From: Man@the.keyboard
On Sat, 7 Feb 2026 15:03:34 -0500, Maria Sophia
wrote:
>Chris wrote:
>>> I'm told that one can even self-publish on Amazon and other sites in
>>> this Millennium, so you don't need a publishing house.
>>
>> The Martian award winning novel which then went on to be a major film was
>> originally self-published as blog.
>
>The book I want to write is akin to Unsafe at Any Speed only it would be
>aimed at Apple and would drop their market cap in half, temporarily.
>
>It would simply be titled something akin to "The Truth About Apple".
So?
Do it.
Who knows, if you provide a linkie, even I may read it.
Weirder things have happened. Often around me.
>
>>>> For example, since Amazon gives us up to $300K/year of free products to
>>>> test, we "earned" over $100K last year working for Vine to test things.
>>>>
>>>> At least that's what Amazon tells Uncle Sam about the free products we
get.
>>>
>>> Oh.
>>>
>>> Can *I* get freebies, too?
>>
>> Sure, but then you'll be working for one of the biggest companies in the
>> world for free.
>
>Chris understands how Amazon Vine works, but technically it's not for free.
>The way Vine works is that it's an invitation-only selected review group.
"Invitation"?
Oh. I don't get those.
>
>Only the best of reviewers get invited to be on the Amazon Vine team.
>
Oh. Right.
Invited *by* *Amazon*!
So, "insightful" means lying like a bastard for ten years about how
bloody good Amazon is and how wonderful Bozo is, right?
Pass.
Bozo and his phallic fair-ground rides to fifty-feet above ground
level were once good. They are not now.
>
>Who knows what Amazon robots think are the best of the best though.
>But we do know that Amazon robots thought I was one of their very best.
Do you like them a lot?
Were your reviews consistently positive?
A few years back, I ordered five techy bits from Amazon at 16:30 on a
Saturday afternoon. I did need them and Bozo's Empire was the only
place open. I paid standard postage.
The lot of them arrive in a box at 10:30 on the Sunday morning. Every
one was what I had ordered and everything worked. They are still
working.
I was impressed. So impressed that I think I even said so in their
website.
I wasn't invited anywhere. Not even out for a cup of tea. :)
>
>I am one of the best in the world in quite a few things, it turns out.
>That has always been the case (e.g., I scored 800/800 on my 1960's SATs).
Is that a good thing? :)
>
>Even in Silicon Valley circles, I've always been rated best in the world.
>Which is why Amazon Vine robots selected my reviews for the Vine program.
Oh. Cool.
>
>Once invited, Amazon Vine gives you up to about $300K per year in product
>that you choose, but as Chris noted, the freebies count as income to the
>Feds (although you pay no sales tax and no shipping so it can net out).
>
Oh, taxes. Sod that.
>
>And you order whatever it is that you want to order off of Amazon Vine.
Do they do Starships? I've always wanted a Starship.
>
>Last year, for example, I ordered a $650 (MSRP) bike hitch for my SUV.
>During the summer I ordered three 220VAC 1.75HP pool pumps for example
>but Vine follows the same laws so they have to be variable speed.
That made no sense, but I suppose it's a good thing? Anyway, I'm
happy for you.
>
>But most of the stuff is small things like garden tools and the like.
>I got a good set of knives and my wife loves to order the jewelry.
>The kids tend to order baby clothes and toys for the grandchildren.
Cool.
>
>Technically, you have to maintain "control" over the items for 6 months.
>After that time period, you can do anything you want with what you get.
So, not entirely "free"? T's&C's apply, not valid in these regions,
not valid outside of the contagious 48, only USAliens need apply,
loads of other restrictions and caveats.
And only offered to "valued" reviewers.
Yeah, well, I wasn't really hopeful. There's always a price for
anything "free".
>
>Amazon Vine is trying to "lay off" the reviewers though, as the tariffs
>have apparently drastically cut down on the number of Chinese product.
Well, if you vote in a Trumpanzee with the I.Q. of a rancid pork pie,
the education of a bloated banana and absolutely no idea of how
tariffs work then you should possibly expect some minor
inconveniences.
We did something similar but at least ours can string together a
coherent paragraph.
Oh, and that's me banned from USAlia forever. Oh, dear, whatever will
I do?
>
>So starting on September 1st 2025, Vine implemented a scoring system where
>if you don't write "excellent" reviews, they fire you within six months.
Yeah, "T&C's apply".
There's always something. :)
>
>Once you're laid off from Amazon Vine, you can never ever return.
And, as they know your home address, using a new userid probably
would not work?
>
>Luckily, I've never written a review that is less than Excellent but my
>wife struggles as they score us from poor to fair to good to excellent.
>
>
>Once you are accepted into Vine, then this URL shows that GUI to you.
>
All I got there was the old Amzon login, complete with my old userid.
Now, that's annoying. :)
But you have been very helpful, thank you. :)
J.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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