I have opted out of writing reviews for Amazon and other online shopping platforms, and here's my reasoning.

After making a purchase on websites like Amazon or eBay, you often receive an email asking for feedback on your transaction. But what if your experience was less than satisfactory, perhaps due to receiving the wrong item or damage during shipping? Would you feel compelled to leave negative feedback?

My reluctance to submit reviews stems from a past incident:

Years Ago.

I can't recall the exact product I bought during my first negative experience. I only remember feeling disappointed and leaving a poor review on Amazon. Shortly after, the seller reached out, requesting that I change my review—a request that is against the policies of these platforms. I informed the seller of the site's rules, but it wasn't an isolated incident; it happened multiple times, which ultimately led me to stop writing reviews altogether.

I suspect that sellers continue this practice, despite knowing it violates the Terms of Service of these platforms, which explicitly state that sellers should never ask customers to alter negative feedback.

The motivation behind this behavior is clear: sellers aim to boost their sales. However, to me, a negative review highlights a seller's fallibility.

If you are an online seller who solicits customers to modify their reviews, you should reconsider your online presence. Platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are vigilant and will impose bans on sellers for this type of conduct, regardless of whether the feedback is favorable or not. I appreciate that these sites take such action, as it protects the integrity of reviews.

The only viable solution for sellers who wish to avoid negative feedback is to improve their product quality rather than pressuring customers to remove their reviews.

This Issue Extends Beyond Shopping Platforms.

Even freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork prohibit clients from asking freelancers to alter their reviews. I have encountered two instances on Fiverr where clients made such requests. Although one review was neutral, I was informed by a Fiverr representative that such requests are not allowed.

Speaking of Fiverr, I once received a message from someone wanting to pay me for reviewing their product on Amazon. Initially, I thought they sought my services as a copywriter to create a product description. However, they were actually asking for a review. I quickly declined, as I would never want such an action associated with my professional credentials. Many writers may be willing to engage in this unethical practice, but it is detrimental.

Years ago, I watched a show called CBC Marketplace (I’m from Canada) that demonstrated how easy it is to generate fake reviews for a fictitious food truck they created. They highlighted a Canadian woman who produced YouTube videos impersonating various roles, including that of a customer, to fabricate reviews for unscrupulous businesses. If you’re working on freelance platforms and have the desire to write, I implore you to steer clear of such practices; they are harmful to your career.

Conclusion

If a seller attempts to persuade you to revise a negative review, you should report this behavior to Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc., so they can take appropriate action against these dishonest sellers.

Perhaps these platforms should consider asking customers if they wish to leave a review before sending out requests; this could improve the process.

As for me, I refrain from leaving reviews unless a seller has gone above and beyond to address my concerns or rectify an issue. True excellent customer service does not involve begging for positive feedback.

Update:

I recently read an article on Medium that encouraged writing product reviews on sites like Amazon as a way to make money. This is not a practice I support.

For those starting their writing careers, it’s essential to avoid associating fake product reviews with your portfolio. Instead, I would prefer to write genuine reviews based on my actual experiences.

I have chosen to unfollow individuals promoting such unethical behavior, as I find it far more worthwhile to provide honest feedback on products I have genuinely tested.