If you’re a photographer, then you’ve purchased equipment and more likely than not, it was from an online vendor. Today, we see something we want, perhaps read some customer reviews, and then purchase that shiny piece of photography equipment. But have you ever thought about those reviews? Who wrote them and why?
This video from Beme looks at the world of product reviews that are posted online for almost everything we consume. Reviews are everywhere from Amazon, to Yelp, to Fred’s Hotdog Stand. But where do these reviews come from and how honest are they? I know when I’m shopping for anything online, I always look at the reviews. Of course, I start with the star rating and then read at least some of the reviews, but am I wasting my time? I don’t think so. I try to filter out the simple one-sentence reviews that say things like “this is junk” or “the greatest ever.” However, review scammers are more sophisticated than that and will develop reviews that highlight just what the seller wants them to focus on. National Public Radio’s (NPR) podcast Planet Money recently did an episode (episode #850) called “The Fake Reviewer Hunter” on this very topic and talked to a professional reviewer. Between the Beme and the Planet Money episodes, it makes one think about how much weight they should put into reviews for products they plan to buy. The best bet may be to forgo customer reviews and stick with dedicated industry sites.
So, tell us if you use customer reviews when making a purchase. If you do, tell us how you use them to make your decision.
I take all reviews with a grain of salt. Youtube reviews, I don't trust at all.