Amazon: Manipulated 5-star reviews

Several times over the last few months I’ve received items from Amazon that contain in the packaging a bribe for a favourable review. Typically, a third-party supplier’s note offers a £10 Amazon voucher or another free product from the supplier if the buyer emails back evidence of a 5-star product review on the Amazon website.

I recently purchased a wall stud finder and received a similar note in the packaging. Despite having lots of positive reviews, the item was completely useless. I sent the product back (and received a full refund without any problems). I let Amazon know via Chat about the supplier’s note - I’ve done this a couple of times but they’ve never taken any action. This time I also wrote a review of the product and pointed out in my review that the supplier had included an inducement for a 5-star review. In the review I posted a photo of the supplier’s note. I received a response from Amazon saying that my review couldn’t be published as it was in breach of their guidelines for reviews. I submitted the review again, this time carefully wording everything to ensure that nothing I said could be misconstrued as being in breach of their guidelines, but again they refused to publish it.

It’s clear that Amazon are blocking any reviews that point out that sellers are manipulating their ratings. They also appear to do nothing when such issues are reported, even though they say their sellers are not allowed to offer such inducements. The products I reported are still there and still have mostly 5-star reviews. Amazon customer ratings are no longer a reliable measure of the product quality. There’s so much garbage on the site now, much of it with excellent reviews. It's disappointing that Amazon are burying their heads in the sand about this.