Video and Media
Online Reviews and Recommendations (Video)
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The law says that reviewers should disclose their connection to a company but not all of them do. The video encourages people to learn as much as they can. Before buying anything based on a review, search online for information and credible opinions based on trusted sources. Compare reviews from a variety of websites.
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An Important message from the Federal Trade Commission
Whether you’re looking for a hotel
or searching for a new pair of shoes
you probably turn to the internet for customer reviews
from “five stars”, “likes”, “thumbs ups”, or “must buys” –
a positive opinion could impact your decision to buy it or try it.
while blogs, websites, and social networks are great resources –
you may not be getting the whole story.
for example,
your Facebook Friend, who gushes about how a new dog food,
may be receiving a free dog food in exchange for her glowing review
or the hotel, with the five star rating
might have paid a blogger to write a stellar review
while the law says that reviewers should disclose their connection to the company
not all of them do.
it can be difficult to tell if the reviewer has a connection to the company
So, before you buy anything based on a review...
Do an internet search,
Look for credible opinions from trusted sources,
Compare reviews from a variety of websites
In the end, it pays to learn as much as you can.
To learn more... OnguardOnline.gov/shopping