What would you do?

[AlbertSiegel]

As some of you know, I have a photobook available for sale on amazon.com. After a year online, I finally received a review. Three out of five stars and called just a collection of snapshots that are not very well done....

Now, it's not the star rating that bothers me... calling my photos "snaphots" and saying they are "not very well done" does bother me a little since I feel they are clearly anything but... However, the thing that really bothers me is the guy who made the review, James R. Holland.

He plugs his own book in his user name as a form of advertisement and then plugs all three of his books on his profile which he reviews with five out of five stars himself. In fact, if you read all of the reviews on all three of his books, they are all (except one) written by people in the same city that he lives in. All of the reviewers have only reviewed his books. All of the reviewers have given him five out of five stars. All within weeks of the book release. He even claims to be a National Geographic photographer in one review and an armature in another. He can't even keep his story straight.

I know there is nothing I can really do other than give him a bad review or point out his fake reviews, but I want to think I am better than that. What would you guys do? I guess the only point to this thread is for me to vent.

Anyway, here is a link to one of the reviewers profiles with only James R. Holland's books reviewed.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3E1XARJLBIBXG/ref=cm_pdp_rev_title_1?ie=UTF8&sort%5Fby=MostRecentReview#RI2AJG04IMO0D

[American Oyaji]

Clicking on that link gives me a 404 error.

[jingai]

For malicious reviews try complaining to Amazon about it. I wouldn't bother retaliate- is there nobody who bought and liked your book?

[AlbertSiegel]

I would not consider retaliation... I just think someone should expose him for reviewing his own work. It just feels wrong that he can get away with that while others try to do things the honest way. (I meant a bad review on him and not his work.. sorry.. I should have been more clear)

I sold at least 50 copies of it, but nobody bothered to leave a review and I do not want to ask friends to do that unless they have bought a copy and decide on their own.

As for the link.. I can't get it to work now... just search for 'Rebecca A. Marston' under people and she will be the first one (from Boston). You will find all three of her reviews for only James R. Holland.. all five star.

[AlbertSiegel]

heh... in his book, Fisheyes (Hardcover), he has three 'five star' reviews and yet has no sales ranking which means that he has sold not one book.

His books are self published it seems. He indicates a company called 'A Bit of Boston Books', which he just happens to own, as the publisher. You should see his website: http://abitofbostonbooks.com/index.html

[oyajikun]

Clicking on that link gives me a 404 error.

Same here. Please fix the link, I'd really like to have a look.

[AlbertSiegel]

I can't get the reviewers link to work.. Here are links to his books.. You can see the reviewers there...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978863712/ref=cm_pdp_rev_itm_img_1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978863704/ref=cm_pdp_rev_itm_img_2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978863720/ref=cm_pdp_rev_itm_img_3

If you notice, all three reviews on his book 'fisheyes' (first link) are from the same city he lives and all given within a week yet has had no sales. Click on Rebecca's link to see her other reviews and they were all only left for James R. Holland.

[Mike Oxlong]

Does this link work?

Edit: Nope. Worked in "post preview", and when I used the quote function for Albert's OP and cut & paste the URL into my browser. But, posting the link seems to change it somehow...

[Tsuru]

10 bucks for a paperback photo book... there's a sign of quality if I ever saw one.

Is there a site where some of Mr. Hollands work can be viewed?

[Iraira]

You want us to post some "reviews" of his work to lower his ranking a bit.

"Hopelesly derivative of all the tripe that was presumably dead, decayed, and cast off from the bowels of photography."
-Hugh. G. Rection

"Did so many trees need to die for such an arrogant display of one's trumped up egoism?"
-Hu Flung Poo

"Can't say that I could be more disappointed with such an amateurish effort, but I am. Not only can the author not figure out where he works, but he also seems to be unable to work a camera itself."
-Buster Hymen

[Greji]

You want us to post some "reviews" of his work to lower his ranking a bit.

"Hopelesly derivative of all the tripe that was presumably dead, decayed, and cast off from the bowels of photography."
-Hugh. G. Rection

"Did so many trees need to die for such an arrogant display of one's trumped up egoism?"
-Hu Flung Poo

"Can't say that I could be more disappointed with such an amateurish effort, but I am. Not only can the author not figure out where he works, but he also seems to be unable to work a camera itself."
-Buster Hymen

Sic 'em Iraira! All three of those are screaming to be uploaded on Hussling Holland's review pages...

[waruta]

You could always check out this link....

http://consumerist.com/5313215/academic-publisher-pays-professors-for-shill-amazon-reviews

[AlbertSiegel]

You want us to post some "reviews" of his work to lower his ranking a bit.

LOL! Thanks for the good laugh! I wish someone really would leave him an honest review as I feel these would most likely fit from what i've seen from his samples and writings. The only issue is I doubt anyone has bought his new book and too few have bought his old books that they are unlikely to be reviewed honestly

I hope someone catches on to him and calls him out on the fake reviews under the comment link where you can comment on each review. That guy is really something. Reviewing your own work is just so sad.