Stop Deceit on the Internet.

I have been aware of abuse of the internet by manufacturers, businesses and individuals, to deceive readers. This appears to be increasing at an alarming rate. I was prompted to write this article about deceit on the internet by reading a very interesting site:

http://bedwettingalarmsdeceitcatcher.blogspot.com/

which examines deceit on manufacturers' web sites in the bed wetting alarm industry. 

Sources for the presentation of deceit on the internet:

1.            Manufacturer's Web Sites.

By definition, these should be the most authoritative and comprehensive sites for the products made by the manufacturers. Unfortunately, this is not so. Look for:

*             Detailed information about products.
*             Completeness of product information presented.
*             Accuracy of product information.
*             Details of manufacturer policies (including warranties, returns, support)
*             Honesty of information presented and claims made.
*             A true understanding of the relevance and utility of the technology and product design.

For most consumers, it is difficult and maybe impossible to properly assess the above. Some manufacturers are like clams, making big claims but providing little relevant or valid information. What I think of as the clam hiding its pearl (or more likely the poor or obsolete product). Then there is the manufacturer with lots of extravagant claims, lots of flash, lots of contradictory statements, lots of exaggerations, lots of deceit, the least professional, and the most troublesome. And in-between, there are reasonable manufacturers, usually with the best products, and not needing to exaggerate or hide facts. Although a manufacturer's web site will be biased towards the manufacturer's products, it is critical that the presentation be fair, complete, and not deceitful. Larger manufacturers tend to be less deceitful, as the FTC (in the U.S.) and other organizations keep a closer eye on them and are more likely to take punitive action. Small manufacturers and businesses, on the other hand, out of self interest, are much more prone to using deceit on their own sites, and also use second-hand and subsidiary players to spread their deceit.

2.            Product Blogs.  

The product blogs, where reviews are presented by third parties. These are usually people trying to make some money out of their homes by offering their services for a fee. The fee can be cash. It can be promotional considerations, so that more people will get driven to their blog and they may be able to get more advertisers to post on their blog. And frequently, the free product donated to them so that they can prepare their "review." Most such reviews use facts and phrases copied from the manufacturer's web site. I have yet to see such a blog speak negatively about the product being reviewed. Frankly, these blogs are a waste of time for a reader seeking honest opinions.

3.            Shopping reviews:

Blogs and sites for shopper reviews, including sites such as Amazon.com, which allow persons to present their "reviews" of a product and provide a rating. Although there can be some honest reviews, these sites are frequently used by manufacturers and sellers to either

a.            Illegitimately promote their product, by having numerous accounts and other persons over whom they have influence, frequently referred to as touts and shills, give glowing reviews for their product, and give it a higher rating in the eyes of the unknowing public.

b.            Illegitimately bad-mouth competitive products, by having touts and shills give negative opinions and make the product have a lower rating in the eyes of the unknowing public. This is particularly evident when a new product is introduced which has competitors concerned. There will be numerous negative "reviews" from persons who have not and even could not have obtained the product or had any experience with it. Also, some "reviewers" reviews are blatantly false and even unbelievably stupid, but as long as the responsible people at Amazon (and elsewhere) feel that it follows their broad guidelines for product reviews they will let these absurd reviews remain. I suspect that there must actually be people "out there" who will do this consistently, including owners and employees at some businesses.

Conclusion about sites:

The manufacturers site is undoubtedly the best source for accurate information. Product reviews by third parties, including seller sites such as Amazon are prone to substantial abuse by illicit persons. This does not mean that all manufacturers sites are deceit free.

As an excellent example of how manufacturers can deceive their public through deceitful web sites, I discovered this unbelievably good and illustrative site,
 

http://bedwettingalarmsdeceitcatcher.blogspot.com/

in which the author(s) do a great job of disassembling the web sites of almost every prominent manufacturer in the bedwetting alarm industry, and point out where and how the manufacturer may have been deceitful on its site. I realize that this is a small industry, but this site can set an example for other concerned and ethical persons to look at other industries and publicly expose deceitful practices or advertising.

Keep up the great work Deceit Catcher! Great name and excellent site. I would recommend that all persons interested in deceit in the bedwetting alarm industry or deceit on the internet to read it.