What is happening with these offers to get free Amazon items?
February 22, 2022 11:24 AM Subscribe
What is going on with these offers to buy products on Amazon and get reimbursed? Is it legal? A violation of Amazon ToS? Some other issues?
I get ads on Facebook to buy products from Amazon and get reimbursed. Like this. Then via FB messenger they tell me I can buy a product and get reimbursed via Paypal. (e.g.)
From what I can tell the goal is to have people search specific terms on Amazon and buy their product to move their listing up the Amazon algorithm from those terms, to increase the sales of their product in general, and to get more positive reviews.
Does this whole thing seem legal? A violation of Amazon ToS? Sketchy in some other way? Any reason not to do this?
From what I can see, there are some seemingly legitimate companies that do this same kind of thing. (example one and two).
I'm curious what is going on here and if it makes sense to do this.
I get ads on Facebook to buy products from Amazon and get reimbursed. Like this. Then via FB messenger they tell me I can buy a product and get reimbursed via Paypal. (e.g.)
From what I can tell the goal is to have people search specific terms on Amazon and buy their product to move their listing up the Amazon algorithm from those terms, to increase the sales of their product in general, and to get more positive reviews.
Does this whole thing seem legal? A violation of Amazon ToS? Sketchy in some other way? Any reason not to do this?
From what I can see, there are some seemingly legitimate companies that do this same kind of thing. (example one and two).
I'm curious what is going on here and if it makes sense to do this.
Any reason not to do this?
This violates Amazon's seller terms of service. That said, I don't think it matters to you, as the buyer.
One prominent reason not to do this is it's very difficult to distinguish between a "legitimate" company doing this (term roughly used) that will compensate you quickly, versus an "illegitimate" company that disappears after the purchase. Even if you file a negative review, it's easy for the seller to challenge it and have it deleted - after all, it's pretty easy for them to claim they have no relationship with you outside the sale.
posted by saeculorum at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
This violates Amazon's seller terms of service. That said, I don't think it matters to you, as the buyer.
One prominent reason not to do this is it's very difficult to distinguish between a "legitimate" company doing this (term roughly used) that will compensate you quickly, versus an "illegitimate" company that disappears after the purchase. Even if you file a negative review, it's easy for the seller to challenge it and have it deleted - after all, it's pretty easy for them to claim they have no relationship with you outside the sale.
posted by saeculorum at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's against Amazon policy.
Entire brands have been blacklisted by Amazon if they catch the brand doing so. Over 600, according to Amazon, during its sweep during 2021. Some big names too, like Aukey, RavPower, Choetech, and so on.
Nothing would happen to you, the consumer, other than your ability to leave reviews may be permanently embargoed.
posted by kschang at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Entire brands have been blacklisted by Amazon if they catch the brand doing so. Over 600, according to Amazon, during its sweep during 2021. Some big names too, like Aukey, RavPower, Choetech, and so on.
Nothing would happen to you, the consumer, other than your ability to leave reviews may be permanently embargoed.
posted by kschang at 11:48 AM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also you'd be contributing to the consumer's Wild West that Amazon and others have become. You know how you can't trust anything about Amazon's listings anymore -- the reviews, the stats, the pictures, the descriptions, the supply chain? No way of knowing if the item you're buying is safe to use, let alone good quality? You'd be contributing to that. Why help make the world worse, even if on a small scale? Most of the shit in this world is people thinking "everyone else does it too, and it's just a little thing anyway, so why not." And the result is we all wallow around in shit.
Note that these "legitimate" companies are very clearly not interested in letting you provide real reviews. From one FAQ page:
If someone's literally hard up for food or rent I wouldn't be able to judge them too much for doing this, but otherwise, what the hell.
posted by trig at 12:08 PM on February 22, 2022 [6 favorites]
Note that these "legitimate" companies are very clearly not interested in letting you provide real reviews. From one FAQ page:
The goal of VIP Testers Club is to maintain a platform where sellers and buyers help each other: you get up to 100% Cash Back products you'll love and sellers get the buzz they need to launch. We believe in kindness. Therefore, we kindly ask that if you don't like the product you've received, contact the seller directly first (via our messaging platform) and give them a chance to fix the product, you have 4 options to choose from! Be it Amazon, Facebook or Instagram - your voice is important to the seller, so make sure you TAKE ACTION and make your voice heard! NOT TAKING ACTION is against our rules and might lead to the restriction of your account.By TAKING ACTION they mean not leaving a negative review. I'd avoid them on grounds of doublespeak crimes alone.
If someone's literally hard up for food or rent I wouldn't be able to judge them too much for doing this, but otherwise, what the hell.
posted by trig at 12:08 PM on February 22, 2022 [6 favorites]
Just on the surface, it sounds a lot like money laundering. Which means you could be supporting terrorism or human trafficking. Imagine a young human being sold to someone, and you are the reason it's possible.
They could buy consumer products wholesale at a very low cost with some of the money, then use the rest to reimburse you -- keeping the retail funds that buyers like you use on Amazon, and making the transfer of the larger sums of money harder to trace.
posted by amtho at 12:13 PM on February 22, 2022
They could buy consumer products wholesale at a very low cost with some of the money, then use the rest to reimburse you -- keeping the retail funds that buyers like you use on Amazon, and making the transfer of the larger sums of money harder to trace.
posted by amtho at 12:13 PM on February 22, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dreamyshade at 11:31 AM on February 22, 2022 [2 favorites]