Did you hear about Robert Galbraith? Did you?
What Really? Already?
Oh. Ok .
Ah, but did you hear that Robert Galbraith is now getting Amazon reviews from people who haven’t even read the book?
You did. Oh.
And herein lies the point of the post – yes, yes, I’m getting to it. I couldn’t very well not mention Galbraith at the same time the rest of the world does, could I? It was a perfect opportunity to write a post that has bothering me for some time and that is the Amazon review system. It’s the review system that everyone harps on about being all unfair, blah blah blah. But what it really is, is a review system set up by a business that sells books online, for those book buyers to leave reviews of items bought.
Now somewhere along the way, it has got mistaken for being a review site and a very important review site. Authors go on there and check their reviews, see how many stars and what comments are being left, while at the same time, moaning about the loss of book shops.
MM. I see a problem. Most online stores that sell you things, have the system of wanting you to review the item you bought. For instance, I bought a top from Dorothy Perkins online. I then received an email asking me to leave feedback on the item I received. This is all the Amazon online store is. An online store with a review system in place.
So here’s a novel idea, to stop all the harping about missing reviews and people not playing fair. How about Amazon make it so that only people who have bought the item can leave a review, full stop. I have left amazon reviews for books that I bought elsewhere because I know it is important to the author. But – IT’S NOT A REVIEW SITE.
Goodreads – yes I know it’s just been bought by Amazon – is a website that is filled with people who love books and share them, recommend them to each other, talk about them and just plain adore them. If as an author you want to know what people think, look on there or other similar book loving sites.
I really don’t know how it happened that today’s author places so much importance on the Amazon reviews as opposed to Waterstones reviews or WHSmith reviews or Goodreads reviews etc. but it obviously has and it’s causing some major issues. So it needs to go back to what it was intended for. It’s own customer base reviews.
And one other point while I’m on a flow. If my teenager wrote a book and published it, I damn well would write her a five star review and I dare any parent to say they wouldn’t. Some may expect me to say – sorry my sweet adorable child, you have worked so hard, I am so proud, but no, I won’t do you a review because it will upset the other children in the playground. Pah. Lets just assume each author has at least one family member who loves them enough to do them a review. So what, really? The fictitious reviews are concerning. Β And if Amazon stopped people like me who review books I haven’t even bought from Amazon because I’m busy buying from book shops, but leaving reviews because I know it’s somehow important to authors, things might start to get more sane in the Amazon review world. After all, the system was set up to review goods you had bought and most authors want you to buy books from book shops….
Where do you leave book reviews and why?
On a quick side note – tomorrow I’m off to Theakstons Crime Writing Festival. A four day event held in the very beautiful town of Harrogate. I will attempt to blog while I am there, so my morning posts should be events from the day before. If I have the energy! I did manage a couple last year when I went.
If you follow me on Twitter, be warned, there may be masses of activity and more than usual activity on Facebook as well. Feel free to mute any hashtags we use for the weekend, but don’t forget to unmute me afterwards!
Brenda Coxe says
I found out from another reviewer when I provided a well deserved 1 Star review on a book that was full of errors of all kinds that Midwest Reviews, a paid review site, does this very thing and only gives 4 and 5 Star reviews. I questioned it because the very book I reviewed received a 5 Star review from Midwest and received that response from another reviewer who started they had over 10,000 reviews at that time (about a year ago). I just read recently that Robert Galbraith is the pseudonym for J.K. Rowling’s crime novels.
Rebecca Bradley says
So having a system where you can only review if you bought the item would stop paid reviews. Ah, the problem just popped into my head with free books. It should at least be downloaded…
Prashant C. Trikannad says
Interesting thoughts, Rebecca. I don’t know if Amazon will allow only their customers to write reviews which, genuine or fictitious, is what draws in substantial traffic to the site. I don’t leave reviews on Amazon but I regularly check out books and buy ebooks, and read what other people have to say about those and other books. I don’t think Amazon would be too bothered with fictitious reviews. They want numbers and they are getting them.
Rebecca Bradley says
The problem is, because of the sockpuppet storm last year, Amazon are concerned about fake reviews and are now removing some reviews from books and authors are complaining that they are genuinely bought books. I think so much would be solved by restricting reviews to people who had bought the item. I really don’t think it would effect their sales either. People want an electronic book or a book delivered quickly and cheaply, Amazon is where they go. I think it’s because Amazon have such a massive part of the book market that authors hold so much stock in the review system but its an out of control monster.
Patricia Lynne Royal (@plynne_author) says
Also, when the sockpuppet storm broke last year and tons of legit reviews were removed, a few authors noticed obvious fake reviews on items that weren’t books were still posted. The reviews were humorous reviews – fun to read, but could those reviews be considered helpful if the person was only trying to make a joke? As far as I know, many of those reviews are still here too. I guess the moral is only write a fake review if you want to be funny about it.
Rebecca Bradley says
Did they buy the item they reviewed? After that, people are just bitchy or weird or funny regardless or what rules you try to put in place. But I just don’t think we should be able to review items we haven’t bought.
