Changing product to keep reviews and ranking. Allowed?
Noticed that some competitors have a bundled offer for a product, and when a new version comes out (new product name and UPC, features, and look), they change the existing listing, which keeps the reviews and product ranking in the category.
When I read the product reviews, they are for an entirely different model. Some of these listings are from 3 versions ago.
Is this practice allowed?
Changing product to keep reviews and ranking. Allowed?
Noticed that some competitors have a bundled offer for a product, and when a new version comes out (new product name and UPC, features, and look), they change the existing listing, which keeps the reviews and product ranking in the category.
When I read the product reviews, they are for an entirely different model. Some of these listings are from 3 versions ago.
Is this practice allowed?
22 replies
Seller_olet7eVOHxQZd
No, they are not supposed to be able to make that massive of a change. Most sellers have issues updating even the title. The complete change to another product…maybe inside help?
Seller_9e0aMxU4qS2gx
I would never do it. I watched a radio seller ( not an Item I sell ) add " Comes with 36 Double A Batteries " and then he would remove himself for a few weeks from the listing… then pop back on and remove the 36 freebies … leaving any sellers on what he felt was his listing with a load of mad customers and poor seller feedbacks for that 2 weeks … I have a hard time updating my own Branded ASIN’s…
Seller_oEw5wUNHgJxxP
It may be ok for some countries.
For instance, we bought a “orange” from a catalog page. It worked out very well, so we went back to review it. When we ordered the “orange” it had nine reviews on it about the orange.
The catalog page was now an “apple” it had 6 more reviews, about the “apple” and the 9 reviews about the orange remained. The questions on the product were both for oranges and apples.
Now I don’t know how they do it. I expect they have page control, and with that it should not be that hard. I do think I know why they do it.
The following is conjecture on my part based on experience and the facts at hand.
In this case the “Orange” was very popular, it built up some traction, got some good feedback quickly, photos and videos of the item. They they ran out of Oranges in the US. They could not get more Oranges to the US Fulfillment Centers before the holiday so they found a way to get domestic apples sent in under the same UPC/FNSKU and changed the listing.
My guess is the domestic apples were waiting in US warehouses, or could have been sent by air to the FC’s from the other country.
The Oranges, were being sold under at least 4 different brands, they were actually the same item. I imagine the “factory” in the other country could not keep up.
This is why the seller substituted and presented Apples on the catalog page that started out Oranges.
Seller_jAObA0Lu3XX7D
This is extremely common. I was personally looking for a good TV antenna recently, and all the reviews were actually for completely different products not even related to a TV antenna. This is a huge problem that Amazon is doing nothing about. I finally bought the antenna on a different more trustworthy site.
Seller_TvaTXH61RRGLO
This change is not allowed. But it is allowed if there is an update in the design of the same product, minor ingredients update and the manufacturer keeps the same UPC on the label.
Seller_BeWo5Xt3t43rn
It is not allowed but some big players do it such as products sold on AMAZON by the old mail order catalog company MILES KIMBALL who sell a shopping cart that has plastic wheels on a listing with reviews for the old model that had the much sturdier metal bicycle style wheels!
Seller_xNId5z1Ok5LtJ
not only is it allowed, but a brand manager can register their brand and steal a listing someone else made, and then administratively change it to their likings
Seller_pAySCaVFlzKzW
I have even seen this on amazon basics products. Amazon is complcit in hijacking old product reviews as well
