Pointless and not very impressive bragging

[Diana]

Okay, I know it isn't that great a thing, but I review when I read a book from amazon.com, so I started watching my ranking. When I started I was number #300,000 plus, and I just noticed I am in the top 15,000. I'm happy about it, because it shows some people say my reviewss help them decide whether to buy a book:

DR
Los Angeles

#14,992
Reviewer ranking
92% helpful
votes received on reviews
(125 of 136)

[Mike]

That is actually a good ranking.
We'll now all be asking you to review our books, Diana!

[Diana]

People already do, and I am so behind. I'm on a couple street teams, and get ARCs. I always do review, but sometimes I overcommit. I am also doing some proofreading for a very prolific author of romances, so I get too busy.
If someone wants me to review romance (most types), erotica, paranormal romance, mystery, fantasy, urban fantasy, or hard sci-fi, I love all of those. But, I prefer to buy them myself, rather than get ARCs. I think the "verified purchase" makes a difference on the amazon.com reviews. People don't really trust ARC reviews. I'm so silly, a couple times I've read the ARC, then bought the book before reviewing. You must think I'm rich, but I'm not--just crazy for books.

[Christina]

Congrats! That's not pointless at all. If you love to read and review because it makes you happy, then you deserve some recognition.

[Mike]

I think you are right about the verified purchase label. Reviews with it do carry more weight and if I agree to review someone's book, and it really isn't expensive, I'll sometimes download it from Amazon myself.

You are way ahead of me - about 97,000 on Amazon.com this morning, and 37,000 on Amazon.co.uk.

[G.G.]

Congrats! That's far from being pointless. Knowing how every author craves for reviews, you're an angel and you should be proud!

On behalf of everyone who ever published a book, thank you!

[Igzy]

I'm actually a little impressed. Congratulations on your accomplishment. Amazon's a tough nut to crack without thousands and thousands of reviews under your belt.

[[deleted user]]

Impressive. Authors are readers too, and we all know that it's a lot of trouble to write reviews. That you would take the time to do so is very much appreciated.

[Mike]

Indeed

[[deleted user]]

My reviewer ranking is 137,920. It dropped below 100, 000 and I took a break to work on my own stuff. Yes, it packs more punch for the book you review if you have a lower ranking number. Most people start with a ranking well past 1,000,000. You can look at some of the rankings on some of the reviewers when you check out a book.

The odd thing is, a reviewer ranking is based on reviews:book, electronics, movies, audio, household appliances. My sister once reviewed a blonde wig she bought.

Before anyone asks, I don't read zombie, vampire, porn or anything with a lot of profanity. My genres of interest vary a bit. I read sci-fi, action and adventure, westerns, historical fiction, faith-based books, and stories of pioneers and their struggles.


Morris

[Mike]

Now, blonde wigs I don't do a whole lot. But I did review a wireless router the other day.

[G.G.]

Since people are talking about their own ranking, I had to check mine. It's in the high 34,000. I guess it's not too bad. :)

True, the ranking is based on everything you review. I don't review much of anything except books myself, but I did review a crappy deep fryer once. I thought people should know it wasn't worth buying.

[[deleted user]]

I still need to get around to reviewing my "Ugly Stick." For non-fisherman, this is a graphite fishing rod made by the Shakespear company. I ran over it twice with my car and didn't hurt it a bit.

Morris

[Christina]

My one and only 1 star review was for wasabi that claimed authenticity but was simply green dyed horseradish. I'm actually rather shocked that no one has marked this as helpful yet. ;)

[Igzy]

Seven. Million.

Looks like I've only reviewed a Shelby Lynne album back in college as a customer review.

[[deleted user]]

Wasabi is Japanese horseradish, a green plant, a plant related to cabbage, horseradish and mustard. Wasabi is generally sold either as a stem, which must be very finely grated before use, as dried powder in large quantities, or as a ready-to-use paste in tubes similar to travel toothpaste tubes. (Wikipedia reference)

I have atube of it in my refidgerator, and it is authentic, described as you said.

Morris

[Christina]

Morris wrote: "Wasabi is Japanese horseradish, a green plant, a plant related to cabbage, horseradish and mustard. Wasabi is generally sold either as a stem, which must be very finely grated before use, as dried ..."

Yes, true wasabi is Japanese horseradish. Not mild domestic horseradish dyed green. Hence, my one star review.

[Susan]

Diana wrote: "People already do, and I am so behind. I'm on a couple street teams, and get ARCs. I always do review, but sometimes I overcommit. I am also doing some proofreading for a very prolific author of ro..."

Diana, you could stock up on some free reads on July 1st :)

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Diana wrote: "and I just noticed I am in the top 15,000..."

15,000 rounds of applause! And then applesauce.

[Ina]

Very impressive! Good job.

[Diana]

Thanks everyone for listening to me be silly. One item I got 5 helpful votes on was a curtain cord pull knob. LOL, I really love those, they are hard to find.
Most of my reviews are for books, but I review physical objects I buy, too.
I've only done 390 reviews on amazon, but I have 125 helpful votes. I don't know why I care, but when I get an unhelpful vote unbalanced by helpful votes, I delete the review and re-write it better.

I'll post again when (if) I break 10,000

[Diana]

Christina wrote: "My one and only 1 star review was for wasabi that claimed authenticity but was simply green dyed horseradish. I'm actually rather shocked that no one has marked this as helpful yet. ;)"

That was a good thing to tell people. I love wasabi and horseradish, but they taste so different to me.

There is a funny movie called Wasabi with Jean Reno, and mostly set in Japan, where the condiment plays and important part. I recommend the movie to all wasabi lovers.

I can't find any 1 stars I've given. Luckily, I didn't get that wasabi. I may be about to give one, though, if the manufacturer of the flash drive I bought to plug into my windows PC and my iPhone doesn't get the free app they advertised fixed. What good is external memory if you can't play music from it?