Compliance · Review Gating
What Is Review Gating?
Many brands unintentionally create review gating flows when building post-purchase surveys or QR code review funnels.
Understanding how review gating works is important for staying aligned with marketplace and FTC review rule expectations.
Examples of Review Gating
Potential examples include:
- only showing Amazon review links after a 5-star rating
- hiding review buttons from unhappy customers
- directing unhappy customers away from public review options
- conditioning rewards on positive feedback
Compliant Alternative
A better long-term approach is:
- allowing all customers access to review options
- making support easy to access
- helping customers resolve issues quickly
- improving customer experience instead of filtering customers
See examples of compliant review funnels for what this looks like in practice.
Important Note
Helping customers solve problems is not the same as suppressing reviews.
Strong customer support is a normal and important part of ecommerce.
The key difference is whether review options remain available equally regardless of sentiment. Read more on customer support vs review suppression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is review gating illegal?
The FTC has taken enforcement action against deceptive review practices including selective publishing and sentiment-based filtering. Amazon also prohibits selective review solicitation.
Does asking happy customers for reviews count as gating?
Asking every customer the same way is fine. Selectively asking only customers who indicated they're happy — while routing unhappy customers away from public reviews — is the concern.
Related Compliance Reading
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Amazon and FTC rules may change, and brands should review current marketplace policies and consult legal counsel when needed.
Collect More Reviews the Compliant Way
GetReviews.ai helps ecommerce brands build compliant review collection flows that increase authentic reviews while protecting customer trust.