Annalisa Crawford says
Oops. I somehow get the feeling that you’ve written this post directly to me. You’re right, of course. It’s not a review site, it’s a feedback opportunity that they give equally to books, clothes and fitness equipment. The odd good ‘feedback’ is nice though, isn’t it?
Rebecca Bradley says
Oh gosh no Annalisa! As it says I’ve wanted to write it for a while and your situation does fit but in the positive, people who have bought your book have been unable to leave reviews because Amazon is “trying” to play fair with a review system and they think they are weeding out fake reviews. Even they have fallen into their own myth that they are in fact a review site and not a seller. They’re a bloody good seller and I’d love to be sold by them because they know what they’re doing but that’s where it should end. They would solve all their own headaches and users like you who are losing legitimate reviews from books that have been purchased at Amazon because Amazon think they are being clever and detecting our entire lives, if they simply only allowed people who purchased from them to review the item they purchased. Buy the book elsewhere – leave a review there or on Goodreads π
Annalisa Crawford says
π Don’t feel bad Rebecca! But it did ring a bell with me. On one hand I hate the way Amazon has grown to be such a huge presence, on the other I’m concerned about my reviews. It was a timely post to read.
Rebecca Bradley says
It does seem as though there is too much controlling happening.
Misha Gericke (@MishaMFB) says
Only thing I know about Robert Galbraith is that it’s in fact JK Rowling. π
But seriously, I agree with you about Amazon not being a review site. I honestly can’t even imagine why people even think its reviews are trustworthy. I thought everyone knew they’re now.
Rebecca Bradley says
I know what you mean. Some of the reviews on there are just plain spiteful.
DJ Kirkby says
I post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads BUT I will only post 4 star or higher reviews on Amazon because I think there are a lot of ‘hatey’ type reviews on there and enough hate in this world…. I am guilty of posting reviews for books I have borrowed from the library on there though and this post has made me question whether this is a practice I should continue.
Rebecca Bradley says
I only post four and fives Denyse otherwise I won’t give it a rating. As I e said, I do leave reviews for books I haven’t bought from Amazon because it seems important to the author. I wonder if just anyone could go and review that dress I bought from Dorothy Perkins…?
readingwritingandriesling says
I post reviews to my blog, to The Reading Room ( a nice friendly site) and to Good Reads
(because a publisher I was talking to told me if I didnt post to Good Reads then I would be unlikely to get their ARC’s on NetGalley.
Amazon – have the “Vine” system where they send books & products to their members for review.
What is Amazon Vine? http://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help
Amazon Vine invites the most trusted reviewers on Amazon to post opinions about new and pre-release items to help their fellow customers make informed purchase decisions. Amazon invites customers to become Vine Voices based on their reviewer rank, which is a reflection of the quality and helpfulness of their reviews as judged by other Amazon customers. Amazon provides Vine members with free products that have been submitted to the program by participating vendors. Vine reviews are the independent opinions of the Vine Voices. The vendor cannot influence, modify or edit the reviews. Amazon does not modify or edit Vine reviews, as long as they comply with our posting guidelines. A Vine review is identified with the green stripe Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program
Rebecca Bradley says
Though Vine may go some way to show genuine reviews it doesn’t address the build up of the star system or all the rest of the reviews and anyone just browsing for books that doesn’t engage in the online book world wouldn’t know the difference. Vine is validating Amazon as a review site when it’s actually an online shop where you can leave reviews for products you’ve bought. I think it’s a messy area and until they stop everyone being able to leave reviews they will never sort it out. Even then it will still upset some because of the sheer size and weight of it.
readingwritingandriesling says
I disagree that Vine is a necessarily a genuine way to show reviews – when people are gifted free items for review I think you are skewing the odds in favour of the product/book if the reviewer wants more freebies. Not every one is honest( apologizes to those on Vine who do write honest reviews)
Rebecca Bradley says
Yes, I agree. I was looking at it from the point that at least the person had got their book from Amazon and hadn’t looked wider than that!
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Have a wonderful time at Harro! As to online reviews, I think think you’ve raised a really important point. I suppose you could point out something that’s flawed in just about any online review system. That’s why, honestly, I don’t make up my mind about whether I’ll read a book for instance until I’ve read reviews in several places. And I think it’s helpful for authors to pay attention to several reviews – to get an overall pattern of them – rather than just reviews at one place or especially from just one person.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Margot!
Yours sounds like a balanced approached but unfortunately I don’t think it’s like that with everyone. Readers or authors. A lot of stock is taken in Amazon figures. I suppose it indicates the size of the giant.
Jacqui Murray says
It is odd how important Amazon reviews have become. I stress over them and was furious when a bunch of positive ones were removed by Amazon (yet they left ugly ones I had contacted them about as being factually untrue). And it’s almost impossible to get a person on the phone–even as a book seller.
Sigh. Such is life.
