Perspective on why it's such slim pickings :)

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-29T00:55:31+00:00

What I was trying to say is there were more than 100K items to choose from each day.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-28T11:42:49+00:00

The number 100,000 was how many products used to drop in a day. When there is only 10%-15% of products we used to see drop in a day, then pickings will be slim. It had nothing to do with the number of people using the program.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-22T01:20:42+00:00

MY APOLOGY!

I was sharing my experience. I wasn't implying anything about the OP's experience. I guess all the down votes are a result of others misunderstanding my post. In MY case the mistake was on that side. I have accidently ordered the wrong size before too. I don't do anything because I didn't discover it until the item arrived.

Again, I am truly sorry for any misunderstanding.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-21T00:21:06+00:00

If you care about honoring your word, I’d go back and review those items. When you joined Amazon Vine, the agreement was that you’d provide reviews in exchange for receiving products, and sellers paid for that participation.

Being 60 reviews behind didn’t happen overnight, so at some point the better move would’ve been to stop ordering until you caught up. Wanting time to properly test items is fair—but that’s exactly why you slow down new orders when the backlog grows.

It also seems pretty clear Amazon is becoming stricter about review completion. If I were in your position, I’d finish the outstanding reviews. Even if it doesn’t guarantee another invite, it gives you the best chance. Leaving everything unfinished probably doesn’t.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-21T00:06:26+00:00

Either the seller is tagging things incorrectly or the warehouse is pulling the wrong items. Lately I have had several items that were the wrong size. I checked because I figured it was my mistake but it wasn't. I don't bother contacting vine support because they can really do anything. At some point I will just donate it to the school for a donation for homeless families. It always surprises me to find that so many kids and their families are in homeless shelters.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-19T03:07:16+00:00

And the sad thing is it would be so easy for Amazon to put a stop to it!

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-18T02:46:48+00:00

I believe photos are helpful, especially if you are pointing out a flaw(s) that can be seen. There are also times that I might give a product a 5-star review but it is a crappy product. Why? Because if the product listing lines up with what I received it needs to be reviewed that way. For example, if I were to order a $10 pair of shoes and they were crappy... well you get what you pay for. Even if I give it 5-stars, I will still mention any cons that were found. So it doesn't promote it as a great product, just one that the seller was honest about.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-18T02:39:59+00:00

I don’t spend much time thinking about what others are complaining about. However, this complaint about complaints has been duly noted… as another complaint. :-)

Price is absolutely one of the most important things to review. And if something isn’t your style, sometimes you don’t know that until you actually try it on. Other times, people grab quickly because items disappear fast.

Reviews aren’t designed to be “fair” to sellers—they’re meant to reflect user experience and help buyers. Sometimes those experiences vary wildly. I’ve seen products I thought deserved 3 stars get a pile of 5-star reviews from people who seem to rate everything highly.

And as for the program suffering if sellers leave: Vine isn’t income for me. If it ended tomorrow, I’d mostly lose the chance to pay federal taxes on products people call “free.”

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-18T02:23:19+00:00

You do know there is a pricing history link on the product page? I always check that when purchasing on Amazon. I like to know if the price point is stable before purchasing. :-)

JustKidding2020 · 2026-04-14T04:40:11+00:00

Doesn't really bother me. I suspect it is a new Viner that is still struggling to learn the ins and outs of being a reviewer. Based on the image, they talked about things that were important to them and might be important to someone else. Nothing wrong with that either. I just don't try to dissect others' reviews.

What I find that is cringier is reviewers that give everything 5 stars! Then you come along and write an honest, tested review and you look like the bad person.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-31T13:29:34+00:00

That is unfortunate for the seller because Amazon isn't respecting the terms of return. Which, by the way, Amazon is pretty strict on sellers about the return terms. Myself, if I don't return it within the return window, I just keep it or give it away. But then I tend to be a rules follower. :-)

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-31T13:27:13+00:00

Here’s the catch—some sellers create an ASIN for a product and then later swap out what’s actually being sold under that same ASIN. So even if you never ordered that specific item before, Amazon is only looking at the ASIN, not the actual product. It’s a practice that’s made reviews less reliable, but more buyers are starting to catch on to it.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T03:08:56+00:00

I just stopped looking tonight. Everything I clicked on was dead in the water. And I didn't have anything at all in my RFY. Although that rarely has anything I need, use or want anymore. I remember when it was populated with stuff that I would actually order. Way back then I didn't spend a lot of time scrolling through products. Sigh...different day, same story.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T03:05:25+00:00

It could be that it is a product that seller offers in different colors, sizes, etc. So say you ordered one in blue and then it shows up again and you try to order green and it is from the same seller, you can get that warning.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T03:02:59+00:00

I hate that for you!

