I like being able to read a review that a fellow ebayer has taken the time to write.  Another persons thoughts and knowledge on a product that I am interested in or considering making a purchase on is very helpful to me.  Take music for example (one of my two favorite hobbies).  If I am shopping for a cd that I do not currently own I make use of all of my suggestions that I spoke about in my earlier guides.  You haven't read those yet? Well, if you have the time to do so, I'd recommend that you do, although to continue on here its not really necessary to stop and go back to do so (maybe you can later).  I may or may not know much about the band that I am currently interested in.  Its possible that a friend tipped me off to a great band, or just as likely that I heard it on FM radio while out cruising around town.  In any case I (and you) can learn alot by reading both the product info. review, the one that is professionally written at the bottom of most listings, as well as the reviews that are left by fellow ebayers like you and me.  Hopefully I can get a feel for what someone has thought, felt or is feeling about a particular release or title, or maybe even some in depth info. on particular tracks or songs on the cd.  I also have a tendency to reward the person who has written the most persuasive words by giving them a helpful vote.  Saying that, I have also noticed something else while spending time looking at what my peers write about prospective music I am interested in myself.  A trend on ebay is to mis-understand what a review means.  It is a review of the product itself.  A guide to help others who may need your knowledge be guided along the buying/deciding what to buy process with a bit of extra advice or information.  What it is not meant to be, but something I see far too often, is a venting process for the transaction (normally negative) between the person writing the review and whomever they bought the cd (or really whatever) from.  Ebay has yet to hire someone to go through review listings and 'weed' these out, I bet it would take a very considerable amount of time to even do so, because like 'weeds' I'm sure they would keep on popping up everyday.  So for now, if you want a little extra help or advice on a product take a little extra time and also research what your peers are saying about that product.  And if you feel like you've stumbled across one that actually did help you out, by all means give them a helpfullness vote.  It actually does make the ebay community a much stronger, more informed place to be.