How Do You Spot Fake Reviews on a Bag Listing?

Look at a variety of sources, check how recent the reviews are, and be wary of a burst of reviews in a short time. The FTC also says you cannot always tell a fake review from a real one by looking. It is a reminder to rely on several checks, not one.

What the FTC says

• For years its main advice has been to look at a variety of sources, including well-known sites with impartial expert reviews.
• Check how recent the reviews are, and watch for a burst of reviews over a short period, which can sometimes mean they are fake.
• Check whether the reviewer has written other reviews. A reviewer who seems to have made an account just to write one review for one product may be fake.
• Do not assume you can spot a fake just by looking. Some fake positive reviews give less than the top rating to seem more believable.
• Fake reviews are not always positive. A company might post fake negative reviews to harm a competitor.

A short checklist

1. Look at several sources, not just the seller’s page.
2. Sort the reviews by date.
3. Click on a few reviewers to see their history.
4. Read the three-star and critical reviews as well.
5. Check the return policy, in case you are wrong.

A note on timing

Reviews written long after purchase are often the most useful, since they describe how a bag wears. A listing that is new may have few reviews of any kind, which is not a warning on its own, but it does mean that you should lean harder on the return policy.

Where this answer stops

No checklist can prove that a review is real or fake. The FTC says it is often nearly impossible to tell, so a safe return policy and a credit card matter as much as the reviews.