Amazon Ratings/Reviews

[Talisman]

But the word will get out there regardless - why would a few days or weeks make much difference? Particularly with social media and the way things go viral, word will get out pretty quickly anyway.

 

In the book world, every single day counts. An author (even the relatively well known ones) have a maximum of three months in which to make an impact before the marketing team will move on to the next "big thing". If the book doesn't sell in the projected numbers within those three months then the author is less likely to get a big advance for their next book and less likely to get the the same marketing budget (if at all). That's why it's so important to get those reviews out there the moment the book is published and why publishers work to such long lead times, sending out advance review copies three months before the book is even published.

 

This is also what puts the self publisher (especially with print on demand) author at such a disadvantage, as most do not have the budget to give out this number of free copies knowing that most newspapers and magazines will not review their work anyway, not to mention the fact that print on demand, due it's very nature cannot work three months ahead.

[Raven]

Looks like Iain M. Banks latest book, The Hydrogen Sonata, is picking up protest votes because of the Kindle pricing. It's annoying having to pick through these comments to try and find the actual reviews.

[chesilbeach]

I think Amazon should put something in place so that you can only write a review on an item you've actually bought from them.

 

Well, they haven't quite gone this far, but I've just spotted that some reviews are now marked Amazon Verified Purchase

[Raven]

^ I've noticed in the last few weeks that Amazon is preventing reviews on some new products until they have been released.

[Michelle]

It's always been like that with books - if I review an early copy, I have to wait to post up my review.

[emelee]

I very seldom use Amazon. But then again, I live in Sweden where we have other stuff. I have ordered a couple of items from Amazon though. But I do not like the design/layout of the website at all. It's messy IMO. I have read a couple of reviews there when I wanted to know more about a couple of books. But I always keep in mind that everyone have different opinions. 

Edited February 2, 2013 by emelee

[Peahen]

Especially after the Ellory revelations around him giving positive reviews of his own books and marking down other books, I have steered away from Amazon's rating system.  I still read the occasional review but that is usually after I have purchased the book and read it, just to see what others thought of it.  I used to use the forums on Amazon and the amount of people that were on there promoting their own work in proportion to readers and shoppers made it that I doubted the genuineness of most of the reviews. 

[Rosemary]

I read a review the other day and the book was given a 5 star rating - the person reviewing it said she had bought the book after she had heard so much about it and can't wait to read it

[celine]

Amazon has a very strange ratings policy, Amazon ratings can be faked to some extent but still youi can make a descision based on the ration of positive and negative reviews for a book/product

[Raven]

Amazon sues more than 1,000 people for providing fake reviews.

 

Well, I guess that is a start.
 

[Raven]

Amazon 'flooded by fake five-star reviews' - Which? report

 

Tell us something we don't know!

[Hayley]

I'm not sure if it's funny or worrying that they occasionally publish this story as though it's a problem they've only just discovered!

[BookNerd180]

I do use Amazon a lot for buying books.