Belkingate - as new evidence turns up, the company keeps mum
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted January 20th 2009 4:21PM
posted January 20th 2009 4:21PM
We found out yesterday that there is something amiss with the ratings that Belkin products have been receiving on Amazon -- and while the company's president pleads ignorance, more evidence of wrongdoing continues to mount. According to The Daily Background, Amazon accounts with names like B. Ekim (whose nickname is listed as "mikebayard," same as the name of the employee that seems to have started this whole mess) exist with little to tie them to reality, aside from the fact that they enthusiastically rated Belkin products on sites like Amazon and PriceGrabber. When we asked a representative of the company point-blank whether or not anyone at Belkin has been offering money for positive reviews, we received this evasive reply:
To be entirely honest, we don't know what's worse -- that someone would outsource fraudulent five star ratings for his company, or the fact that the alleged fraud was so painfully obvious. Looking back, it does seem suspicious that so many people were so psyched about TuneCast.
Thanks for your email. We are still investigating the situation, and we hope to have a follow-up statement that will answer these questions later this week.
To be entirely honest, we don't know what's worse -- that someone would outsource fraudulent five star ratings for his company, or the fact that the alleged fraud was so painfully obvious. Looking back, it does seem suspicious that so many people were so psyched about TuneCast.
I would be less surprised that it happens (because we all know all companies do this) and more surprised at how obvious they were about it...
I think it's almost too obvious. Unless that guy is a complete moron, wouldnt he be using a Psudonym or something? Almost looks like someone is trying to make Belkin look bad. Well worse than they should. Some of their stuff is overpriced Monster Cable-esque, and some is actually pretty decent.
I dunno...I'm just not completely convinced.
Congratulations Kamokazi, your $0.65 is also in the post.
;)
Woah woah...I thought it was $0.75....IOGear was going to pay me $0.70 to say Belkin sucks!
Belkingate, LOL! I love this scandal.
Might as well call it 65-cent-gate
now if we can only get curtis "50 cent" jackson in on this...
I think we can pretty much declare the phrase "Here's your $0.65" as a new meme.
'Black is always the Best', what does have anything to do with wireless at all? I'm surprised by what under a dollar could do.
I laughed at that and the "Works with Hard Drive too!" Too priceless!
@Backlin
Wrong! it's priced at $0.65 per review.
I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST ANYMORE!!!!!!!!
... But I sure know who NOT to trust.
You should trust me.
Several friends of mine from Africa and I have a much better way for you to afford good products. It involves money from a general. Just leave your SSN, Bank Number, Home Phone, and Address all as a reply and we'll make sure money reaches you.
@B3astofthe3ast
I have a candidate for you:
http://www.impawards.com/1997/posters/liar_liar_ver1.jpg
Cut the url link above and paste it to a blank tab in order to view it.
A sure clue to a shill review: "Exceeded my expectations!"
Nobody talks like that. And those words are never punctuated with an exclamation mark. If it sounds like a marketing writer, it probably is a marketing writer who is too lazy or stupid to make the shill sound like a real post.
I more than agree!
What an amazing comment! It works flawlessly!
That'd be a first for sure! (A Belkin product exceeding a customer's expectations)
You're suppose to look at the negatives or criticisms anyways. That's how can really tell if something is a crapgadget or not.
I would definitely read this comment again. And it's pleasing on the eyes!
The best type of this particular comment I've seen thus far!
This comment was more than worth $0.65!
Every company that I have worked for has done this. Well not paid people but asked people in the company to post fake positive reviews. It's dishonest it happens all the time.
If you want proof:
http://www.engadget.com/tag/Windows7/
The product worked as advertised. Shipping was fast and secure. Would buy from vendor again. A++++
Amazon, not eBay. Re-write your comment and turn it in by tomorrow.
I used to work for a company that sold Belkin - and the Belkin reps would come in periodically to train us on their new offerings and sometimes we'd get free items from them to keep. I remember getting a travel mouse that a P.O.S. - never worked right - and come to find out - was just a generic rebrand of some no-name 3rd party MFG. I googled the part number and it came up with tons of "brand names" for the same product. From that point on - I decided not to buy any Belkin products because they were slapping their name on anything - and I had previously deemed them to be decent before my experience with their 'travel mouse'. From there on out - I pushed other products that I knew customers could rely on - like Microsoft Mice or Logitech and stayed away from Belkin. Their plan to give us 'swag' to sell products backfired - just like this 'payola' scheme for good reviews will as well. I think we'll see another name go belly- up in the coming years - and I think that name could be Belkin.
