The New York Times reveals the truth behind what we all suspected. You’d be well advised to read those customer reviews touting the latest online offering with a grain of salt because, like Twitter followers and politicians, many are bought and paid for. From the NY Times:
Reviews by ordinary people have become an essential mechanism for selling almost anything online; they are used for resorts, dermatologists, neighborhood restaurants, high-fashion boutiques, churches, parks, astrologers and healers — not to mention products like garbage pails, tweezers, spa slippers and cases for tablet computers. In many situations, these reviews are supplanting the marketing department, the press agent, advertisements, word of mouth and the professional critique.
To read the full story in NY Times, go here.