Review of Epinions

Updated on: by Amy Kennedy

epinions review

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If there is one thing that we work-at-homers (WAHers) know, it is that our opinions count. Not only do our opinions count, but with the right work-at-home company, we can also get paid for our opinions.

One place of these companies is Epinions.com, where you can earn money writing product reviews for 30 different categories of products. Some of the most popular categories include cars, software and computers, electronics, kids and family, and sports.

Online opinion/surveys/review writing sites are really nothing new to most of us who have been working at home for a few years. There are well-known reputable sites such as Pinecone Research as well as those companies, which border on being a work-at-home scam.

What makes Epinions different?

Epinions has made Clark Howard’s List of Legitimate Work at Home Companies for 2012. It will be interesting to see what he names for his list in 2013. Most of you will recognize Clark Howard as the nationally syndicated consumer expert and host of The Clark Howard Show.

What exactly is Epinions?

Again, Epinions is a place where reviewers can earn money writing product reviews, and consumers can go to find information on these products. Epinions is a service of Shopping.com, an eBay company founded in 1999, to help consumers make comparative buying decisions.

How does Epinions work?

Epinions will pay .01 for every “hit” you get on your review plus once you become established, you can become a part of the income share program.

There are product reviewers averaging $100 a year, and there are top earning reviewers making $1,600 a year.

To maximize your earnings, you will need to participate in the income share program. This would be similar to the revenue sharing programs offered at Squidoo and Red Gage.

You can also earn money by signing up other product reviewers using your referral link to Epinions as well as collecting affiliate royalties by linking to Epinions from your web site.

Eroyalty credits can also be earned, cashed, and paid to you.

How do consumers use Epinions?

Consumers can log on at any time and research a product before buying. For example, a consumer could go and research a popular toy such as Ty the Bear then read the reviews. Reviews can be good, bad or mixed.

When a consumer decides to buy the product after reading the reviews, there are links on the review page for different vendors selling the product and at what price.

Over time, most consumers will create their own “Web of Trust” and add the reviewers that they follow and trust to give them the information they need.

How is pay handled at Epinions?

Epinions pays once a month via PayPal on the 15th of the month. If you are actively writing product reviews and have a balance of $5 or more, you will receive a payment from Epinions.

How do you get started with Epinions?

Go to www.epinions.com and click the Join Now button in the upper right hand corner.
You will use one of your email addresses and a password of your choice to help create your account. You will also need a PayPal account.

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Once you join Epinions, you will have full access to a members center where you will have all the information you will need to be successful at Epinions. Everything from how to write a product review to how to understand the rating guidelines will be in your member center.

There is also a member forum to guide you as well as a news archive is dating back from 2001.

My overall opinion of Epinions?

I think Epinions is a legitimate source of additional income. While I would caution anyone wanting to make it their primary source of income, I think it could certainly be a great additional “WAH egg to have in the basket”.

I also think that it could become a great conversation starter or self-promoting tool just knowing that you are writing reviews for products. This would be particularly helpful if these were products in your field of expertise or used within your industry. For example, if you are a virtual assistant, you could establish yourself in your field by writing product reviews on home office furniture.

How do I apply at Epinions?

Go to www.epinions.com and click on Join Now button in the right hand corner.

Good luck to all who apply.

Alternatives to Epinions

You can also consider the following similar sites:

1. Amazon Customer Reviews

Amazon Customer Reviews serve as one of the most popular platforms for consumer product feedback. With millions of products listed, Amazon is a go-to site for many online shoppers. Customers can rate products using a five-star rating system and leave their personal experiences and comments.

This wide range of reviews and ratings helps potential buyers make informed purchasing decisions based on others’ experiences and viewpoints.

2. Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is a well-known nonprofit organization that conducts comprehensive, independent testing on a multitude of products. They cover various categories, including electronics, home appliances, vehicles, and more.

They base their findings on rigorous testing procedures, thus providing unbiased ratings and recommendations. Unlike many other review sites, Consumer Reports does not incorporate user reviews but offers expert, evidence-based content.

3. CNET

CNET is one of the leading sites when it comes to technology-related reviews and news. They offer in-depth reviews, articles, and videos on the latest gadgets, appliances, and technological innovations.

The reviews are created by knowledgeable tech journalists who provide valuable insights into product features, performance, and value for money.

4. Trustpilot

Trustpilot is an online review platform that caters to a vast array of businesses and sectors. It provides a space for consumers to share their experiences, both positive and negative, with online companies.

