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 Resources
FTC Review Rules
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Amazon Insert Card Rules
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QR Code Compliance
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Compliant Incentives
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Compliant Funnel Examples
See examples of compliant QR code review funnels, post-purchase surveys, and customer s...
Risky Funnel Examples
Learn examples of review funnel structures that may create compliance concerns with Ama...
Amazon Review Compliance Guide
The full overview of Amazon and FTC review rules for sellers.
Why Customers Leave Negative Reviews
Most negative reviews start with unresolved support — not bad products.
How GetReviews Helps
GetReviews.ai is built around compliant review collection — no review gating, no conditional incentives, no selective routing. Every survey flow presents consistent options to all customers. Learn more about our Amazon review collection platform, our Compliance Center, or book a demo to see how it works.
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
QR code review flows, post-purchase surveys, customer support routing, and Amazon Request a Review automation — all built for compliance.
