FTC is banning fake reviews

[kernals12]

The FTC is finalizing rules that will prohibit companies writing fake online reviews, paying people to write reviews, and suppressing negative reviews.

I question how effectively they can enforce this, but it's definitely much-welcomed.

[SectorZ]

The final rule prohibits a business from using unfounded or groundless legal threats, physical threats, intimidation, or certain false public accusations to prevent or remove a negative consumer review.

Kind of sounds like what the FTC themselves is doing here.

[SEWIGuy]

"Buying Positive or Negative Reviews: The final rule prohibits businesses from providing compensation or other incentives conditioned on the writing of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment, either positive or negative."

LOL...good luck.

[SectorZ]

"Buying Positive or Negative Reviews: The final rule prohibits businesses from providing compensation or other incentives conditioned on the writing of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment, either positive or negative."

LOL...good luck.

I've been compensated as much as $100 for leaving a nice positive review. Granted, I didn't lie about it and the company deserved the positive feedback, but I may not have given them a review otherwise. Come to think of it, I don't know what I would have gotten for compensation had I slagged the hell out of them.

I wonder if this can extend to car dealers who absolutely hound you to death after buying a new car by "making sure you give them all [fill-in-the blank best score]"

[NE2]

The final rule prohibits a business from using unfounded or groundless legal threats, physical threats, intimidation, or certain false public accusations to prevent or remove a negative consumer review.

Kind of sounds like what the FTC themselves is doing here.

OK boomer.

[SectorZ]

The final rule prohibits a business from using unfounded or groundless legal threats, physical threats, intimidation, or certain false public accusations to prevent or remove a negative consumer review.

Kind of sounds like what the FTC themselves is doing here.

OK boomer.

So happy you come out of your slumber to be an ageist prick (even if I'm 46 years old as it is).

[hbelkins]

Three or four years ago, I stumbled onto a program that reimbursed my purchase price for leaving reviews of items on Amazon. I gave honest reviews and not once was my reimbursement request denied. I got a lot of iPhone cables for free from several different sellers, and shouldn't have to buy any new cables for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I haven't had any invitations or offers like that lately.

Leave it to the federal government to screw up a good thing.

[NE2]

Three or four years ago, I stumbled onto a program that reimbursed my purchase price for leaving reviews of items on Amazon. I gave honest reviews and not once was my reimbursement request denied. I got a lot of iPhone cables for free from several different sellers, and shouldn't have to buy any new cables for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I haven't had any invitations or offers like that lately.

Leave it to the federal government to screw up a good thing.

OK boomer.

[Scott5114]

Three or four years ago, I stumbled onto a program that reimbursed my purchase price for leaving reviews of items on Amazon. I gave honest reviews and not once was my reimbursement request denied. I got a lot of iPhone cables for free from several different sellers, and shouldn't have to buy any new cables for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I haven't had any invitations or offers like that lately.

Leave it to the federal government to screw up a good thing.

Did they require you to leave a positive review, or could you have left a negative review and still get the reward? Because the text quoted in SEWIGuy's post upthread only says that the rule would prohibit rewards "conditioned on the writing of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment". So something like what we do at Signs By Jake, sending them a coupon code when someone submits in a review, would still be okay, because we would send the coupon code even if it was a one-star review.

So no, nothing is getting screwed up here by anyone.

[Bruce]

Three or four years ago, I stumbled onto a program that reimbursed my purchase price for leaving reviews of items on Amazon. I gave honest reviews and not once was my reimbursement request denied. I got a lot of iPhone cables for free from several different sellers, and shouldn't have to buy any new cables for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I haven't had any invitations or offers like that lately.

Leave it to the federal government to screw up a good thing.

Review laundering is a serious scam tactic, and you unwittingly helped them out. They can change the listing to something of much worse quality (or non-existent) while keeping your "real" review up to add an air of legitimacy for potential victims.

Also, buying sketchy cables runs the risk of frying your phone. Sometimes it's worth it to spend a bit more on a reputable, trusted brand of cable to protect your $1000 device.