Trustpilot fosters transparency by allowing companies to respond to reviews, thus creating an open conversation between businesses and customers. The platform helps potential customers gain insight into a company’s reputation and customer service before engaging with them.

5. Yelp

While Yelp is often recognized for restaurant and local service reviews, its scope extends to various other businesses, including retail shops, health, home services, and more. Yelp provides a platform where customers can share their experiences, rate businesses on a five-star scale, and post photos.

It offers a comprehensive look at local businesses through the eyes of the community and helps users make informed decisions about services in their area.

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Comments

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Mandy Allen @ Learn To Blog

December 24, 2012 at 4:11 pm

This sounds like a great idea. I have been involved in online surveys for a while but never come across a company that pays ‘per click’. A bonus for spending the time completing the questionnaires sent to you. Thanks so much for sharing this, Leisa!

Enjoy the journey.

Mandy

Pat @ Kitchen Blogging

December 24, 2012 at 4:27 pm

I often use review sites to research products before I buy. Having a selection of what I consider to be unbiased opinions on goods in invaluable prior to purchasing.

Pat

Greg

July 29, 2013 at 2:53 pm

I am already apart of epinions. I Just have a hard time writing reviews on a consistent basis without getting writers block. it is a good site though.

Leisa Good

July 29, 2013 at 7:06 pm

Greg, thank you for sharing. Sounds like Epinions is something that you enjoy! Writer’s block is something that can happen to anyone who writes. Been there. Done that. Bought the Tee-shirt. lol Glad things are working out for you though. Sometimes just start retyping something you have already written and completed helps the writer’s block. Or grab a piece of junk mail and just type it word for word. Seems to get thoughts flowing again! 😉

Anonymous

November 15, 2013 at 8:35 am

Good review but one thing you mentioned is not true of Epinions. They don’t pay 1 cent per hit anymore. They haven’t done that since … gosh, probably 2001 or earlier. Are you sure you’re a member of Epinions? Everyone knows that income is not based on hits. It could be possible to get 500 hits but still only earn 25 cents. The pay scale algorism is a complete mystery.

Leisa Good

November 18, 2013 at 6:28 pm

Thanks for sharing Anonymous. I am sure that things have changed, since I last wrote this review.

MrMojo

February 26, 2014 at 2:55 pm

As of February 25, 1014 Epinions.com is no longer supporting online reviews written by members. I’m sorry to see it go because it was a good source for reliable user reviews and active members could earn a little money on the side by writing reviews.

Here is the email that was sent to Epinions.com members on 2/25/14:

Dear Epinions Member,

After a challenging 2013, Epinions will no longer maintain community related operations of its website. We are proud that we were able to serve as a facilitator of shared experiences and thoughtful dialogue over the past 15 years. However, several obstacles, such as declining participation, have deeply affected our business and forced us to make this difficult decision.

We would like to thank each of you for your time and dedication. You have supported us through the good times and the bad. Our community’s passion and uniqueness has made our website truly special.

As of February 25, 2014, we will begin to disable the Epinions community features.

Here’s what it means for the Epinions community:
• No new content will be added to the Epinions website as of February 25, 2014.
• The ability to write a review, comment, and rate will be disabled on February 25, 2014.
• The last Income Share payment will be issued on March 6, 2014 via PayPal.
• The option to export all of your Epinions reviews will be made available to you.
• You will still be able to login to your Epinions account to check your balance and use the Epinions message boards until March 25, 2014.
After March 25, 2014, all Epinions community features will be removed and/or disabled from the Epinions website.

This was not an easy decision to make and we thank you all for your contributions to Epinions. While we must change, we truly hope your desire to connect, write reviews and share experiences with one another stays alive and well.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to reference our FAQ or contact us.

Sincerely,

The Epinions Team

Miranda Grimm

February 26, 2014 at 3:00 pm

Thanks for sharing that with us. 🙁

Leisa Good

February 26, 2014 at 5:24 pm

Yeah, sad to see them go! 🙁

Lindy

October 24, 2014 at 7:27 pm

Thankyou for posting the letter. I’ve been frustrated for months now, every time I went to ePions I couldn’t find any reviews, just links to resellers. They could’ve at least put an announcement at the top of the page that there are no more reviews.

So, where does a consumer go NOW to get opinions on products?

indiastv

February 18, 2015 at 2:38 am

keptics believed that no one would contribute useful product critiques to an internet site unless they were paid for it. Indeed, by paying variable amounts for reviews, Epinions implemented the philosophy that the best/most valuable content should be rewarded with money.