Quote:
Originally Posted by PatNY
Are you saying if a system isn't perfect, it shouldn't be in place at all? I never said a system such as Amazon's or even Yelp's is 100% effective at weeding out the bogus reviews. Just because a system meant to protect consumers isn't perfect, doesn't mean it isn't doing a great job otherwise at protecting them from a lot of harm.
How do you know these systems aren't protecting consumers right now? I suspect there would be a tenfold amount of bogus reviews than what currently exists if no system or inferior systems were in place.
When I go to Amazon (or Yelp) to read reviews, I appreciate that they have taken many measures to help ensure valid, honest reviews. I believe for the most part, what I am reading are honest reviews. That's all I can ask for. If I have to turn on my BS meter to weed out some of the rest, so be it. That doesn't detract from the tremendous value these reviews provide me.
--Pat
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Actually, my only beef is that there is no excuse to troll into people's privacy for the sake of perhaps finding a few bogus reviews. If any company is going to lurk on FB or GR or blogs or whatnot in the hopes of determining whether a review was done by a friend or relatives, I don't appreciate that kind of action from a company where I do business--or leave reviews. Such invasive action fails to work so the invasion of the privacy is for naught.
Now I've read all the arguments about people don't care or they shouldn't post private information and so on. While that is all true, I do not agree with the policy of companies intruding simply because they can. It's especially onerous because such invasion doesn't work the majority of the time.
I think it is entirely possible that companies could come up with a review system that would work. I think it could be done without lurking about the web like some kind NSA spy. Their current way is probably the easiest, cheapest and most invasive. I get that they are trying to make money so I understand the implementation. I just happen to disagree with the method.
Companies value reviews because they are free recommendations and the companies don't have to pay to get the input. Consumers value the reviews when they believe there is no ulterior motive behind the reviews. That's becoming more difficult to obtain. I just don't care for the choices these companies are making to achieve their goal.