Sep 13, 2023 12:00AM
FTC Takes Aim at Amazon Review Tricks. The FTC is cracking down on sellers manipulating Amazon reviews by misusing product variations. If caught, your listings could get split—or worse. Thanks, Vanessa.
Vanessa Hung
Have you ever checked out reviews on Amazon, but they didn't really match the product you were trying to buy? 🤔
You are probably in the face of a review manipulation case.
Reviews are the most important commodity for a seller. They serve as vital "social proof" of their products and can significantly influence purchasing decisions.
It's like having your own personal shopping advisor, right?
For this reason, they are tightly regulated by law so sellers cannot make false claims or engage in deceptive practices.
This is where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) steps in. Their job is to keep an eye on deceptive advertising and misleading practices.
So, what's currently happening between the FTC and Amazon?
The FTC is examining cases where Amazon's system combines product variations that don't accurately align with the actual product being purchased.
Some sellers have misused product variations to manipulate Best Seller Rankings (BSR) and transfer reviews from one fast-selling product to another not-so-good product.
This has created significant disparities in review representation, which can be confusing and misleading for customers who are trying to make a purchase.
The FTC is now taking a stand against review manipulation and enforcing fair competition for both sellers and customers by splitting several variations on Amazon.
So, next time you're trying to revamp a product - do not mess up with variations, or your listings could end up being split (OR WORSE!) 😨
Let's ensure a fair and transparent selling environment!
If you have any doubts about Amazon's stand on variations, check out their policy.