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Do people really give honest and unsolicited reviews?

by Adie
11 replies
Take for example the tripadvisor.com. I heard some negativity before regarding their review system but hey, do people really visit back the site after a long vacation just to leave reviews? I believe people can easily write reviews if they had a bad hotel experience because they wanted to turn their frustrations to someone, but what about positive reviews?

Compared to Amazon, I think Amazon have better chance in getting real reviews because people are actually buying online most of the times.

What do you think?
#eople #give #honest #people #real #reviews #unsolicited
  • Profile picture of the author Mike McAleer
    I think that people do give these types of positive reviews but sometimes the companies will pay users to go on these review sites and give positive reviews in hopes that the positive reviews will bring more sales!
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  • Profile picture of the author Eric Transue
    I agree that people are more likely to go on these sites and leave a review when they have a negative experience.

    However, a lot of these sites are starting to give an incentive to people who leave a review. They don't necessarily tell you it has to be a "positive" review, but the incentive (discounts, etc) probably help sway the user in that direction.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    A lot of companies will call and ask for a review of their experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    All review sites can be gamed, imo. Some almost seem to invite it, while others can be manipulated by a determined reviewer. I do a lot for clients with Google Places and see some pretty clear cases of suspicious reviews. I personally think paying for reviews clearly crosses a line.
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  • Profile picture of the author Christophe Young
    I think that people do give these types of positive reviews but sometimes the companies will pay users to go on these review sites and give positive reviews in hopes that the positive reviews will bring more sales!
    I don't think this is the case at all with Tripadvisor. I've been planning my vacations and posting reviews on that site for years! It's amazing how helpful people are there. Don't know what I'd do without that site! I'd probably have to buy a book about traveling.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kierkegaard
    I check that site before seriously considering any hotel. The things I look out for are the complaints that really ring true. For instance one person complained that the noise from the flag poles (the rope banging against the metal) in high winds was so loud they couldn't sleep. I can't imagine someone making that up.

    Other complaints such as the staff were unfriendly I don't take too much notice of because the person writing the review could well be the sort of person who invites unfriendliness.

    The point is. Since I know that these sites can really help or hurt a hotel, if I enjoyed my stay and the staff were pleasant then I make a point of writing a review.

    I have also reviewed purchased from Ebay and Amazon because I feel guilt-tripped into doing so by the emails I get from Ebay and Amazon asking me to.

    I can not imagine sending an email to the writer of a Clickbank ebook to offer a testimonial.
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  • Profile picture of the author officer_iron
    Some businesses it's easy to tell when they're soliciting reviews or someone is doing it for them. When the average number of reviews for a local industry is like 20, and then company has 160, they are doing something differently than everyone else. I'm not saying they are necessarily doing something wrong, just that they are doing something.
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  • Profile picture of the author Avesel
    Do people? Good point, maybe some people just do to take time off their hands on trips.
    It is illegal (a crime?) to pay people to post positive reviews. I've read about a few companies that have been fined six figures or more when they were caught.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Some of us do leave honest reviews. Good or bad.

      Obviously, if you have a bad experience, you have the 'getting even' motive for posting a bad review.

      What some here are missing is that the reciprocity principle is not restricted to sales situations. If you go to a hotel, for example, and the staff goes above and beyond to handle something for you, you want to reciprocate by telling the world how good they are.

      Of course, some 'complaints' make you wonder who's watching the filter in the gene pool...

      A few years ago, I was reading reviews on the luau served at the Hawaiian Cultural Center on Oahu. Again and again, people whined because they couldn't get liquored up. That's right, the Cultural Center, connected to Brigham Young University and the Mormon Church, doesn't serve alcohol.

      Who didn't see that one coming?:rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author azoz513
    Yes some places will pay for people to go on vacations and pay their hotel costs so they will write a good review about their product
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  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    I think most negative reviews are true but not all positive reviews... I can say it is easier for people to rant than praise...
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