Over the past few months, I've noticed an uptick in the frequency of targeted Facebook ads offering free electronics, including smartphone batteries, wireless security cameras, and microphones, as well as beauty supplies.
The Facebook ads often frame the free Amazon product giveaway as a "trial" or "beta tester" program in search of "feedback." However, some ads do ask outright for a review in exchange for the item.
To test if the process actually worked, I signed up for two items, a camera light and microphone rig, both of which did not require leaving a review before receiving a full or partial rebate. After purchasing the products through Amazon, each seller promptly refunded me through PayPal. Both items were delivered by the ecommerce giant and arrived just as any other product purchased by Amazon would.
This isn't just happening through ads. Earlier this month, a UK-based consumer advocacy group, Which?, released a report(opens in a new tab) about the growing problem of Amazon sellers using Facebook Groups to offer free products in exchange for reviews.
Using Facebook's Page Transparency feature, I found that all but one of the Pages analyzed for this piece had multiple Page managers based in China. Other managers were located in the United States, Canada, India, Israel, and the Philippines. None agreed to talk for this story.
Mashable reached out to both Amazon and Facebook for comment and will update this post if we hear back.
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
faux saint laurent bagcheap burberry bags
www.popninja.net |
|
|