Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Belkin's President Apologizes For Faked Reviews

Posted by kdawson on from the genuine-naugahyde dept.

remove office writes "After I wrote about how Belkin's Amazon.com sales rep Mike Bayard had been paying for fake reviews of his company's products using Mechanical Turk, hundreds of readers across the Web expressed their outrage. As a result of the online outcry, Belkin's president Mark Reynoso has issued a statement apologizing and saying that 'this is an isolated incident' and that 'Belkin does not participate in, nor does it endorse, unethical practices like this.' Amazon moved swiftly to remove several reviews on Belkin products it believed were fraudulent. But now fresh evidence of astroturfing has surfaced, by the same Belkin executive."

5 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. This is why scruples are good by Mr.Zuka · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We've seen this over and over recently for companies and politics. Some underling gets caught doing underhanded stuff, the company/government hang them out to dry, then it comes to light they knew about it the whole time.
    Just remember this the next time your boss asks for something ethically questionable but says they will take full responsibility.

    1. Re:This is why scruples are good by thue · · Score: 5, Interesting

      But Belkin has not even hung him dry. They have not fired the guy, as far as I can tell.

    2. Re:This is why scruples are good by twistedsymphony · · Score: 3, Interesting

      We really need some reward system for companies and government who follow good ethics, and stop bad ethics in their company early and deal with it responsibility

      That's easy... start an ethic certification process... similar to the ISO certifications...

      The company develops an ethics plan then pays you thousands to audit and certify them.

      If you play your cards right no one will want to be stuck doing business with a company that isn't certifiably ethical, nor will consumers want to buy from one... and you'll get rich in the process.

      Selling your approval... now THATS Capitalism.

      --
      Collector's Edition
  2. I enjoy at least 1 Belkin product by SupremoMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I enjoy at least 1 Belkin product: Nostromo SpeedPad n52

    And while Belkin does not pay me, I can say good things about it. I think it's their most popular product, as it's a big hit with the WoW crowd as well.

  3. Fraud charges? by schwit1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is the FTC looking into this? Who's the new head of the FTC in the Obama admin?