In this episode of Lunch with Norm, Norm Farrar welcomes Shane Barker, founder of Trace Fuse, to discuss the art and science of managing and removing negative reviews on Amazon. Discover proven strategies to protect your star ratings and sales, while staying compliant with Amazon’s guidelines.

Key topics include:

- Why negative reviews aren’t always bad—and how to use them to improve your product.

- The hidden impact of star rating drops on your BSR and PPC costs.

- How to identify and handle non-compliant reviews with expert precision.

- Shane’s top tips for maintaining a 4.3+ rating and avoiding sales decline.

Whether you’re a new or seasoned Amazon seller, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you safeguard your reputation, boost conversions, and stay ahead of competitors.

📩 Have a review horror story or a question about removing reviews? Share in the comments below!

✅ Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more expert advice on eCommerce, branding, and marketing strategies.

Join the Beard Nation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/lunchwithnorm

Sign up for our Newsletter - https://lunchwithnorm.beehiiv.com/

Thank you to our sponsors!

________________________________________________________

This episode is brought to you by TrueOps:

Amazon sellers, stop leaving money on the table! TrueOps helps you reclaim every cent you’re owed with cutting-edge tech and just a 10% commission—way less than the industry standard of 25%.

🚨 Your first $1,000 in reimbursements is free, and if Amazon reverses a claim, TrueOps credits your fees back. 🚨 It takes just three minutes to sign up.

Start reclaiming what’s yours today - https://app.trueops.com/sign-up?via=norm ________________________________________________________

This episode is brought to you by TraceFuse:

Struggling with negative Amazon reviews? TraceFuse removes non-compliant reviews 100% within Amazon’s Terms of Service. With 11,000+ reviews removed for 400+ brands, TraceFuse delivers results—and you only pay for what we remove. No contracts, no monthly fees, just performance.

🚨 As a Lunch With Norm listener, your first two removals are FREE. 🚨

Clean up your reviews today at https://tracefuse.ai/lunchwithnorm-newsletter/

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Negative Reviews

00:33 Impact of Negative Reviews on Amazon Sales

01:27 Strategies for Q4 Success

02:11 Challenges in Removing Amazon Reviews

03:52 Understanding Amazon's Review Guidelines

05:37 Dealing with Unfair Reviews

15:12 Tips for Removing Negative Reviews

26:54 Performance-Based Review Removal

27:34 The Amazon Algorithm's Impact on Reviews

28:14 Negative Reviews and Their Consequences

29:22 Strategies for Managing Reviews

32:15 Buy Box Eligibility and Review Management

38:27 The Role of Vine Reviews

40:59 AI and Review Authenticity

42:59 Final Thoughts and Listener Questions