Way back in May ’23 we reported a fake review purge on the horizon, and it seems it’s in full swing – in the US at least.
Here’s what’s going on, and what else we hope will come out of Amazon’s efforts…
How is the review purge working?
Emails to affected Amazon Sellers and Vendors confirm that;
Amazon has taken an action to remove from your listings product reviews that were associated with buyers who have violated Amazon’s policies.
To offer better protection for your business, Amazon has launched an automated process to suppress product reviews associated with such buyers.
The emails then list how many reviews have been removed, with details of the top ASINs affected.
While some sellers are lamenting a lack of greater transparency – for example, you’re not told what the removed review is so you can’t pinpoint the specific reasons why it was an issue – we see this as a wholly positive move towards a fairer and more trustworthy marketplace.
Bye-bye Bad Acting Buyers *crossed fingers*
As well as waving bye-bye to fake reviews, there have long been misgivings from Amazon brands about buyers who use bad reviews and feedback for their own malicious purposes – usually angling to force a refund or a discount from the helpless seller.
Review removals in the US suggest that these rule-breaking buyers are being targeted, which is good news for honest Sellers and Vendors alike – here’s hoping this is a move that will make a strong mark!
Worried about fake reviews on your listings? Do this…
Bad reviews can have a shattering impact on the performance of your listings, so it’s crucial you keep a constant watch for bad actors posting fake feedback.
So, if you’re worried that you’re being targeted, follow Amazon’s Product Review Policy to the letter, and report anything you think is a violation as soon as possible.
And if you’d like a helping hand from our time-served Amazon experts, just click here to speak to the team.