I was thinking today about Amazon.com, and the reviews on their site. Now, I am all about product reviews before I buy something. There have definitely been books I've bought and then gone, "You know, I wish someone would have told me this sucked." But I've been thinking about Amazon.
First of all, the reviews are sometimes either not that honest, or the people have really bad taste. I'm sorry, it's true. I've read some incredibly lame books that are pretty much universally panned, but someone has always left one or two reviews that are five stars and say [AUTHOR'S NAME] HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!!!! Well, who do I listen to? The seventy reviews that say this book should only be used as some kind of interrogation torture, or the two that say it's the best book of the year?
Another thing that I noticed is that, out of all the genres, Paranormal Romance gets some really fervent fans. And those fans will go to other authors' book pages and leave reviews either panning the books or giving lukewarm praise, then suggesting their favorite author. There was a review I saw on one author's book lately where someone basically said, "This book was alright, but I like Kresley Cole better." Okay, good for you, but what does that have to do with the book you're reviewing? Is your suggestion that this author should be more like Kresley Cole? Or that the customer buy a Kresley Cole book instead? What is the point of your comment?!
One of the weirdest things I've found is that sometimes I have used Amazon to tell me what I think of a book that I'm reading. That's weird, and I don't know how I got into that habit, but it works like this: I start to read a book, and something about it isn't quite right. I don't know exactly how, I'm just not digging it as much as I think I should. So, I think, "hmmm, I wonder if this gets any better, or if someone else feels the same way I do?" I pull up Amazon and read the reviews, and sometimes the positive ones will make me go, "You know, I'm going to stick with this, they're right, I do like x and y!" Other times, I'll side with the negative ones and think, "They're so right, this book sucks, I'm going to reread Twilight."
What do you think about Amazon reviews? Are you more likely to buy a book if it has positive reviews? Have you ever left a review? Have you ever had an Amazon review sway the way you feel about a book you were reading/have read? I'm really curious, because I don't know exactly what purpose the reviews are serving.
I don't bother with the Amazon Reviews anymore for basically the reasons you listed - at least when it comes to books. I usually go to Google and type in the name of the book and review next to it. The read a few blog posts. Or I go to B&N or Borders site where the reviews seem to be more honest and I have never seen one where the person recommends a different author like people do on Amazon. I think sometimes the reviews are done by Amazon booksellers who are trying to increase sales of their used versions of the books. I have gone back to a review I read to figure out why it was I bought a particular book in the first place. For some reason Paranormal & UF readers seem to think that it takes something away from their favorite author if they read or support another author - it reminds me of the Star Wars/Star Trek thing - seriously why not both? I love many authors and show my support for them all and give new authors a shot. I don't understand why other people sometimes get ridiculous about it. I'm not sure I really answered your question or helped at all but...Thanks for reading my comment anyway. Heather a.k.a. BooObsessedGRL
ReplyDelete*That should have said:
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather a.k.a. BookObsessedGRL
I don't usually read the reviews from Amazon.com. I honestly only read reviews from my fellow bloggers out there that are reviewing, because most of the time, they have the same tastes as me! I do post all of my reviews to Amazon though, just in case there are people out there that do read the reviews and would like to know other peoples opinions on them. A review is nothing more than an opinion, and hey, a person reading my review may think "Hey, she loves, so will I!", but you and I both know that's not the truth.
ReplyDeleteI do post negative reviews on Amazon also, although I don't bash the books I read and don't like. I simply state what I didn't like about them, and the few things that I did...if there was anything. I also state that although I didn't like it, the reader of my review might, so don't be afraid to try it.
I like to think that my reviews help people make a decision as to whether they read a book or not. I do hope that they find some great reads by reading the books I recommend though.
Amazon is one of those tricky bastards that will only let you post a review if you've bought something from them. When I linked up with Amazon Associates, I earned enough dollar credits to buy something. Only postage is $15 US, I think. Thus I only had enough credits left to buy one book, or two if I saved my credits.
