User reviews faked or not?

[Zucca]

You know how it works, before buying something just read the previous buyer user reviews...
Do you believe them?



This is clearly wrong, but made me thinking how much can you rely on those comments out there in the www.

[Mr. Scram]

It'd be stupid to trust them outright. You can look for specific issues or qualities mentioned that are beyond generic comments and cross reference them to experiences elsewhere on the internet. You can also look at the numbers, rather than individual reviews. However, even honest buyers often don't have the skills or experience to write a review relevant to the device,

In short, treat them like very noisy low grade information.

[ogden]

You know how it works, before buying something just read the previous buyer user reviews...
Do you believe them?

One review is far from enough for sample size to be statistically significant. 

You shall not make your (hi-end) professional product purchase decisions on anonymous internet comments/reviews anyway. That's why there are dealers you can trust, demo equipment and so on. *You* shall decide - particular equipment is ok for you or not. R&S quality of lab/production instruments usually is very good, service as well.

[Zucca]

One review is far from enough for sample size to be statistically significant. 

I agree, it was just an example.

[Ice-Tea]

Slightly off topic: I bought quite some gear from Batronix, can't find a fault in what they are doing.

[Stray Electron]

Slightly off topic: I bought quite some gear from Batronix, can't find a fault in what they are doing.

   Are you referring to selling gear or to them posting bogus reviews?

[ogden]

One review is far from enough for sample size to be statistically significant. 

I agree, it was just an example.

Example that shows: single, very short "review" (15 words) which is 100% identical to reviews of ten other supplies shall "ring the bells" definitely.

What about this supply which got 75% of >300 reviewers giving 5 stars? Will you buy that thing just because reviews are good and most likely not fake?

https://www.amazon.com/Tekpower-TP3005T-Variable-Linear-Alligator/dp/B00ZBCLJSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536604317&sr=8-1&keywords=lab+power+supply

[Gregg]

What about this supply which got 75% of >300 reviewers giving 5 stars? Will you buy that thing just because reviews are good and most likely not fake?

https://www.amazon.com/Tekpower-TP3005T-Variable-Linear-Alligator/dp/B00ZBCLJSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536604317&sr=8-1&keywords=lab+power+supply
[/quote]
If it is reviewed on Amazon, at least there is a fake review website: https://www.fakespot.com/
Not the end all of fake spotting, but some interesting notes about the reviews.

[gnavigator1007]

I generally look at negative reviews first and work my way up from there. I have wondered how common fake negative reviews are on competitors products.

[nctnico]

I generally look at negative reviews first and work my way up from there. I have wondered how common fake negative reviews are on competitors products.

I agree. Usually very unspecific reviews are from the webshop itself. Recently I came across a webshop where many items had reviews like 'quick shipping and good customer support'.

[RoGeorge]

If you look at other Batronix products, you will see "Verified Reviewer" for those who actually bought the product: https://www.batronix.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1054Z.html#yoReviews
Also, the reviews might appear mixed if two products are in the same category, e.g. Rigol DS1054Z and MSO1074Z both show the same list of reviews.

[Muttley Snickers]

I cannot comment on the Batronix review in question but I have seen where Amazon are blatantly deceptive and misleading in the way they display those "verified purchase" reviews. The vast majority shown are for other models or products giving the consumer a false sense of product integrity.

In the example linked below for the Fluke 174 there are a couple of comments about that particular model but the rest of the reviews shown on that same page are in reference to other products. In my view this borders on false advertising and shameful conduct by Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-174-true-RMS-Multimeter/product-reviews/B01EX8MU66

[saturation]

You can prefilter reviews.

The big commercial filters tend to focus on big websites like Amazon and sites explain their rankings.   


https://www.fakespot.com/

https://reviewmeta.com/

[Ice-Tea]

Slightly off topic: I bought quite some gear from Batronix, can't find a fault in what they are doing.

   Are you referring to selling gear or to them posting bogus reviews?

My appologies, I meant service and the stuff I bought from them. Can't comment on the review.