Consumers will pay for reviews they believe are truthful, like Consumer Reports.
But it's far more lucrative for sellers to pay for fake reviews, e.g. celebrity endporsements, magazine articles, youtube videos etc.
So much content out there is just lying about products for sale that I think a for-profit model for honest reviews will inevitably decide to open itself up to fake reviews or paid content. The pressure to do so is just to great and the rewards are hard to turn down.
Are you sure consumers will actually pay? Assuming Consumer Reports is truthful, what percentage of consumers actually pay for it?
My solution actually can't be opened to fake reviews, but it is expensive and I haven't been able to find a work around for that. Unfortunately quality costs.
But it's far more lucrative for sellers to pay for fake reviews, e.g. celebrity endporsements, magazine articles, youtube videos etc.
So much content out there is just lying about products for sale that I think a for-profit model for honest reviews will inevitably decide to open itself up to fake reviews or paid content. The pressure to do so is just to great and the rewards are hard to turn down.