If you thought the reviewers on Amazon are all just like you, just trying to get good deals on things online before cooking dinner, wrangling the kids and passing out at 9 p.m., well they might be that, but they didn't pay a cent for any of the products they reviewed.
The top reviewers on Amazon are actually sent free things in order for them to create reviews of those products, according to NPR's All Things Considered on Oct. 29. Cue Michael Erb, Amazon's current number 1 reviewer. Due to his lofty position, manufacturers now send items directly to him for review.
Erb is part of Amazon's Vine program. As part of this program, Erb must choose two items from the monthly list Amazon sends out and must post reviews of those two things before 30 days has passed. The point of the Vine program is to encourage all products to have reviews. As Amazon spokeswoman Julie Law states, “Even a product with negative reviews sells better than a product with no reviews at all.”
The program and the purpose of having designated reviewers is aimed at balancing out reviews that focus of bad experiences with shipping time, delivery or other aspects of the Amazon process that don’t necessarily have to do with the products themselves.
Through this program, Erb says he's received thousands of dollars in merchandise for review, from a spin bike to a multifunction laser printer. Erb stated that Amazon is technically allowed to ask for the products back at the drop of a hat. However, he says none of the stuff he's ever received has been taken back.
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/amazon-s-top-reviewers-rewarded-with-free-stuff?cid=roadrunner