ReplyDeleteSo I did end up buying something from them, so technically not my own money. But since that purchase qualified me to post reviews...well, I've gone on to post reviews.
I can't trust anyone else's opinion of books. Just because someone else liked it, I may not. Fangirlies, you know. You know that "was this review helpful to you" thing? I have received unhelpful votes. Don't know if that was because my reviews didn't assist the potential buyer, or if the fangirlies voted me done for being less than over-the-top enthusiastic.
I like the reviews for electronics and camping equipment and stuff, although I try to get profession reviews from dedicated websites too. I mostly read history books, and I pick those by reputation (Guns of August) or recommendation (that Lincoln one that people wouldn't shut up about after Obama won). I only read vamp stuff if I know the author's hot.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to spin your head with some stats from Bazaarvoice, who apparently track this kind of stuff (my stumbling across this and your blog post on the same day should not, in any way, be construed as a coincidence as I'm positive they don't exist.)
ReplyDelete* Consumer recommendations are the most trusted form of advertising
* 82% of consumers who read reviews said that their purchasing decisions have been influenced by reviews
* 90% of reviewers report they write reviews to help others make better buying decisions
* 8 of 10 consumers trust brands that offer reviews
To answer your original question, I use Amazon reviews to see if a product totally sucks. Sometimes, if it does, the reviewer will mention a better product and I'll toggle over to it and check to see if it totally sucks. If not, I'll buy.
If you're talking about reviews of your books - if they're good, they're written by geniuses with golden halos. If they suck, they're written by cretins with four thumbs and a squint.
I do read the Amazon reviews, though only to get a more in depth perspective on the plot, which is better than the publisher's blurb, then make up my own mind if the book sounds interesting enough.
ReplyDeleteI find it hilarious sometimes when the same book will get a 5 star rating: "The best book I've ever read..!!", followed by someone with a meager 1 star: "What a load of crap, worst book ever written."
I guess it just goes to show we all like different stuff--and that's gotta be a good thing.
1. I have read reviews on Amazon and Chapters.
ReplyDelete2. A positive or negative review will not sway me on buying the book. So many people will praise a book (Time Traveller's Wife) and then they make a movie so everyone is reading it and going gaga over it. So I jump on the wagon and discover it was way too long and too dry and too boring for me. I'm the one in 300 who didn't praise this book.
I will read a poor review but if I know I've liked an author's previous books the poor review will not influence me.
3. Yes, I've written reviews.
But I only write reviews for books that I found to be 3 to 5 out of 5. If I find a book is crap I refuse to write a bad review. Why? Because that author spent how many hours, days, months, week slaving and trying to write a book? Where do I have the right to slam them for their effort? I just prefer not to rate it or review it.
I read reviews pretty much to get other people's opinions. I'm admittedly "eclectic" in my book taste.
You have made me curious. I think I want to check Americans opinions to Canadians opinions. Americans check reviews on Amazon and Canadians check at Chapters.
Well, this is interesting!
ReplyDeleteAmazon has www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca Naturally Canadians shop on the .ca one. Well...what does this tell you? Blood Ties Book One has 2 reviews on .ca and 78 reviews on .com. The .ca has 4 1/2 stars out of 5, the .com one has 4 stars out of 5.
You can't buy the first book from www.amazon.ca or www.chapters.ca but you can buy it new from www.amazon.com
I decided to check another of my favorite authors - Gena Showalter. Interesting!
amazon.com - 29 reviews, 4 1/2 stars
amazon.ca - 0 reviews
chapters.ca - 19 reviews 4 stars
I think if anyone wants the truth about a book review they have to go to www.amazon.com and www.chapters.ca
Eye opening to me!
I have been reviewing for a website for years now, and every now and then we have a problem with someone "borrowing" our reviews, slightly editing them, and then posting them on Amazon. This can be very annoying--not only are our thoughts and opinions stolen from us, but it can discredit us as well. Very annoying. As a reader, I rarely look at reviews on any booksellers' website--I'm much more interested in what my peers have to say.
ReplyDelete