's swings and roundabouts. hoping I can get lots of Christmas pressies through vine.

Original poster
FizzingAda · 18/10/2024 09:36

Have got my quota and more, so hoping for gold status next month.

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