Disclosure: I am part of the Amazon Vine program but not an employee of any sort and never have been. I do not get paid by Amazon, although I do receive free sample items via the Vine Program that I am required, per contract, to review.
The following is a comment I left on a video posted to Youtube by Louis Rossman, a well known consumer advocate and repair shop owner. It talks about how Amazon has seen a huge influx of low Quality items and why you should avoid almost all of it. He’s right in many ways. There video is posted below followed by my extended comment on the matter. Louis offers many valid points. As a long time Amazon user, I concur with his conclusion that the rise of low quality gear on the site has significantly hampered its’ progression as the go-to e-tailer. I also offer ways to help you navigate through the filth and give you ways to help spot bad / fake reviews.
Amazon does have some good stuff on there but from my experience, you generally DO wanna spend the few extra bucks on that version of an item that is a little more expensive.
Amazon tends to have a really good return policy as long as it’s not abused. I’m not defending Amazon in any way. I keep myself as an outsider looking in and if they do something shady, I have and will continue to call them out on it. Just know that someone in Vine really is trying to look out for you. Again, I can’t speak for the others in Vine. All I can do is provide the best reviews I can and let consumers know if something is worth buying or if something should be avoided.
I agree with Louis that there does seem to be an influx of trash products on Amazon. Yes, there absolutely are some fake and BS reviews on Amazon. What I would recommend is ignore the 5 star reviews almost completely. If they are a Vine reviewer, it is more likely (but not 100%) to be legit. I would look at the 2, 3, and 4 star reviews. That is where you tend to get the most honest data. 1 Star reviews tend to be people who are angry and just want to “stick it” to the brand / seller. Also see if you can locate a review that “gets into the nuts and bolts” of a product, especially if it’s higher end or more expensive. I have seen many reviews where it’s 1 or 2 sentences. You can’t glean much from that, but if they offer up a couple of paragraphs and examples of use, those tend to be pretty good. Also look for reviews with pictures and / or video. Those tend to offer even more information.
One thing I like to do when I review a product is let you know the type and feel of the material it is made from. Is it steel? If so, is it good steel or cheap steel. Is it plastic? If so, is it a good, firm plastic or is it brittle. Look for those types of little details when you go over reviews. Often times if a product is made from cheap material, it may not be worth getting (but not always). Generally if a review is at least longer than a paragraph, then the reviewer may have real world and / or professional experience / expertise with a product so they are more often trustworthy. Often when I review a product, I will mention if I have experience with it or with similar items (but not always). If you can stick to those types of reviews, you are usually getting the real story on if the product is worth buying or not.
If even after all this you get a product that is simply not good, I would recommend writing a review of your own if you can. Let others know why it’s bad. Often times I have had sellers contact me after leaving a review and offer a replacement and / or a full refund. Even if they do this though I still leave my review. If they never contact you, do a return and get your money back. Unless you are doing mass returns, Amazon is usually really good about taking back things with minimal hassle.
