This has to be BS.

[dubstyle5000]

Do you guys ever read the reviews for products at Zzounds or Musicians Friend? Why is it that no matter how god-forsaken of a product it is, the reviews are almost always good? Is this a plot by the websites to sell their shit? It seems like it.

Zzounds has an starter Epiphone Les Paul for like $100 bucks right now that has to suck, but all the reviews are raving about how it's like the best guitar ever.

Bastards.

 

[jfrog]

Go down to your local new car dealer. Ask him about a particular car. Chances are, he won't say anything but good things about it, either.

Go figure.

 

[jonnyc]

Well it wouldn't be a surprise if a company went on a website like that, or hell like this and pulled some shit like that. All it takes is 5 minutes and a rep being paid 6 bucks an hour to troll the net looking to give rave reviews of their products. Cheap and easy advertising. What companies like zzsounds and MF need to do is make it where you need to order the product, then give a code on your reciept after you've recieved the item that then allows you to post a review, you'd probably see way more negative stuff, that is, if, MF and zzsounds will even allow anything negative to pass thru.

 

[andydeedpoll]

you'd probably see way more negative stuff, that is, if, MF and zzsounds will even allow anything negative to pass thru.

why would they let you do that? a normal shop wouldn't let you go round a shop with a load of stick labels letting you stick "this product is crap, don't go near it..." all over, would they? i only pay attention to reviews on websites like that when they give very specific information into dialling in a certain sound, or when they give some 'alternative use' for a product... after that, i try to wait till i can hear/see the thing myself... i quite like the audio examples though

Andy

 

[mikeandronda]

Well in truth I have seen some negative comments on Behringers service on their powered mixers......and there has been some that says they were underpowered.......I guess MF and Zzounds probably does keep some of the worst ones off there so I guess thats why sites like this are great to know about

 

[timboZ]

I got some nady closed back headphones from musiciandfriend once. They would not stay on my head so I returned them. Then I went th the page with the review and clicked on write a review. I wrote my review. It never showed my review but it did show all the good reviews.

 

[noodles2k5]

It's best to go to a site that doesn't sell the actual product (or has no affiliation to anyone selling the product), to find a truthful review.

 

[HomeMadeHitShow]

Keep in mind that it's all relative.

Firstly it might be a good guitar for a person who would buy a $100 guitar.

Secondly 9.0 is better than 8.0 both are good but relatively 9.0 is better so that can help sometimes.

Tony

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

You just have to consider the source as usual. Obviously everything on their website is an advertisement. You're not going to open the newspaper and see movie advertisements saying "two thumbs way down".

I have seen mildly negative stuff on those sites, but it may be them trying to make the reviews believable.

I really don't see anything wrong with selecting positive reviews. I would object if they were totally fabricated, but it would not surprise me a bit.

 

[nkjanssen]

This was posted previously, but these are the best reviews I've ever read on a retailer's website. They are for a "First Act" acoustic guitar. I originally saw them on Target's website, but the same comments appear here:

http://supermantv.net/B00002MZ8M/Acoustic_Guitar.html

Make sure to read them all. Click on "see more" at the bottom of the review section.

Hilarious stuff!

 

[IronFlippy]

I just look at harmony-central.com for a slightly less biased review.

 

[notCardio]

I've actually seen some downright nasty comments on MF about a few things. I think they usually put the most glowing reviews first, and you generally have to go to another page to see some negatives. Also, just like here, you have to consider the source. If it sounds like it's from a 13 year old (and no disrespect to 13 yr olds, but that's generally not who people want advice on this sort of thing from), then how much weight are you going to give it? It's usually not too difficult to distinguish whose opinion counts and whose doesn't. Now, if they've got ringers in there, and if they're good at it, then you've got a problem. But generally, that's one of the things this board is great for. And if you get it, and it sucks, send it back.

 

[notCardio]

Gee, do I like the word 'generally' today?

 

[stetto]

I'm surprised no one's noticed that a couple of different sites use the exact same buyer reviews...That bothers me....

Eric

 

[tom18222]

i have the 100 dollar epiphone..its not bad, i like it.

 

[HI WHAT?]

Just bought an inexpensive Epiphone SG.For the money I paid I absolutely love it.If it is an Epiphone Les Paul for a hundred bucks what do you expect.I bet you it is a hell of a lot more guitar than an Estaban.After you have progressed to a better guitar you could probably sell the Les Paul for a little less than you paid but an Estaban;kindling

 

[treymonfauntre]

those sites have "was this review helpful?" buttons, they won't show ones that have excessively rated low helpfulness

 

[60's guy]

I don't trust *any* magazine, catalog, or website review.

$100 guitar? That's great for the beginner player or a mom and dad who are buying a birthday or Christmas gift for their kid, but, a $100 guitar (even if it's a model closeout) is still a guitar that cost LESS than a hundred bucks to produce.

Hmmmm? I have an idea. Maybe I'll buy one and swap out the pups with a pair of Burstbuckers which will make it worth $320.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Geez, what part of "This is a Capitalist country" didn't you get? If I put up a web site to sell my product, I'm not going to pay to post up user reviews that say it sucks. It's the best we can hope for, I think, to make advertisers tell the truth most of the time. To ask them to tell *the whole* truth ? It's not going to happen. And neither will the whole truth be told by their lawyers (or any other lawyers). Get over it.-Richie

 

[notCardio]

i have the 100 dollar epiphone..its not bad, i like it.

Me too. And I don't mind so much if it gets a little banged up, whereas if I'd bought the $1500 Gibson version...