Remember how Michael Bayard, a Belkin Business Development representative, was apparently
hiring people from Mechanical Turk to post glowing reviews of Belkin products on Amazon and elsewhere? Well, we just received an apologetic letter tucked firmly between the quaking legs of Mark Reynoso, President of Belkin -- a man clearly fearful of a
consumer backlash. Reynoso expressed "surprise and dismay" that one of his employees "may have" (er hem, may have?) invited positive reviews for payment. While Belkin isn't admitting fault, it's at least taking responsibility to "re-instill trust" through the following actions:
"We've acted swiftly to remove all associated postings from the Mechanical Turk system. We're working closely with our online channel partners to ensure that any reviews that may have been placed due to these postings have been removed."
Hit the read link for the full, ethical grovel.
posted January 19th 2009 6:23AM
What belkin have done is been incredibly clever. They paid people to write good reviews. then *leaked* it out so there is a big complaint about it, THen pay people again to write nice things about belkin and there product on the sites that report on the story (like engadget)
pure genius.... But im on to you belkin!!! im watching you!!!!
Once upon a time, Sony had the same bright idea. They paid money for fake movie reviews, fake moviegoers who raved about Sony movies and also paid settlement fees to make the suite go away (though they didn't admit any wrongdoing). Belkin should not get a free pass since Sony (a company I've been highly critical of) did not get one either.
I'm a bit surprised at the hub bub. I just assumed this was standard practice. Like eBay sellers getting their friends to bid on their items. Are you claiming its not standard practice? The only thing out of the ordinary here is this compant got caught and they were dumb enough to put up ads on the net for this (basically saying "please catch me").
What I don't understand is why put up ads at Mech Turk? Isn't doing crap like this what interns are for?
Good point. You're taking away jobs from these poor people. For shame!
The only good things they sell now are their cables...
Once I bought an armband, and it works just fine.
Now I can go out and jog/hike while listening to my own very best selection.
Umm, and their folio iPod cases. Done a great job for me and actually protect the sides of the device. :)
*Cashes enormous cheque*
@ Andy TGD
Nope, sorry. You didn't follow the rules. No check for you!
@jupiterthunder
In Soviet Russia, check caches you. :)
holly crap !
I use often amazon user comments to assist (at least) 50% of my purchase decision, on a regular basis. The very thought that this might be rigged, makes me shiver to the bone. (and want to buy less)
They didn't do the one thing they should have done: Fired the douchebag. Perhaps that's in progress and we won't know for legal reasons.
If you read the article it states that Belkin has removed the Mechanical Turk postings. If they or their employee wasn't responsible, how could they remove the postings? They'd have to access to the user account who placed the posts. They haven't fired the guy because he was just doing what was probably signed off on.
What a bunch of unimaginative ass-clowns. I don't listen to 5/5 or 1/5 reviews on Amazon anyway. I only read the ones which are MORE than 50 words, and have something substantive to say about the product experience. I.e., how well it worked, whether the instructions were clear, if there were installation problems, etc. A "25 to 50 word" review isn't enough to inform me.
I only have a Belkin USB Bluetooth dongle and ... it worked fine, but the software driver and TSR were buggy. Guess I'd better write ol' Mark a review and get my 6 bits.
Shouldn't they just restrict reviews to users who have actually purchased the product. This would at least cut down on the number of fake reviews. I've never reviewed something on a website that I hadn't purchased from them.
Not necessarily, Amazon allows you to review something by simply saying, "I own one." This allows you to review something bought for you, or bought elsewhere.
All of the companies do this. The only problem here is that he got caught (chances are he pissed someone off by not paying them enough or just not paying them). Belkin products have always held up nicely with me and are usually more affordable than the comparable. Tell me something new. If you can't see it that companies do that then your online shopping privileges should be revoked. The reviews have 5/5 stars and have perfect grammar and spelling. People can barely write their own name in a straight line. Don't be so damn naive
Belkin, Delkin, might as well be buying your gear from Cambridge Camera, NYC. Nothing, but a bunch of crooked shits.
I am so sick of the "swiftly / boldy" jargon. Oh, and way to back-peddle, Belkin. Better than nothing, I suppose.
I am still waiting for UPS to comment on that YT vid from a couple weeks ago.
bam
Personally, I've always enjoyed most Belkin products and have always considered them even without falsely positive reviews. I'm surprised he even felt the need.
Same here. I have never been letdown by any Belkin product i have purchased. And I've always thought it pretty easy to pick out scripted or false reviews.
Belkin, you should be ashamed of yourself. As an adjunct professor of Public Relations, I have to recommend:
1. You hire a competent PR professional or agency and control all employees to refrain from influencing the review process.
2. Conduct an Ethics of Public Relations and Ethics of Business seminar or webinar for all employees
3. Be sure to emphasize that the U.S. businesses operate differently than foreign organizations where bribery is common.
4. Be sure your products are of such good quality that a positive review is merited. If not, fix the products.
I will be using this as a case study of how NOT to conduct an ethical product review program. This is classic awful.
"3. Be sure to emphasize that the U.S. businesses operate differently than foreign organizations where bribery is common."
Ah,ah,ah...LOL...Yes, all people on the world knows this, U.S. is the center of the universe and is the best of the best of the best.
May be you are a PR proffesor, but your diplomatic attitude is very poor saying this with these words.
You could say this instead:
"3. Be sure to emphasize that ethic businesses operate differently than others where bribery is common."
But, no, U.S.A. is better than all the others countries in the world...this is why many americans does not know where France is...or Germany...or...Spain...and so on. Oh well, sorry this unrelated rant but, please, choose your words better. If you are PR proffesor, please apply your knowledge to yourself.
wtf... WHERE WAS THIS GUY GETTING THE MONEY TO FUND THIS?! out of his own fanatical (for some reason) pocket?! that's not even plausible... and that belkin takes no actual responsibility for this and say that it's the lone actions of some hyper-militant rogue belkin aficionado employee? come on! wtf!