On-line User Reviews Original Message Oct 1, 2009 7:24 pm
According to the experts who research and follow such matters, 80 percent of on-line buyers read on-line user reviews. The Federal Trade Commission [FTC] will issue new guidelines for on-line posters/reviewers. FTC warns that many of the user reviews are company employees and paid advertisers who post as personal users. Always positive reviews, of course. Surprise surprise! Paid users and persons with a vested interest [read employees] will have to disclose their relationship with the company and its products. Fines for infractions can be hefty. As much as $300,000 and more for first time offenders. Ouch!
FTC advises that shoppers and buyers use more than on-line reviews to research the products [read industry experts].