Rebecca Bradley says
This thing where they are removing reviews is all very odd. Like I said, buyer – leave review – regardless of who you are if you bought the book. None buyer – go leave a review where you did buy it or on Goodreads. It would make all this confusing stuff stop and the anger people feel hopefully lesson.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
It makes sense that just customers should review a product. I’m just glad they require only a full review rather than a star rating, because I have a couple one star reviews that were done out of spite, not because the person read my book.
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s a terrible system they have now and I’m not sure what they’d lose by only allowing people who bought products to review – or how difficult to implement.
diannegray says
You make some really interesting points here, Rebecca. I don’t do reviews (or I try not to because I’m a writer not a reviewer and I don’t believe I have the right to judge other writers work – but that’s for a a whole different post). All I know about Robert Galbraith is that it is JK Rowling – I’ll have to go over to Amazon and have look at the reviews to see what’s going on.
I had a bit of a giggle over your comment about reviewing your child’s book and giving it 5 stars – I’d certainly do that as well! π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Dianne. Well I think it’s ridiculous these people who moan friends and family must have given those five star reviews. Yes, and the point? As entitled as anyone who bought the book from that store. And it evens out. I’m sure many writers have a person who is championing them. And I just don’t believe anyone who wouldn’t do it for a child. It’s a way of showing how proud you are. People need to breathe π
diannegray says
My mother is my champ (but she wouldn’t know how to do a review – unfortunately) π
Rebecca Bradley says
And Amazon would be able to weedle her out anyway… Scary as they are in that way.
jamieayres says
Great blog post, and I hear ya! I almost feel bullied by other people . . . “How many Amazon reviews do you have?”
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Jamie. It’s awful isn’t it. It can get so obsessive!
Jade Reyner says
This post has certainly got some comments! I didn’t know about the J K Rowling thing so I had to look it up after reading this. The positive I got from it was that before anyone knew who it was, the book had only sold 1,500 copies which made me realise just how much difference it makes to a book’s sales when a famous person has written it. Are people only reading the book because of who wrote it, regardless of whether or not it is any good, in which case how valuable are the reviews? It’s a tough one but I admire her for trying to conceal her identity and I completely understand why she did it. Thought provoking and I’m not sure if we aren’t putting too much value on the review system.??
Rebecca Bradley says
I think people are only reading the book because of who wrote it. Because the genre I prefer to read is crime, I’m interested in seeing what it is like, now I know it is J.K. I’m not sure whether I will get around to buying it or not though. It’s an odd one.
I think a lot of value is placed on the Amazon review system. I just wish it was something like Goodreads where people write reviews because they’ve read the book and love books rather than what Amazon seems to have become. It doesn’t feel very honest. But then, if one place ruled the reviewing waves, you are always going to get an undercurrent of dishonesty there anyway.
Jade Reyner says
Very true! And if you do read it then it’ll be interesting to hear what you think. I hope that you are still enjoying the festival π
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s over now Jade and I’m still recovering! Wonderful but exhausting. I’m already planning to go next year though π
D.A.Cairns says
I review everything I read on Goodreads. If I read something I bought online, I review it on the site from which I bought it. Good rant there, Rebecca!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you π
I review on Goodreads, but as I say in the post, I do also copy and paste it onto Amazon and that is because I am aware of how important it is for the author. And I only write reviews if I enjoy a book. I won’t write a negative review. I just won’t review it if I didn’t enjoy it.
Liz Wilkins says
Great article! Personally I review onto Amazon whether I’ve purchased the book there or not because quite often thats where people go to BUY books and if I want to support an author then I support them all over the shoot. I also review to my website and on Goodreads. Amazon is definitely NOT a review site – but I personally think only allowing books that are purchased from there to be reviewed may be bad for Indie authors especially when it comes to book bloggers. Indie authors often send me their books to review – and if Amazon prevented me from reviewing there because I hadnt PURCHASED it there then surely that wouldnt be very good – people who DO go to Amazon to purchase an Indie Authors book would not be able to see my review! Of course the downside is the fact that there are some what I call “nefarious” reviews on there – but I’m not sure how you would stamp down on it – I mean so many books are on offer, some people would still review without reading – if they are determined 77p isnt a huge price to pay! What Amazon DO have now is the “amazon verified purchase” tag. If you buy a book there, then review it, that tag is automatically attached to the review. So at least you can tell. And of course us bloggers and reviewers with integrity will always state if they have been sent the book for review. Oh dear I seem to have rabbited on a bit. Its an interesting discussion!
Rebecca Bradley says
I understand what you’re saying, I really do and I suppose this is where it gets all messy and tangled. Like I say, I do review on Amazon even if I haven’t purchased on there, because I am aware of the importance for authors. It’s not just the Indie authors though, there are authors who are traditionally published who have less reviews than some Indie authors, because they don’t network the way Indies do. It really is a tangled web and you make a valid point. It does come down to helping the authors though and the basic point is that Amazon is a shop. I suppose they’ve built themselves into a sales market as well, which has muddied the issue….
I still believe it’s not a review site, but it does have issues that are difficult to address. Thanks for a great comment!