False opinions: OCU asks more control to marketplaces

The opinions of other users are increasingly taken into account when making purchase decisions, whether products or services such as hotels, restaurants, transport, etc..In a recent OCU survey, 90% of respondents said they consulted them before deciding.However, OCU has been warning that these opinions are not always reliable, since it is quite common for them to handle stores or manufacturers.

A problem not yet solved

In 2019 in OCU we thoroughly analyzed 6 million opinions about 50.000 products on the most popular online platforms, such as Amazon, Booking or TripAdvisor.The conclusions were clear: many of those opinions were interested.The most affected platform was Amazon, where it was determined that 8.4% of the scores (stars) that the products had were significantly affected by manipulated opinions.In that study, we locate 75 stores that openly offered free products to users in exchange for positive opinions.This circumstance also occurred on TripAdvisor websites and, to a lesser extent, of Booking.

Ocu then claimed stricter controls by the platforms to stop this problem.The recent discovery of a database with 200.000 users who lend them to give this type of opinions highlight that the problem is still far from solving.In parallel, it has been known that some famous stores that marketed their products through the Amazon Marketplace have ceased to be present on their website.

Acting against stores that use these deceptions is necessary to eradicate these reviews.However, two years later, we have been able to verify that 71% of the stores denounced for selling their products on Amazon with the help of false reviews remain active.That is why we insist on the need for more controls and we demand it from OCU.

Independent comparators, rigorous tests

If a consumer bases its purchase decisions on these opinions, it runs the risk of making mistakes.In addition, these reviews usually affect criteria such as external aspect or comfort, which are purely subjective.

To make well -informed buying decisions, OCU advises to resort to comparators that analyze technical and quality criteria that cannot be appreciated with the naked eye, using laboratory tests or the judgment of an expert.

OCU has 197 of these products of all kinds: appliances, electronic devices, food ... The analyzes are carried out in independent laboratories and free of commercial or brand interests.

Discover OCU comparators

How to detect false opinions

The opinions are totally useless, since on many occasions they provide relevant information or can be the only data source you have.The important thing is to know how to "separate the grain from the straw", know how to detect false opinions.

There are certain signs that must make you distrust:

If you detect these messages attentive!Do not pike.