Amazon reviews --- Will the real Harriet please stand up.

RCR · 07-22-2009, 12:21 AM

In the Deals, Freebies, and Resources forum, a member has noted that "Heroic Measures" by Jill Ciment is available for free download on oprah.com.

The member gave the amazon.com address to see a description of the book. I went there, only to be puzzled at the nature of the reviews and the overwhelming five star ratings.

Then I noticed that one reviewer, Harriet Klausner, has a track record of similarly flavoured reviews - more upbeat summaries, all with four to five stars, rather than personal reviews. And many of her reviews were submitted on the same day. She couldn't possibly have read and considered such a large number of books in one day.

Are these genuine reviews? Or is Harriet a spruiker for the publisher or Amazon? I've heard of this sort of behaviour before on Amazon, but never seen it so blatant.

Or am I just being especially cynical and grumpy today?

Andybaby · 07-22-2009, 06:32 AM

you are, the person probably gets paid 10-50 cents a review from somebody. could be the publisher, the author, a favored party, or part of a contest (I remember that amazon was giving away kindles to top reviewers)

don't worry about it so much, if you want you can always report it

Mike L · 07-22-2009, 07:12 AM

RCR,

You've introduced me to a useful new word: Spruiker.

I see that Wiktionary gives it as of Australian usage. That won't stop me from using it at every opportunity.

Thanks.

lilac_jive · 07-22-2009, 08:04 AM

Harriet Klausner has been doing this for years. She claims to be a speed reader. According to her reviews, she's read thousands and thousands of books, yet manages to not have anything under 4 stars.

I doubt she works for publishers, because she pretty much reviews every book. I don't think she works for amazon either. I think she just made mass reviewing into a business.

There are articles about her, just give it a google.

AnemicOak · 07-22-2009, 10:18 AM

She's pretty much become a joke a lot of places her reviews are posted.

RCR · 07-22-2009, 10:29 AM

Ahhh! Mr Google explains it all! Thanks for directing me there, Lilac_jive. I am now enlightened.

Mike L: I didn't even know "spruiker" was Australian until you said.

I wrote to my sister in England awhile back and told her it was so cold that I had to put a "doona" on my bed. She was confused by that word. Apparently "doona" is Australian too. (It means "duvet"). I was born in England, but I guess I've been in Australia so long I've started to speak the language. I'll be throwing boomerangs and wrestling crocodiles any day now.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-22-2009, 10:30 AM

how do you pronounce "spruiker" ?

dreams · 07-22-2009, 10:38 AM

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spruiker

I think it sounds like "spooker"

The above link has a sound icon that will pronounce it.

It's a new word for me too. And the reviewer in question is one that I always ignore when looking at reviews.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-22-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spruiker

I think it sounds like "spooker"

The above link has a sound icon that will pronounce it.

It's a new word for me too. And the reviewer in question is one that I always ignore when looking at reviews.

thanks for the audio aid.

i looked it up too but there wasn't a pronunciation aid in the dictionary i checked.

lilac_jive · 07-22-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCR

Ahhh! Mr Google explains it all! Thanks for directing me there, Lilac_jive. I am now enlightened.

Mike L: I didn't even know "spruiker" was Australian until you said.

I wrote to my sister in England awhile back and told her it was so cold that I had to put a "doona" on my bed. She was confused by that word. Apparently "doona" is Australian too. (It means "duvet"). I was born in England, but I guess I've been in Australia so long I've started to speak the language. I'll be throwing boomerangs and wrestling crocodiles any day now.

Her reviews used to drive me insane when I ran my reviewal site.

07-22-2009, 12:21 AM	#1
RCR Addict Posts: 334 Karma: 992487 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: 2 x Sony 505, iPad, Samsung 7 Tablet, ASUS Transformer, Nexus 7	Amazon reviews --- Will the real Harriet please stand up. In the Deals, Freebies, and Resources forum, a member has noted that "Heroic Measures" by Jill Ciment is available for free download on oprah.com. The member gave the amazon.com address to see a description of the book. I went there, only to be puzzled at the nature of the reviews and the overwhelming five star ratings. Then I noticed that one reviewer, Harriet Klausner, has a track record of similarly flavoured reviews - more upbeat summaries, all with four to five stars, rather than personal reviews. And many of her reviews were submitted on the same day. She couldn't possibly have read and considered such a large number of books in one day. Are these genuine reviews? Or is Harriet a spruiker for the publisher or Amazon? I've heard of this sort of behaviour before on Amazon, but never seen it so blatant. Or am I just being especially cynical and grumpy today?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
When can we expect to see real Kindle 3 reviews?	daroga	Amazon Kindle	26	08-24-2010 11:22 PM
Whats going on with Amazon, first The Stand dissapears, now Hitchhikers guide gone to	Dragoro	Amazon Kindle	28	06-08-2009 06:27 PM
The negative reviews have started on Amazon.	Mintaka	Amazon Kindle	36	03-08-2009 09:20 PM
amazon not accepting reviews?	Amalthia	Amazon Kindle	5	01-05-2008 10:42 AM
Already 60 customer reviews @ Amazon!	TadW	Amazon Kindle	3	11-19-2007 01:37 PM

07-22-2009, 06:32 AM	#2
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	you are, the person probably gets paid 10-50 cents a review from somebody. could be the publisher, the author, a favored party, or part of a contest (I remember that amazon was giving away kindles to top reviewers) don't worry about it so much, if you want you can always report it

07-22-2009, 07:12 AM	#3
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	RCR, You've introduced me to a useful new word: Spruiker. I see that Wiktionary gives it as of Australian usage. That won't stop me from using it at every opportunity. Thanks.

07-22-2009, 08:04 AM	#4
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Harriet Klausner has been doing this for years. She claims to be a speed reader. According to her reviews, she's read thousands and thousands of books, yet manages to not have anything under 4 stars. I doubt she works for publishers, because she pretty much reviews every book. I don't think she works for amazon either. I think she just made mass reviewing into a business. There are articles about her, just give it a google.

07-22-2009, 10:18 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	She's pretty much become a joke a lot of places her reviews are posted.

07-22-2009, 10:29 AM	#6
RCR Addict Posts: 334 Karma: 992487 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: 2 x Sony 505, iPad, Samsung 7 Tablet, ASUS Transformer, Nexus 7	Ahhh! Mr Google explains it all! Thanks for directing me there, Lilac_jive. I am now enlightened. Mike L: I didn't even know "spruiker" was Australian until you said. I wrote to my sister in England awhile back and told her it was so cold that I had to put a "doona" on my bed. She was confused by that word. Apparently "doona" is Australian too. (It means "duvet"). I was born in England, but I guess I've been in Australia so long I've started to speak the language. I'll be throwing boomerangs and wrestling crocodiles any day now.

07-22-2009, 10:30 AM	#7
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	how do you pronounce "spruiker" ?

07-22-2009, 10:38 AM	#8
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spruiker I think it sounds like "spooker" The above link has a sound icon that will pronounce it. It's a new word for me too. And the reviewer in question is one that I always ignore when looking at reviews.