Vent: I used to just write glowing 5 star reviews for anyone who asked

Back in 2018, I would practically hand out perfect reviews to any small business that sent me a free sample. Then last year I got burned by a local coffee shop in Austin that paid me to write a good review, and their product was actually terrible. Now I take photos, keep receipts, and wait at least 3 days before posting anything. It feels like work now compared to how simple it used to be. Has anyone else felt like the whole review system is rigged against honest opinions?

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1 Comment

the_tara18d ago

I mean, I get why you feel that way, but honestly I think the review system works better now than it did back then. You said it yourself, you used to hand out 5 stars for free samples, and that's kind of the problem. If everyone does that, reviews become useless. The whole point is to help real people decide if something is worth their money, not to be a favor for a freebie. I'd rather read a review from someone who actually bought the thing and waited a few days, even if it's more work for them. Maybe it's just me, but I trust the process more when I know someone put some thought into it instead of just typing "great product" for a free sample.