Senators ask Jeff Bezos to explain how Amazon recommends products
Two high-profile Senate Democrats are asking Amazon for answers about its “Amazon’s Choice” badge, as it could be deceiving consumers into buying “inferior” products.
In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Monday, Senators Bob Menendez and Richard Blumenthal asked for more clarity on how the Amazon’s Choice program works, citing a recent BuzzFeed report that showed it often endorses defective or poor quality items.
The senators asked for a “detailed explanation” on the selection process for the Amazon’s Choice badge, including the algorithm used to make the determination and whether employees actually review each item before assigning the distinction. They’re also asking what Amazon is doing to verify user reviews, which could affect what products get the badge, and if any financial compensation is involved in the process.
The letter is the latest example of Washington’s growing concern of Big Tech, specifically regarding the control Amazon has over consumer behavior as more shopping activity moves online and to mobile devices.
An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider that it uses investigators and automated technology to prevent and detect fake reviews at scale.
More Amazon news
Amazon offers a 75% discount on storage fees for best-selling items
Amazon asks sellers to send it more stuff Amazon is offering its third-party sellers discounts on storage fees as part of its plan to fulfill speedy shipping promises. According to Business Insider, Amazon now offers a 75% discount on storage fees at its...
Amazon is using astrology to sell its products
Amazon is using horoscopes for targeted marketing Amazon has been shipping monthly horoscopes to its Prime members in its Insider newsletter. Amazon states on its horoscopes page that readers can consult the readings to identify “which Prime benefits are...
Lost or damaged inventory at Amazon FBA warehouse
How to get reimbursement for items lost in transit to Amazon FBA When you ship items to Amazon.com, you expect them to be delivered and received into your inventory with no problems, but this isn’t always the case. Items (and sometimes boxes or shipments)...
