Amazon's Customer Questions & Answers Section

[andrew1707]

On Amazon there is a Customer Questions & Answers section where people can ask questions about the product and other people (I assume previous customers of the product) can answer.

But often the answers are stupid and rather unhelpful

e.g. (I made this one up)
Q- Is this tent waterproof?
A- I don't know as I haven't been camping in the rain yet.

So what's going on ??? Do Amazon give some incentive to customers to answer questions?

A

[Daffy6543]

I often get emails asking me to answer questions about items I have purchased on Amazon. There is no incentive or reward for answering.

If I don't know the answer then I don't bother replying.

[woofgang]

no there is no incentive. if you have bought an item (and i think written a review) then you get an email asking if you can answer a question about it. i do agree though that some of the answers and reviews are silly, i have seen people give an item 5 stars but then say they havent used it yet

[Old_Geezer]

I don't know as I've not looked at them yet.


:-)

I guess folk like to be involved, but have little real advice to give. Human nature trumping common sense. We are all flawed.

[janbee]

I often answer questions sent to me . No, there's no reward, no incentive but I always tell the truth. Sometimes Amazon don't like my answers and refuse to accept and print them.

[hc4361]

It is because people who have already bought the item get an email directly asking them the question, they think they are being polite in answering.

[woofgang]

polite? not particularly....I just think its good to be helpful

[hc4361]

Well it isn't helpful when the questioner gets an email telling him he has an answer - only to find the answer is 'I don't know'.

[trt]

Before I buy anything on Amazon, I always read the customers reviews, and always give my views on stuff I buy.

Its just giving people an idea of the quality or use of the item.

[SirOracle]

A few months ago I gave a horrendous answer to Amazon concerning a book seller who they used. This was entirely justified,but it was not "printed" on Amazon's site.

[wolf63]

Some of the reviews are actually quite funny

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Postdog]

Some questions cannot be answered truthfully. I bought a permanent attach to the wall mobility scooter cover and was asked if it was easy to put up. I had to answer I had no idea for the simple reason that I was disabled and couldn't put it up myself.

[hc4361]

Postdog, that's my point. You didn't 'have' to answer at all.

[wolf63]

I know of someone who wrote a book and the first batch of reviews on Amazon were all by friends of the author.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Just some people think they're 'witty' if they answer serious q's with a supposed joke. Amazon have previously published lists of their wittiest product reviews - maybe the 'jokey' authors think it may happen with the Q&A's!

[Postdog]

It is polite to answer. For instance on that one I couldn't answer that but I did give useful info on how much space it actually took and how good it was.

[wolf63]

I actually find it incredulous that the OP has not noticed the reviews and Q&As before now.

Surely he jests.