Amazon Helpful Votes...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

... what is the mystery under them?

I really don't understand. I know that they are used to rank the review, and probably to rank also the reviewer, better I'm sure they are used for that, but I really don't understand how they are given and by whom.

I have a lot of helpful positive votes, 88% on the total, so I'm very grateful to people who click on "yes" this review was helpful for me, and tried to ignore the 12% of negative votes, but today I notice something really strange. I was the first to review a book, and, even if I shouldn't say it, my review was good, not only since I loved the book, but also since people, publisher and author told me so.

So I posted my review on Amazon, and for a bit I was alone and no helpful positive vote. Then today I received a negative vote... and guys that made me think, since I really think my review was good. So I click on the book and noticed that the same book has now two other reviews, five stars like me, and from two frequently reviewer like me. And they both had two helpful positve votes! Why me not? (pout).

But the most strange thing is when I post a good review, or at least a review that gives an idea of the book, when maybe there isn't even the product description (and this happens often) and I'm the only review, and someone click the helpful negative button... what the hell have I said to make that people click on the negative button?

It's not the first time I discuss this matter with other Amazon reviewers, Jetm in primis, but I read also a blog by Amos Lassen... but I'd like to listen also to my friends opinion, are those votes really "real", are they indicative of a good review or not?

Comments

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I always click on the Yes or No whenever I read the reviews of a book. I click both No and Yes honestly.

If someone disagrees with your review (perhaps they didn't like the book you reviewed) they are likely to say no.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Mmm perhaps this explain when I receive a negative feedback when I'm alone, but when more or less three reviews say the same thing, with the same rating?

I don't question for example when I saw a negative vote in one of my review when at the same time a negative review receive a positive vote: it's obvious that someone didn't like the book and gave negative to me and positive to the review opposite than mine.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Heh. Welcome to our world, Elisa. You write a review a day, often more than that - Imagine what it's like to get a bad review for something you've spent 2 years writing.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, probably I'm too naive and should really stop to question too much ;-) Elisa