What would you do - negative Amazon review by competitor

[onlyadream]

Hi,
I created a program to help kids with a disability and have received wonderful reviews (on Amazon). In fact, in the many thousands of books I've sold, I have not received anything negative. Then a few years ago, a person who worked for a competitor wrote a negative review, however, she based it solely on the first few pages of the search inside feature. In other words, she did not use the program, and she was basically saying how my approach (which is used all over the world in other programs) does not work (when it has been proven to work). In her review, she does mention that she works for a competitor (and she goes on to say how their method is superior).
Fast forward to the present. Another negative review pops up. This time the initials of the author of the review, are the same initials as the competitor's business name. I'm thinking I'm getting paranoid, so I look into her (or his) OTHER past reviews, and they are strange. 18 in one day (which included mine), all of which are of a short nature such as, "I bought this as a gift and it looks good." One after the other. Until you get to mine.

What would you do if you were me?

[MindMover]

1. Do not become defensive and continue to improve your product.......

when you focus on the negative you will get negative......

I am a clinical psychologist and am interested in your application.....

[onlyadream]

4. I'll send you DU mail :) nt

[HopeHoops]

2. Report it to Amazon. That's no more allowed than shilling your own product.

[onlyadream]

3. Amazon won't do anything

I reported the first bad review, from the one who admitted to working for a competitor, and said (in her review) that she was basing her opinion on the first few pages of the "search inside" feature. Unfortunately, Amazon said that the review stands. Another reviewer came to my aide and tried to combat the competitor, which was nice.

This second review, which I believe is either from the same person, or another person who works for the competitor, is a verified purchaser, so there's nothing I can do. The funny thing is the initials are the same as the business name, and all the other reviews are bogus.

[HopeHoops]

5. Call them and keep asking to speak to "your supervisor" until someone does something.

That's against the TOS as much as registering multiple names to pump up your own product (shilling). There's the same problem on eBay and they clamp on it. Don't give up - just keep hounding them about it.

[onlyadream]

6. I'll give it a try... Thanks :)

[HopeHoops]

7. I'm serious - they do take it seriously, but front-line bullshit support won't.

Sadly, that's a fact of life now.

[dem644555il]

9. this

[nolabear]

8. If the other reviews are positive then forget about it.

Nowadays people are aware there are paid reviewers and professional trolls on Amazon. If the others are good and descriptive and honest then you'll be fine. I'd rather have a little variety so it doesn't look like the only people reviewing are friends and relatives.