Periods and Commas HELP you!!
What is a Point of Sale mouse? On the cash register?
This is indeed outrageous. I'm also pretty moritified that I bought said TuneCast thanks to the sterling Engadget post it received. It is probably the single worst product I've ever bought, ever.
No Fruit Cup!
All companies do that. Probably even this fruit company.
As an active member of Amazon, I've always suggested they incorporate a review system where the user must buy the item from Amazon's site in order to be able to post a review. It'll cut down on the number of reviews, but quality > quantity. It's not a bulletproof option, but open review systems are damn near pointless.
I always thought it was a bit silly that anyone and their dog could post reviews without actually proving that they even own(ed) the item.
That's one thing I love about the Newegg comment system. It shows you if the reivewer actually bought the product, so it's a lot easier to tell real reviews apart from fake one.
I've mentioned this to them a few years ago when I bought Timothy Hines' atrocious "War Of The Worlds" DVD, only to find out when I got it that the positive reviews were all by a few people involved in its production; a post entitles Congratulations to Timothy Hines on his 300th fake review clued me in. Since that went no-where, I posted advice on the forum for that product to only pay attention to reviews that use Amazon's Real Name system, and/or to check for other reviews from reviewers. It was amazing how many more first (and only) time reviewers argued against that suggestion, while still praising, er, attacking negative reviews instead.
Since then I take all Amazon review with a grain of salt (sometimes heaps of salt), especial when it comes to DVDs. For electronics, i check here & other sites to get a better idea of who's honest & who's shilling.
For anyone that would like a laugh at some pathetic shills & their equally pathetic excuses, Google Timothy Hines & his 'movie'.
He Who Is Getting A Sense Of Deja Vu Here.
But then how the heck do we protest against EA's DRM? :P
I hate to say it but I've seen plenty of products on Amazon where there are just so, so, many reviews that look less than legitimate. Not just on Amazon either, reviews on other websites like Yelp or Epinions are sometimes pretty obviously rigged.
Of course most of the time it's painfully obvious because these fake accounts have like 2 reviews written, all about products from the same company and all exceedingly positive. Real reviewers would have reviews about all kinds of products and almost never, ever, post a completely positive review with no cons at all.
And quite frankly, book reviews are often written by the author's friends and family, so unless it's a bestseller with hundreds of reviews I'd take most of them with a grain of salt.
Excellent Article! Exceeded all my expectations!
No typos! Worked in Firefox too!
Rating = *****
Not surprising. Belkin sucks. I recently replaced my old Belkin router with a new Linksys one with custom DD-WRT firmware. The Belkin was absolutely piss poor in quality and reliability, and to compensate for my frustration over the last 6 months with it, i put it in the microwave and then took it outside, set it on fire, hosed it down, and took an axe to it. then i ran over it with my car.
oh AND ran it over with your car! .. that is dedication my friend .. you wasted that much energy to get rid of that POC .. my boss bought a Belkin once .. I nearly killed him .. returned it and got a nice Linksys instead .. the guy at the store just smiled knowingly ... that thing hasn't been switched off in 3 years, It works Flawlessly!, and It exceeded my Expectations!!
These allegations are totally unjustified.
K-ching!
Great to call the Belkin schmucks out on this.
I have to say though, that's not really an evasive reply from Belkin. I mean, assuming the president really is trying to get to the bottom of things I can understand that they need to wait until all the facts are in.
B. Ekim, Mike B.
Well I've used Belkin products in the past and would continue using them. I've never had any issues and have always gotten a good deal after some searching. Of course, this doesn't mean I'm still not tempted to test out, and possibly switch over to, a Linksys with DD-WRT firmware.
I would have thought by this point everyone has DD-WRT... at least they should.
That's why so-called "web 2.0" is teh FaiL. Anyone who's willing to trust *user reviews* of some anonimous and by definition irresponsible poster (hey, they aint even got a name to keep!) over reputable, old-school "web 1.0" edited sources, totally deserves to get scammed.
also,, I wonder why Belkin, or anyone else for that matter, bother with producing anything at all. With carma-pimp...pumping skills like that, they should just earn fortunes selling on ebay!!!
I love Belkin!
Can I have my $0.65?