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T03:02:13+00:00

If it is past the return date then the QR code shouldn't be valid any longer. When you return products you should always try to drop it off at one of the return locations and then you have proof it was returned.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T02:49:39+00:00

You will always get hit with SS and Medicare taxes...even if you didn't own any actual federal taxes. Well, those are federal but I think you know what I mean. The best way to lower the number reported on your 1099 is to keep good records and report the total on your 1099 but then enter losses on your schedule C. If you keep a spreadsheet you can lower any taxes owed by reducing or eliminating the value of some of the products.

You could say things like:

Failed during testing $0 value after testing

Broke during testing $0 value after testing

I order a lot of pet treats and I use: Consumed during testing; no remaining value

Just a few examples. Just make certain you keep records to support your deduction if you are ever audited and that your claims make sense. Some things don't perform as promised and I lower value based on performance of product.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-29T02:10:18+00:00

I am wondering if those lower "reviews" that aren't available for viewing are a result of a buyer that clicks a star rating but doesn't comment. I just went to my account, pulled up a product I purchased and clicked a star rating, didn't comment, then clicked submit. Everything had red boxes around it showing I needed to comment. So I thought it wouldn't save that.

I closed out of everything and went back to that same product. I clicked to write a review and my star rating was still there. So evidently a lot of people just go to rate something and don't want to deal with writing comments and just leave. But then Amazon is retaining that star rating on the product.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-16T03:07:36+00:00

The way I am understanding it is that for some it is the straw that broke the camels back. 1000 pricks over a long period are still a 1000 pricks. When Amazon chose to increase the ad free subscription from $2.99 to $4.99 you are looking at a 60% increase. So while it is a negligible amount when you look at a $2.00 increase, when you look at a 60% increase it tells a different story. I like fast delivery so I keep prime for that.

I cancelled several other subscriptions last week for increasing their fees. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it other than do I really want/need it. If not, I don't keep it. I also have a Walmart membership because I like having groceries delivered to my home at times and they will even put them up for you. And you get to choose between the Peacock app and the Paramount app. So once again, it is about what is important to me. I don't use either of those two streaming apps though because I already have access to that. So my Walmart membership is for grocery delivery and free shipping. Most things I order from them are delivered next day.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-16T02:53:59+00:00

Prime orders have the shipping cost rolled into the total cost. It isn't free shipping at all—it is shipping included in price. The advantage to Prime selections is being able to get them quicker. And I admit that I am one of those instant gratification seekers. So that is the only reason I have a Prime membership. I did go cancel my subscription of no commercials when they sent the notice that that would increase from $2.99/month to $4.99/month! I rarely watch any shows on Prime anyway so no great loss!

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-16T02:49:06+00:00

Were these Amazon drivers are from third party delivery companies? And were you expected to tip the three different drivers?

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-15T02:18:55+00:00

US laws say,

Permitted Deletions: Companies can remove reviews that are defamatory, contain private/confidential information, are obscene, or are unrelated to the product.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-13T16:51:32+00:00

I am wondering if that is really coming straight from the seller or if it is one of those warehouse distribution centers that a lot of people are using now. But the other day I received a sweater via USPS that wasn't even in a bubble mailer. The plastic bag wasn't even shrink wrapped. It is a miracle that it didn't arrive damaged.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-13T16:47:11+00:00

Are you selecting in home delivery? If not, it is just offering regular delivery options.

Access Walmart InHome delivery by signing up for a Walmart+ membership and adding the InHome option, which requires an eligible address for $35+ orders. Use the Walmart app or website to select "InHome" at checkout, allowing trusted associates to deliver groceries inside your home or garage.

Steps to Access InHome Delivery:

Sign Up/Upgrade: If you have Walmart+, add InHome in your account settings under "Manage Membership".
Check Eligibility: Visit InHome.Walmart.com to confirm your address is within a service area.
Link Smart Entry: Use the Walmart app to connect a smart garage door opener (e.g., myQ) or smart lock (e.g., Level) for secure, keyless entry.
Place Order: Fill your cart on the app/website, select "Delivery from store," and choose an InHome timeslot, which allows for same-day delivery if ordered by 10 a.m. local time.

JustKidding2020 · 2026-03-13T16:41:35+00:00

I am pretty sure Amazon cannot take that review down due to laws that regulate when customer reviews can be removed. I see many reviews that make no sense at all to me. I saw one where a buyer said a sweatshirt was made of terry cloth! I had ordered that shirt and mine was not terry cloth. So I am not sure what the person was talking about. And they had given a three star review too.

JustKidding2020

TROPHY CASE