MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Would you trust a review that was paid for?

theducks · 03-19-2011, 11:43 AM

I think the relationship of the r3eviewer and the Publisher of the review are important.
Ex the NYT book reviewers are paid to write reviews .

This does not invalidate the review s long as the Review publisher does not 'cherry pick' the reviews to please, slam or otherwise bias by selective publication of the 'reviews' in deference to advertisers or corporate ownership or political groups.

There were comments about negative product reviews by customers whose expectations were not made.
Lousy product descriptions and lack of pre-purchase access to full user documentation (same issue with shrink-wrapped boxes in stores) are as much at fault as higher expectations

I have been suckered into products that had fine print (or very lightly mentioned only in the full user guide) limitations that ended up NOT meeting my needs (eg. If you use Feature 'A", you can't use Feature 'B' )

Supplying a free sample to reviewers, with no strings is just a way to get an independent review published in time for the release date.

Trust in the reviewer (and review publisher) are still the important criteria for me.

03-19-2011, 11:43 AM	#42
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,166 Karma: 60406498 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I think the relationship of the r3eviewer and the Publisher of the review are important. Ex the NYT book reviewers are paid to write reviews . This does not invalidate the review s long as the Review publisher does not 'cherry pick' the reviews to please, slam or otherwise bias by selective publication of the 'reviews' in deference to advertisers or corporate ownership or political groups. There were comments about negative product reviews by customers whose expectations were not made. Lousy product descriptions and lack of pre-purchase access to full user documentation (same issue with shrink-wrapped boxes in stores) are as much at fault as higher expectations I have been suckered into products that had fine print (or very lightly mentioned only in the full user guide) limitations that ended up NOT meeting my needs (eg. If you use Feature 'A", you can't use Feature 'B' ) Supplying a free sample to reviewers, with no strings is just a way to get an independent review published in time for the release date. Trust in the reviewer (and review publisher) are still the important criteria for me.