Over the past few months, there have been many reports about Amazon changing its review-request policy. Some saw a brief inclusion stating that only one email could include a request for a product review. This information was reportedly in Seller Central for about a day and was then removed.
Right now, this information is not on any of the communication guideline or product review policy pages. Here’s my take on the current state of affairs when it comes to Amazon review requests and how to stay legal while collecting product reviews.
Amazon says (and has said for a while):
You should also keep in mind what isn’t allowed.
From the note below, you can see that Amazon is totally serious about prosecuting sellers who go too far.
Plus, this page also states that you cannot include:
Let’s debunk a common misconception that you should send shipping notices to customers. This is a long-time practice that you should have abandoned long ago.
An Example of Someone Trying to Buy Amazon Reviews
Just the other day, I received this review request email from someone selling on Amazon. Reviews are important … I get that … but this seller was asking me to exchange a free product for a positive review.
Hello dear,
This is Daisy, I’m an amazon seller.
Recently, we need products testing, we need some good reviews.
perhaps you might be interested in trying out our new product
Product one: Active NoXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
Product two: Type C XXXXX XXXXX
Product three: Snow ChXXXX XXXXX
I would like to send it to you for free for your honest review.
So that other customers will be better informed about my item.
It’s ideal to use for yourself or send to others as a gift.
what is your interest?
If you are interested, please replay [sic] me directly
We will tell you the address of the product
Confirm the product after shipping as soon as we will refund you (include transfer fee), you are totally free.
Best regards
Sincerely Daisy
This is against Amazon’s TOS in many different ways, primarily because it offers to give me a refund after I purchase the item so long as I agree to leave a review.
Here’s What You CAN Do (Legally) When Sending Amazon Review Requests
You can provide excellent customer service. This page states:
Generally, you will not send communications to customers other than as necessary for order fulfillment and related customer service.
Because Amazon is handling the shipping notices, return confirmations, and most other emails, what does that leave you with?
Giving helpful information that customers can actually use
after they have received your product.
This should not be sales copy. After all, they have already bought your product; they don’t need to be convinced.
Ask yourself this question: If I bought this item, what additional information would I want so that my experience would be exceptional? And where do you find such ideas? In the Customer Questions & Answers section.
Yes, many of the questions will pertain to information someone needs to know before they buy, but you will also get queries from those who need help after they purchase, including these types of questions I found for a pet carrier product.
- I bought this. How does it hook to seat belt?
- How do I fold this down for storage?
- How do the buckle loops allow for the carrier to be restrained with a seat belt? How does the seat belt work with these loops?
If you see repetition, you know this is a common question that needs to be addressed. Yes, you might have already answered this question in the instruction manual included with the shipment, but really… how often do people actually read those things?
Sending tips in your Amazon review request emails for attaching the pet carrier to a seat belt would make it oh so easy for your customer to accomplish what they want. And that makes them happy!
Then, after you’ve provided excellent customer service, ask for a product review.
What Other Details Can You Put Into an Amazon Review Request?
Here’s one example. Those pet owners who bought the carrier? I’ll bet they would be thankful for useful info about:
- Training dogs using a carrier
- Keeping dogs calm during airplane travel
- Common issues while traveling with dogs (and the solutions)
- How to best clean the carrier if Fluffy has an accident
And lots of other helpful ideas.
The bottom line is: Keep the focus on helping your customers and they will be more likely to help you in turn.
Related posts you’ll love:
Amazon Review Request Emails Might Not Help Much With These Types of Products
Amazon Review “How To”: Easy Steps for Getting More Customer Reviews
Great article.
Just one question: If a customers leaves a one star review due to a problem and we contact them to fix it. When fixed, can we ask the customer if he can to update the review (which is not changing it but keeping the readers updated)?
Thanks
Glad you found it helpful. It is against Amazons terms of service to ask a customer to change our review. If they decide to update the review on their own, that is allowed.
Thank you for this article and staying on top with Amazon. To further help us out. We received an email stating we were in violation with our email. Without an explanation, we are now trying to figure out what we did wrong.
Is this wrong? I have it in the email that I send out thanking them for their purchase and asking them for their experience with our product……
“You can use the link below to leave your honest overall review:
Product Asin Address”
It doesn’t appear to be wrong, in my opionion. But Amazon is doing automated filtering of these emails so, perhaps because you qualified the type of review (leave your honest review) tha might have kicked in a filter. Telling them to be honest shouldn’t be a problem, but to an automated system looking for people who are asking customers to leave positive reviews, or 5-star reviews… it might just dump any adjective before the word “reviews.”
Have you called Amazon Seller Central or sent a support ticket? I’d ask them specifically what needs to be changed.