# Amazon reviews - review for discount? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492 "2016-06-27T02:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/1 "2016-06-27T02:03:48Z")
I have noticed a lot of reviews have a disclaimer at the end saying something like “I received a discount on the purchase price for the review of this product.” How does one get this discount for a product review? I have never been given the option of providing a review for any financial benefit, but it seems many folks do. Can anyone shed some light? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/2 "2016-06-27T02:22:14Z")
Shed some light, well the batteries are leaking but the bulb does still illuminate a bit still if I shake it. I’ve heard that those who have had good reviews with many ‘helpful’ thumbs up are offered this. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/3 "2016-06-27T02:27:49Z")
It’s Amazon’s Vine program. You can read about it here: [Amazon Vine](https://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help) Basically they get free stuff and then review it. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/4 "2016-06-27T05:24:09Z")
I am a Vine reviewer. The criteria for invitation was never very clear, but we assume it’s tied to helpful votes. I was invited when I had 600+ helpful votes on my reviews (not 600+ reviews, only half a dozen or so, but many thumbs ups). Basically, they offer you a list of products to choose from. You can ask for up to 5 at a time, and then when you review some, you can request more. Products include random things from all categories: food, televisions, rowing machines, shower curtains, obscure industrial parts, laptops, televisions, blah blah. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/5 "2016-06-27T07:23:22Z")
There are other methods sellers use to attempt to influence reviews. After buying a pair of nail clippers on Amazon, I received an email advising if I reviewed their product, they would send me a free set of identical clippers. The email explained that after writing my review, send them the link to my review and the clippers would follow. I did and so did the clippers which now makes me believe I overpaid for the original clippers. A review of the Amazon comments on this item reveals a remarkable number of 5-star comments so perhaps their approach is working. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/6 "2016-06-27T15:21:12Z")
I am not a Vine reviewer, but I can offer this anecdote: I had bought a $50 home plumbing fixture. I was happy with it, but did not review it or rate it. About six months later the seller/manufacturer offered me a free one if I would review it on Amazon. I accepted; the product was shipped through the Amazon system, and I gave it an honest review (frankly, I like the thing pretty well, but I tried to mention any faults, even minor, in my review). I am still a bit puzzled at the whole transaction; there were already plenty of glowing Amazon reviews, and it isn’t an item with a “giveaway” cost. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/7 "2016-06-27T23:50:53Z")
I did Amazon reviews a couple of books that the authors had given to me personally for free, which was a private transaction outside of Amazon. I did disclose that fact in my review. And no, I did not give them all 5-star gushing reviews - I was honest about my reviews, They were good books, but not perfect. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-reviews-review-for-discount/758492/8 "2016-06-28T15:22:43Z")
So that’s the new Vine reviewer message? The “discount” is 100%, is it not? But you do now have to pay taxes on the value of review items. Between that and the terrible allocation system that made me quit Vine.