Compensated Reviews…
Reviews aren’t always easy to come by. We don’t always remember to leave them. We don’t always want to leave them. We don’t always have something to say.
Sure, I’ve written about the careless reviews that are left on a whim, without a thought or care or reservation. But when a blank, anonymous one or five-star review won’t do, companies can get a bit creative. After all, if they aren’t reviewed well, they won’t sell well. And because consumers are savvy these days, the companies have grown seedy to compensate. Literally.
This may be an extended feature on the blog, but let’s start small and see how far we get before exploding.
Again, all companies get it; positive reviews help them sell, but happy customers don’t feel compelled to say anything at all. Sometimes all that’s needed is a sweet reminder, like this one I got after ordering some shoes from ASICS:
It’s clever, it’s not too pushy, it’s the right way to do it.
If you can believe it, some sellers are even more wholesome than a giant corporation like ASICS. Take these fine folks, for example:
She doesn’t even know my name, but I still feel like there is a personal connection. A connection between me and someone who sold some soap to a sweaty boy. Her words have as much power as my words would in a review, and it’s this kind of customer appreciation that leads to repeat purchases. It’s a surprise to see something so human in my inbox.
But speaking of surprises. Here’s a couple I got when I ordered some charging cables recently:
Score! Right?! I’m the lucky one! I’ve heard about companies putting gift cards in clothes during the holidays, but I’ve never-
Oh. So that’s how this works, huh? As you can see- I don’t think they’ll mind their info being here- two different companies are running this little game here. Trading reviews for Amazon cash. Which means you’re sacrificing your independent voice in order to be rewarded for artificial praise.
In a way, we’re like the press when we review a product. It’s our duty to report the facts to the people, so that they can be better informed. If we put ourselves in someone else’s pocket, we lose all credibility and so do those with the large, deep pockets. Who can you trust?
And I get it. I like free things too. But this can’t be okay. This must violate some rule. At the very least, it violates the moral code of all reviewers. We might not take a Hippocratic Oath, but let’s avoid being hypocritic if we can, okay?
This issue does go deeper, too. I’ve stumbled across a few review farmers on Instagram. Maybe it’s time to infiltrate the seedy underbelly of compensated, reimbursed, or otherwise rewarded reviews. The internet is a scary place, so wish me luck.
And when in doubt, when you ask yourself “is this right?” Know that you’re asking it for a reason and you already know the answer. Don’t lie. Don’t give in. Don’t sell your reviewing soul.
