Microsoft AstroTurfing is a reality and undeniable fact, not just a reasonable assumption. Using concrete proof and admission from Microsoft, we last showed this a month ago. We also asserted that one of the key people who organise AstroTurf campaigns for Microsoft -- a gentleman who goes by the name of Marshall Goldberg -- was seemingly leaving fake reviews in Amazon.
I just contacted Belkin to confirm but this doesn’t look good. A site called The Daily Background found evidence that Belkin Bizdev guy, Michael Bayard, is paying folks 65 cents to write good things about Belkin routers. Why? I’m not sure. I sure didn’t mind Belkin routers in the first place and 65 cents isn’t a lot of money for a paragraph. Maybe a flat buck or a USB hub instead? Is false praise really that cheap?
Who can you trust?
Comments
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-20 18:05:12
Belkin boss 'extremely sorry' for cash-for-good-reviews plan
"According to an open letter from Belkin big cheese Mark Reynoso, the "unethical practice" was conducted by "one of our employees", who offered cash in exchange for good reviews."
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/01/20/belkin_prez_apologises/
The CEO tried to deny it earlier. IOW, he lied to the public!
Shane Coyle
2009-01-20 18:26:34
Anyhow, here is a photo of one of the alleged ads, as originally posted on The Daily Background, which is still uncovering more possible astroturfing work of Mike Bayard, the Belkin employee.
Roy Schestowitz
2009-01-20 18:52:45