Amazon Vine, launched it 2007, is an internal service where Amazon invites selected trusted reviewers to post opinions about new and pre-release items to help their fellow customers make informed purchase decisions. Amazon invites customers to become Vine Voices based on their reviewer rank, which is a reflection of the quality and helpfulness of their reviews as judged by other Amazon customers.
Amazon provides Vine members with free products that have been submitted to the programme by participating vendors. Past and present participating companies include Samsung, Bose, LG and Philips.
Vine reviews are the independent opinions of the Vine Voices. Vendors cannot influence, modify or edit the reviews. Amazon does not modify or edit Vine reviews, as long as they comply with our posting guidelines. A Vine review is identified with the green stripe Customer review from the Amazon Vine programme.
Amazon Vine FAQ
Why do Amazon have the Amazon Vine programme?
The programme was created to provide customers with more information including honest and unbiased feedback from some of Amazon’s most trusted reviewers.
How can I join the programme?
Amazon Vine is an invitation-only programme. Vine Voices are selected based on several criteria, but primarily on the helpfulness of their reviews as judged by all other customers and by their demonstrated interest in the types of products that are featured in the programme. Customers who consistently write helpful reviews and develop a reputation for expertise in specific product categories are most likely to be invited into the programme.
How are Vine Voices selected?
Amazon want the Voice programme to reflect the best of our growing body of customer reviewers. They invite reviewers to participate in the Vine programme based on feedback from other customers. A reviewer’s rank is determined by the overall helpfulness of all their reviews, factoring in the number of reviews they have written. More weight is given to recent reviews.
For more information on how reviewer rankings are determined, please visit How Ranking Works.
Ultimately, Vine Voices become eligible based on the value and trust other Amazon.com customers place in the Voices’ ability to provide helpful and insightful reviews. In addition to the reviewer rank, Amazon weigh customers’ demonstrated interest in products similar to those enrolled in the Vine programme.
This facilitates product reviews by people who are familiar with the category they belong to. For example if a Vine Voice mostly purchases and/or reviews home and garden products, it is more likely they will be offered similar products.
Where does Amazon get the products?
Products are provided by publishers, labels, studios, manufacturers or any vendor participating in the programme.
Are Vine Voices expected to write only positive reviews?
No. We welcome honest opinion about the product – positive or negative. Of course Vine reviews must conform toAmazon’s posting guidelines. Customers can vote on the helpfulness of Vine reviews just like they can for any other review.
Are Vine Voices paid for writing reviews or pressured to write favourable reviews?
No. Voices are not paid to participate in the programme and write reviews. Voices are selected to participate based on their helpfulness of reviews voted on by other Amazon customers. Once they are invited into the programme, to maintain their status as a Vine Voice, they must review all of the selected products within 30 days of receipt and continue to be among the reviewers with the highest ranks from Amazon to keep their status as a Vine member.
If a Vine Voice writes a negative review, will it impact his or her reviewer ranking?
No. Writing a negative review will not impact a Voice’s reviewer ranking. A reviewer’s ranking is determined by the number of helpful votes from other customers. Customers tend to value substantive, informative, detailed and objective reviews, regardless of whether the review is positive, negative, or neutral.
Do Vine Voices receive products before they are released?
Yes. Some participating vendors will enrol pre-release products for Voices to review prior to launch.
Can the participating vendors contact or otherwise influence Vine Voices?
No. All Vine products are submitted by vendors to Amazon, and distributed by Amazon to the Vine Voices. Vendors have no contact with the Vine Voices, and have no influence over which Vine Voices will review their products.
Source: Amazon
