Read us also at www.the-inquirer.net
|
|
|
Belkin grovels after paying for positive reviews
MAKER OF ELECTRONIC bits and bobs, Belkin got caught offering to pay punters for posting positive reviews of its products.
A bloke, possibly called Mark Bayard who, funnily enough, turned out to be a Belkin emplyee, posted the request on Amazon's Mechanical Turk web site. He was rumbled by the Daily Background.
"Write as if you own the product and are using it," he wrote. Obliging punters were then asked to, "Mark any other negative reviews as "not helpful" once you post yours."
The story was confirmed in a statement by Belkin's president Mark Reynoso, who said: "It was with great surprise and dismay when we discovered that one of our employees may have posted a number of queries on the Amazon Mechanical Turk website inviting users to post positive reviews of Belkin products in exchange for payment.
"Belkin does not participate in, nor does it endorse, unethical practices like this," wrote Reynoso. "We know that people look to online user reviews for unbiased opinions from fellow users and instances like this challenge the implicit trust that is placed in this interaction."
The firm removed the postings from the web site and said it is working to ensure copies of the dodgy reviews were also taken down. It said it was sorry.
However, the employee responsible doesn't seem to have been sacked and we assume he wasn't paying for these reviews out of his own pocket. So we've asked Belkin to explain itself. It says it is conducting an investigation.
Something tells us this is just the tip of large, quick-moving iceberg involving thousands of companies in a variety of different fields. We'll keep you posted. µ
Share this:
Share
I got a Belkin Flip KVM switch replaced recently without any problem. Unfortunately the new one was no better than the old one, and its now in a box in the corner.
Option A) He embezzeled funds from the company to enact a fraud. He's toast. As is the accountancy team that gave the green light.
Option B) Deceict with the intention of finacial gain = fraud. Lock up the execs, fine company.
Lets guess if it goes to option (C): regulators / legal system does nothing really; maybe a wee token fine, but continue as you are.
If he truly did spend Belkin's money without Belkin's permission, that's a crime. It's embezzlement. I don't know what you all call it across the pond, but here in the US, we don't allow someone to mount their own private viral marketing initiative on their own time without authorization for just this sort of legal reason.
I bought a Belkin piece of equipment from a MicroCentre and it was DOA. I called the store and they told me to call Belkin. I called and left my phone number, later emailed and then snail-mailed all to no avail. I called their PR department and left my number--no one called back.
I then realized their guarantee meant absolutely nothing. I complained to the MicroCentre and they replaced the equipment with a non-Belkin item.
Belkin buying favorable reviews, seems exactly the kind of corrupt behavior in kind with ignoring responsibilities for faulty merchandise which was "unconditionally guaranteed."
Personally, I'm done with Belkin
He's referred to as Michael Bayard, not Mark...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/3202255933_a2a286d83e_b.jpg
the tip of an iceberg theory.
there are tons of companies who get hyped by fabboys for whatever reason and I find you cant believe half of it so I wouldnt be surprised if reviews were being bought or manufactured in fact I seem to recall there might be agencies who do that kind of thing, for a fee
the one exception of course is apple who charge their fanboys for the priviledge of buying and hyping their merchandise
I'll happily right positve reviews for all belkins kit.
If a, they pay me :)
or b, I get to keep the stuff :)
where do i sign up :p
They get a lot of stick on networking forums (mainly for their cheap routers).
Friends and I have found their stuff works -- albeit that driver support isn't quite up to the standards of better regarded brands.
You have to wonder a bit about how a "rogue" employee was paying punters without the knowledge of his superiors!