Amazon’s new review policy crashed into Planet-Online-Retail, and now feedback facilitators are working round the clock to adjust business models.

Let’s take 3 minutes to outline the situation — in plain language — and examine how the change will affect Amazon sellers and reviewers.

How Amazon Reviews Used To Work

Before this e-commerce October surprise, Amazon let sellers offer discounts in exchange for product reviews, so long as the reviewer included proper disclosures. The system seemed to work and even spawned review facilitation businesses that helped vendors plan and execute discount-for-review programs.

But Amazon never seemed entirely comfortable with paid reviews, of any ilk. In fact, to combat the trend, platform engineers deployed a “learned algorithm that gives more weight to newer, more helpful reviews” and implemented stricter “verified purchase” badge requirements.

Amazon has even sued a few unlucky pay-for-review services, which you can read about here and here.

Amazon’s New Review Policy Points

So, what was the big change? In short: Sellers can no longer offer free products and discounts in exchange for a review. Here is a handful of specific points:

• Sellers can’t use third-party services to loophole around the restriction.
• The policy took effect immediately, but vendors shouldn’t worry about past posts. However, Amazon may remove old reviews “if they are excessive, and don’t comply with prior policy.”
• Sellers CAN “continue to offer discounts and promotions as long as they are not offered in exchange for reviews.”
• Ignoring Amazon’s new review policy is grounds for account suspension.
• Review facilitators can no longer require members to leave reviews.

Authors Are Exempt From Amazon’s New Review Rules

Which segment of Amazon World doesn’t have to worry about the new review guidelines? Authors. Giving away advanced copies of a book, in exchange for a review, is a publishing industry solemnity — and the online retail giant doesn’t want to disturb the ancient institution. In Amazon’s exact words, the company will “continue to allow the age-old practice of providing advance review copies of books.”

What’s VINE Got To Do With It?

Discount-for-feedback programs are strictly prohibited “unless […] facilitated through the Amazon Vine program.”

Wait, what?

Yep, Amazon is now the only acceptable channel for early offer arrangements. But even that’s a slight misnomer because Amazon doesn’t “incentivize [Vine members to give] positive star ratings, attempt to influence the content of reviews, or even require a review to be written.”

Is Amazon Sticking It To The Proverbial “Little Guy”?

Amazon’s new review policy press release states that “when done carefully,” incentivized reviews “can be helpful to customers by providing a foundation of reviews for new or less well-known products.”

To put it another way: Amazon admits that “incentivized reviews” help online retail startups, but it’s outlawing the practice regardless? Apparently so.

Now, does this mean it’ll be impossible to start a successful FBA store? Not at all. Most review facilitators have already operationally adjusted to the change.

But beyond that, in the simple terms, people like reviewing products. Stick to an effective marketing plan — which includes follow-up e-mails and superior customer service — and you shouldn’t notice a seismic change in sales.

Online Retail Legal Reminders and Considerations

Before our 3-minutes are up, we wanted to leave you with 3 legally minded thoughts:

• “Unfair and deceptive marketing” rules do apply. Adhere to them or risk and FTC investigation and fine.
• In light of Amazon’s new review policy, feedback services should make a Herculean effort to contact their review-writers’ networks. Don’t forget, a review that includes something to the effect of “received at a discount for an honest and unbiased review,” is now non-compliant.
• Account suspension is reversible in some instances. Talk with an online retail consultant who can help pinpoint the exact problem, and provide the best plan of action to restore your account.

Good luck with Amazon’s new review policy. If you have questions, get in touch.