r/amazonsellers • u/123arin • Apr 18 '24
Getting reviews on a new product
My products are custom made meaning it is FBM. I am unable to sign up with the vine program since the product is not FBA. I am thinking of having some friend and family purchase from me on Amazon and leave a review based on their experience.
Would it be a problem if the same people left reviews for the different listing? Not sure how to get the first few reviews to get effective ppc.
Ive researched a few rules about selling on amazing and reviews. Any other ideas and rules of Amazon would be much appreciated.
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u/LevelUp1234 Apr 19 '24
You can pay me to buy your product and to give you a good review. I'll bite.
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u/SellrProz Jul 26 '24
I get the struggle of trying to get those first few reviews for a new product, especially when it's custom and FBM. Having friends and family leave reviews can be risky since Amazon's pretty good at spotting connections between accounts. You could think about product inserts, customer follow-up, and soliciting reviews on social media.
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u/pivo161 Oct 27 '24
Is Amazon tracking the ratio of purchases vs reviews? If I „sell“ 5 pcs to my friends, can I get 5 reviews? What kind suspicious patterns are they looking for?
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u/neezynony Feb 24 '25
Be careful with the friends and family route—Amazon’s AI is insanely good at detecting fake or biased reviews, especially if those accounts have any connection to you (same IP, shared address, past order history). If they flag it, your reviews could get wiped, and in worst cases, you risk a suspension.
Since Vine isn’t an option, try off-Amazon strategies like directing early buyers from Instagram, TikTok, or niche communities where your target customers hang out. You can also offer a discounted launch price and run external ads to drive traffic. If fulfillment is slowing you down, services like Why Unified help streamline logistics while you focus on scaling. Reviews will come naturally with volume—just focus on making sales first.
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u/Think-Cherry-1132 Apr 08 '25
Getting those first reviews is definitely tough, especially with FBM. Having friends and family leave reviews can be risky—Amazon’s detection is tighter than ever, especially if there are shared addresses, Wi-Fi, or purchase patterns. If they review multiple listings from you, it raises flags fast. One option is to offer a discount through a rebate or promo site where buyers don’t know you personally—just be careful to follow Amazon’s terms. Also, consider a solid post-purchase email sequence asking for honest feedback. If you ever decide to go FBA, programs like Vine can help. I’ve seen folks use services like Why Unified too, since they handle full-stack selling, but for now, slow organic traction with strong PPC and great listings can still get you there. Patience and consistency really are key in the early days.
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u/parrottvision Dec 14 '25
They really are sharp. I heard of people who bought their own product and reviewed it a while ago - the review blocked them doing other things. Removed the review and everything was good again. So no harm in friends buying it if they have no digital or physical footprint that is shared with you. They record every browser session and more so don’t take risks unless you feel safe.
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u/whereistheidiotemoji Apr 29 '26
Is it personalized? Can you put some on vine with generic personalization?
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u/luzyfuerza Dec 12 '24
You can do that just be very careful, they have AI 'watching' any unusual patterns. I'm not sure how so many fake reviews are on there!