08-29-2012, 05:00 AM | #31 |
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08-29-2012, 06:04 AM | #32 | |
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08-29-2012, 06:49 AM | #33 | |
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In every case, if the marketer of the product is paying for reviews, it is IMHO unethical and should be exposed. Now, it's true that big city newspapers, and some magazines, are loaned cars for review purposes. That's unfortunate for readers, since the companies can hand-pick those cars. The fact that Consumer Reports is careful to buy the cars it reviews anonymously makes their reviews more credible. But it's not the same as if the auto makers paid for the reviews. |
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08-29-2012, 07:23 AM | #34 |
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Does this mean we can go 1-star bomb his books on Amazon?
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08-29-2012, 08:56 AM | #35 |
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I always read from both ends of the review spectrum, to try to get the full range of opinions and see who I think I agree with, but I would say that having a high volume of reviews is generally reassuring, even if the score is mediocre.
However good you actually are, getting seen is the real problem in a flooded market like this. Gaming the review system might be one dishonest way to get that done, and seems to have worked for Locke. |
08-29-2012, 09:11 AM | #36 |
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08-29-2012, 09:52 AM | #37 |
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Locke's quality aside, what he did is no different than what goes on in major publishing circles, or for that matter, all professional advertising. I'm not going to condemn him for that... in fact, I'm this close to congratulating him for finding the way to get independent authors noticed in this damned-if-we-do, damned-if-we-don't market.
He paid for it. What a radical concept. |
08-29-2012, 09:54 AM | #38 |
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I'd also like to know where there is any proof of traditional publishers buying reviews or doing anything comparable to what Locke did.
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08-29-2012, 12:19 PM | #39 |
Seriously?
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.....
Last edited by david_e; 09-05-2012 at 03:51 PM. |
08-29-2012, 12:36 PM | #40 | |
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Another issue is that in many jurisdictions buying positive reviews is illegal and can attract heavy fines and in some cases criminal charges. Here, (Australia) there are very severe penalties for using "False and misleading advertising" in an attempt to generate sales. The same thing has happened in the US with convictions for "Payola" resulting in many millions of dollars in fines for those involved. No, regardless of the opinions of some here, what Locke has done is not simply an online version of a common practice. Amazon removed many of his reviews recently, they are apparently not risking charges of being involved in or accepting of Payola. They have only removed those reviews known to have come from those involved in the NYT article. There are still many that are suspect but not openly known to be purchased. Many phony reviews come from an organisation called "freelancer.com" another pay for review source that was not mentioned by the NYT. I still have copies of the Freelancer ads asking for people to review Amazon books - fifty at a time. They specify that each review must include a purchase, for which the reviewer will be reimbursed independently of payment for the reviews. |
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08-29-2012, 12:37 PM | #41 | |
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But I haven't done this research myself. |
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08-29-2012, 01:33 PM | #42 | |
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Those blurbs are as valuable in selling books to the public as independent reviews, mainly due to their direct association with known and popular authors and actual attachment to the product (unfortunate but true). It's incredibly transparent and obvious... but it works anyway, just as celebrity endorsements have "fooled" consumers since there have been advertisements; it is often a more powerful sales tool than independent reviews. |
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08-29-2012, 01:47 PM | #43 | |
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08-29-2012, 02:49 PM | #44 | |
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This, to me, just sounds like someone who'd figured out how to game the new system in much the same way that big publishers and established authors have gamed the old system for decades. |
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08-29-2012, 03:05 PM | #45 |
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I doubt that many would print a bad blurb/review in a book they were publishing. Also seems a tad unlikely that a well known author would write a glowing review of a book they found to be mediocre or worse.
Helen |
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