Hey Dave,
Thanks for the great YT vid as always!
I noticed they've been doing a similar trick (on Amazon) in the UK, although it's rather interesting when you dig a little deeper.
They're pretty sneaky about it though... For example this listing:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LabelWriter-Printing-Automatic-Recognition-Shipping/dp/B09DY3YT4YHas 3 different "models" - 2 of which are labels (which are what the majority of comments relate to), and 1 is the actual printer.
If you check the price history of the printer, it seems to have been added on Sept 24th (which seems a little early for the 550, but plausible I guess). Originally about £150, now around 100. I'm assuming it's the same printer though.
https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B09DY3YT4YIf you check the labels, however, It seems that as expected they've only fairly recently had the DRM added.
https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00028XNN6https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B000HEZD7EOne label that from about 2019 through Late 2021 was around the 15 quid mark, has since jumped up to 22 quid, a 50% markup. Clearly the "DRM" flavour?
Another from 8 quid since around 2013 until late 2021, and then BOOM! 11 or 12 pounds.
There's around 1,000 (about 93% at 4* and above) reviews and of course the majority have naff-all to do with the 550 label printer.
"I've owned my LabelWriter 450 Turbo for ten years now, "...
"Have used these in my Dymo label printer for many years. Great for Christmas card addresses,"...
etc.
Tried to send an email to Amazon to complain and got a fairly standard form response back feigning ignorance about what I was suggesting. They suggested if there's a problem with a particular review, to click the "Report" button (well, bugger clicking all of them!), or to get back to them with a specific ASIN number so they can investigate (which bearing in mind I provided 3 or 4 different links they already had!)
Interestingly then it seems that the deviant flaw in the whole system is that you can advertise multiple unrelated products under a single slug and present them as "models", even if that means you're selling completely different things - and the reviews are all aggregated under the same slug rather than each individual ASIN... and clearly Amazon just don't give a rats about it.
Tony