Amazon.UK Reviewers’ Lists

An intersting post Dick, I guess at the end of the day you're right when you say "PROFITS - I know - profits".

We should remember though, they are a retailer, not a forum. That said, I do find a lot of the reviews on the site very useful.

On the hardware side at least, they do seem more prepared to put up adverse reviews, I have been put off buying at least one item after reading the user comments. They can be good price-wise, but it does pay to shop around. Shipping costs can be another factor which affects the total cost. Many other sites don't charge extra for shipping.

Easy Livin wrote: I'm sure I noticed a "Top 250 reviewer" on the Amazon site by the name of Richard Heath I think. Wonder what happened to him?

Did he get that high,  I missed seeing that ranking? Think he's been stuck around 380 for a long time. And if that sound anorak - check those in the top 10 and see how many reviews they've written.................. Told he is rather pleased that 4 or 5  reviews have had 10 to 20 positive feedbacks each  and these for pretty obscure recordings - but pissed that somebody did not find the  Touch review helpful. And I'm still waiting for him to buy me a pint because he tells me he  hasn't  won anything.

Seriously some tips and other pointers if you feel inclined to do something similar.
1. I've noticed one thing, write anything contentious and Amazon won't publish. So for instance Jeff Beck's Truth/Cosa Nostra remains unpublished after 18 months. Worse, one text book that I might have included in an undergraduate reading list, I found on receipt to be full of typos and technical errors - so that what I wrote in a review warning the unwary, but it remains unpublished (BTW it is  a best seller amongst designers, covering design with plastics - a pity the author Chris ******, seems to unable to use the correct language of the plastics expert  - worse Amazon are scared to tell some truths (PROFITS - I know - profits)).
2. But dropping in a list of favourite albums or connected albums seems a doddle - but apart from me who reads these sort of things???.
3. However, I would dearly like to edit most of those reviews and can't.
4. Don't write the review directly in the box Amazon provide, one mis-hit key on the typeboard and your words of carefully thought out wisdom totally disappear - cut and paste from a word document or whatever.
5. Don't believe them when they state '10 days before publishing if approved' - you may find two reviews are repeated (strange Amazon haven't notice that???), the first version in each case disappeared for well over 10 days  (because I eventually thought I'd hit the wrong key when sending it) so  I cut and pasted another copy only to find both got published eventually.
6. I continue to be surprised to find albums incorrectly catalogued. Bruford's Feels Good To Me (2 years ago), and Touch (last year) were both discovered via  torturous back door routes - not coming up initially by simply keying those names.
7. And different tip. Check out those cheaper than Amazon.UK CD prices; I've , bought quite a few that way in the last year. Somebody recommended FM  here in summer, and  I paid slightly more in postage than I did for the CD (the CD was 1 pound 50!!). The double Scott Henderson Live, I mentioned recently, came in from the USA for under a tenner (inc P&P) - see the UK prices. However, one complaint only: I  purchased a secondhand jazz fusion album, it came in from Spain, and I have to say I've never seen a 2nd CD sold in the UK in such bad nick - but it plays. That is: my recommendation is to buy new.

Love Godspeed (what i have heard) - this sound interesting but I would like to hear b4 making a purchase as i can be very critical & demanding & would hate to be let down.

Dick Heath wrote: 10. Born Into Trouble As the Sparks Fly Upward ~ Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band Avg. Customer Review: Audio CD Used & New from £5.51 stephenaoliver's comments: Godspeed simplified, without the crescendos. Gentle, sensitive and achingly beautiful.   Well at that price and with that brief and positive review , I'm taking the risk and buying a copy!! Any other comments before spending just over 6 quid (inc P&P)??

I borrowed it off a friend and found it a little monotonous. Morseo than any Godspeed album! If you absolutely adore Godspeed it'd be worth it, but otherwise I'd say spend your money elsewhere.

I don't know if anybody else does it, but occasionally I check through a full list album recommendations a reviewer has to offer of Amazon music section. The following is one of the more eclectic listings of albums I've seen in some time:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse /-/2D2FNVNJHZDN7/ref=lm_ol_7/026-4013407-5278830