Amazon Customers Beware!

The Anti-Manipulation Policy for Customer reviews from Amazon reads, in part:

“Customers trust that they can shop with confidence on Amazon. Reviews provide a forum for sharing authentic feedback about products and services – positive or negative. Any attempt to manipulate reviews, including by directly or indirectly contributing false, misleading or inauthentic content, is strictly prohibited.”

Tracking Megyn Kelly’s new book reviews

Twelve days ago, with astonishment, I began watching and subsequently tracking Amazon customer reviews for Megyn Kelly’s new book. I measured Amazon’s actions in conjunction with their expressly stated policy. It became clear that substantial, non-political, and thoughtful negative reviews were being deleted. My publisher contacted Amazon directly on two separate occasions, first to alert the company to potential review manipulation, and then several days later to launch a formal complaint. To date, there has been no response from any Amazon representative.

The Los Angeles Times published an article on November 16, 2016 written by Stephen Battaglio, that has been republished by multiple media outlets citing the definitive reason for the deletion of these reviews as: “Supporters of President-elect Donald Drumpf are using online retailer Amazon to attack Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly through harsh reviews of her new book. … More than 100 negative one-star reviews appeared on the Amazon page selling Kelly’s memoir “Settle for More” within hours of its Tuesday release.”

Review manipulation is taking place

Initially, this information was correct. However, since its release, Amazon has deleted an additional 2,150 negative reviews, with frustrated Amazon customers re-posting their reviews, while obvious politically motivated positive reviews have been allowed to remain. Here are just a few examples:

Additionally, Amazon’s Anti-Manipulation Policy states; “We encourage anyone who suspects that review manipulation is taking place or that guidelines are being violated in any manner to notify us. We will investigate the concern thoroughly and take any appropriate actions.” I submit once again review manipulation is taking place.

It is apparent, Amazon’s Customer Review platform is indeed compromised and flawed. In my personal opinion, it should be viewed as completely unreliable. At the end of this article, I have attached the tracking chart documenting my claims for your review. I have submitted my article and blog post “Megyn Kelly’s Disappearing Customer Reviews,” to most of the major media outlets and have commented where allowed by attaching this article with documentation. No media outlet has inquired as to the factual basis or claims of the article, instead, they continue to support the initially correct story of Stephan Battaglio, while continuing to ignore the substantive documentation.

As Mr. Battaglio has so aptly pointed out: “The negative reviews can be potentially damaging to the success of “Settle for More,” as more than 50% of a best-selling book’s sales come through Amazon. Kelly received a $6-million advance from HarperCollins to write the book.” But the converse is also true. Removing authentic negative reviews and misleading Amazon customers toward a purchase they might otherwise avoid, trusting in the integrity of the review platform, can potentially increase sales and profitability for Amazon and HarperCollins which obviously has a substantial investment to protect.

So once again I ask:

How much do you as a customer rely on the integrity of Amazon’s Review Platform?

Given the above information, will you continue to?

I’m doing everything I can to get the word out. Please help by sharing and re-posting. #LetsMakeItMatter!

Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-15-16 9:00pm	140	0.81	–	–	–	–	1.6
11-16-16 3:25pm	74	0.47	–	–	–	–	2.9
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-17-16 8:00pm	279	0.47	0.05	0.01	0.06	0.41	2.9
11-18-16 3:49pm	140	0.19	0.04	0.02	0.09	0.66	4
11-18-16 5:56pm	178	0.31	0.06	0.01	0.07	0.55	3.5
11-18-16 11:11pm	273	0.47	0.05	0.01	0.06	0.41	2.9
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-19-16 9:51pm	420	0.49	0.03	0.02	0.05	0.41	2.7
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-20-16 9:11am	302	0.42	0.02	0.02	0.08	0.46	3.2
11-20-16 11:42am	186	0.09	0.02	0.04	0.11	0.74	4.4
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-21-16 4:55pm	227	0.15	0.04	0.03	0.1	0.68	4.2
11-21-16 6:14pm	184	0.07	0.02	0.04	0.11	0.76	4.5
11-21-16 10:35pm	224	0.15	0.02	0.04	0.1	0.69	4.2
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-22-16 8:29am	211	0.1	0.01	0.05	0.1	0.74	4.4
11-22-16 9:49pm	266	0.17	0.04	0.05	0.09	0.65	4
11-22-16 11:58pm	270	0.18	0.04	0.05	0.09	0.64	4
	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-23-16 7:46am	415	0.42	0.08	0.04	0.05	0.41	3
11-23-16 7:54am	432	0.44	0.08	0.03	0.05	0.4	3
11-23-16 8:01am	455	0.46	0.08	0.03	0.05	0.38	2.9
11-23-16 8:06am	471	0.47	0.08	0.03	0.05	0.37	2.8
11-23-16 8:27am	522	0.51	0.08	0.03	0.04	0.34	2.8
11-23-16 8:41am	589	0.55	0.08	0.03	0.04	0.3	2.5
11-23-16 8:51am	616	0.57	0.08	0.03	0.03	0.29	2.5
11-23-16 8:56am	640	0.58	0.08	0.03	0.03	0.28	2.4
11-23-16 9:04am	662	0.59	0.08	0.03	0.03	0.27	2.4
11-23-16 9:13am	673	0.6	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.27	2.4
11-23-16 9:18am	695	0.61	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.26	2.3
11-23-16 9:27am	715	0.61	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.26	2.3
11-23-16 9:36am	756	0.62	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.25	2.3
11-23-16 9:50am	788	0.63	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.24	2.2
11:23-16 10:02am	814	0.64	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.23	2.2
11-23-16 10:16am	845	0.64	0.08	0.02	0.03	0.23	2.2
11-23-16 10:32am	314	0.32	0.04	0.04	0.07	0.53	3.4
11-23-16 10:36am	296	0.3	0.03	0.04	0.07	0.56	3.6
11:23-16 10:42am	317	0.32	0.04	0.04	0.07	0.53	3.5
11-23-16 10:46am	304	0.31	0.03	0.04	0.07	0.55	3.6
11-23-16 11:13am	355	0.36	0.05	0.04	0.06	0.49	3.3
11-23-16 12:36pm	543	0.52	0.06	0.03	0.04	0.35	2.7
11-23-16 1:12pm	609	0.56	0.06	0.02	0.04	0.32	2.6
11-23-16 1:40pm	651	0.59	0.06	0.02	0.03	0.3	2.5
11-23-16 2:19pm	713	0.6	0.06	0.02	0.03	0.29	2.4
11-23-16 3:30pm	328	0.34	0.02	0.04	0.04	0.54	3.5
11-23-16 4:27pm	369	0.4	0.02	0.03	0.06	0.49	3.3
11-23-16 5:28pm	294	0.24	0.04	0.04	0.08	0.6	3.8
11-23-16 6:12pm	355	0.35	0.04	0.04	0.06	0.51	3.4
11-23-16 6:42pm	386	0.39	0.04	0.04	0.06	0.47	3.3
11-23-16 6:44pm	396	0.41	0.04	0.04	0.06	0.46	3.2
11-23-16 8:36pm	542	0.51	0.06	0.03	0.05	0.35	2.8
11-23-16 8:49pm	567	0.51	0.06	0.03	0.05	0.35	2.7
11-23-16 9:04pm	587	0.53	0.06	0.03	0.04	0.34	2.7
11-23-16 9:27pm	625	0.54	0.07	0.03	0.04	0.32	2.6
11-23-16 11:27pm	253	0.12	0.02	0.05	0.1	0.71	4.3
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-24-16 12:04am	275	0.17	0.03	0.05	0.09	0.66	4.1
11-24-16 9:29am	465	0.42	0.05	0.03	0.06	0.44	3.1
11-24-16 10:47am	508	0.45	0.05	0.03	0.05	0.42	3
11/24/16 11:06am	455	0.4	0.05	0.03	0.06	0.46	3.2
11-24-16 11:27am	296	0.2	0.02	0.04	0.08	0.66	4
11-24-16 1:27pm	324	0.24	0.03	0.04	0.08	0.61	3.8
11-24-16 2:57pm	376	0.32	0.03	0.04	0.07	0.54	3.5
11-24-16 4:07pm	401	0.35	0.03	0.04	0.07	0.51	3.4
11-24-16 8:07pm	470	0.42	0.03	0.03	0.07	0.45	3.2
11-24-16 8:49pm	495	0.44	0.04	0.03	0.06	0.43	3.1
11-24-16 10:33p	548	0.47	0.04	0.03	0.06	0.4	3
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-25-16 11:59am	421	0.26	0.06	0.04	0.08	0.56	3.7
11-25-16 1:11pm	277	0.08	0.01	0.05	0.11	0.75	4.4
11-25-16 3:44pm	301	0.13	0.02	0.05	0.1	0.7	4.2
11-25-16 6:15pm	324	0.17	0.02	0.04	0.1	0.67	4.1
11-25-16 11:07pm	360	0.23	0.03	0.04	0.09	0.61	3.9
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-26-16 9:00am	313	0.13	0.02	0.05	0.1	0.7	4.3
11-26-16 8:39pm	331	0.13	0.03	0.04	0.12	0.68	4.2
Date	Reviews	1 Star %	2 Star %	3 Star %	4 Star %	5 Star %	Rating
11-27-16 3:05am	342	0.14	0.03	0.04	0.12	0.67	4.2
11-27-16 9:17am	322	0.09	0.03	0.04	0.13	0.71	4.4
11-27-16 9:55am	319	0.08	0.03	0.04	0.13	0.72	4.4
11-27-16 10:58am	324	0.09	0.03	0.04	0.13	0.71	4.4
11-27-16 12:00pm	328	0.1	0.03	0.04	0.12	0.71	4.4