Guys, we want to share with you some trickery which is happening in the Tech and Blogging world right now.
How did it all started ?
It all started on when IndiBlogger – the so called Biggest Indian Blogging Community came up with a contest. The contest was not an ordinary one. It was sponsored by Samsung and the 20 winners will be selected who will be getting 1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 750 (also known as Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1) each. The bigger cheese kept for the winners was the opportunity to become Samsung Official Mobilers. An Official Mobiler will have inner scoops from the company and will have the chance to attend Samsung gadget launch events and will also get gadgets for review purpose.
Now you can understand what the contest meant to bloggers. It really excited us as we thought it to be a great opportunity to bring more review posts to our visitors. There was indeed a huge participation but everything didn’t went well as it seemed to be.
The Misguidance :
The Contest rules, itself, were mis-guiding. One of the contest rules stated that we need to write post about the features which excited us the most about Samsung Galaxy Tab 750 and the bloggers will be doing it without having or testing the actual gadget in their hand. The only help extended was that we were provided link to a microsite where Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab 750, provided its specifications, photos and features as well. So you can call it a trickery where bloggers were asked to write only good about that gadget and finally, misguide the public.
There was another rule, which was actually the first and most important one. Samsung and Indiblogger mentioned in their guidelines that bloggers who promoted the Launch event of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 750 will be eligible to win in that contest. And, see the non-professional attitude and height of cheap marketing of Samsung and IndiBlogger that a new set of guidelines were added to the contest which said that any blogger will be eligible to win even if he didn’t promoted the live webcast of the gadget. Only he/she have to embed the youtube video of the Launch Event. So won’t you call it Breach of Trust with us ? The rules were changed when the contest was at its peak. Some of the bloggers who were working hard from the very first felt themselves cheated. Also another point can be taken that it was no-where mentioned that “Rules of the Contest are liable to Change”. If they have mentioned this point, then they had the right to change amend the guidelines/rules else its a cheat.
Screenshot Taken From IndiBlogger
After all, it was Samsung and how could they afford to lose an opportunity to get the best out of the Indian Blogosphere.
I personally believe that in the whole thing, a false impression of the Tab being too good was tried to be made infront of the Indians and other people and we bloggers were used in this whole thing.
See what Raju PP, the founder of the famous blog TechPP.com shared on Facebook :
Though he hasn’t specified the company and the product, it is obvious what he is referring to.
Our role in the whole thing :
Anything can’t be successful in the media world without collaborative efforts. And to our shame, we also made our hands dirty. After all, it was we, the bloggers, who unknowingly helped Samsung and IndiBlogger reach their goal.
Some of us Bloggers just went through the page provided by Samsung and blindly wrote posts featuring and saying all well and good about the tab. A few bloggers like me had the chance to use the tab (by Borrowing) and some bloggers like Amit Bhawani purchased it and later reviewed on his site. Not to say, even a few were busy writing scripts and stories of themselves with Tab.
Please note : We maybe living in fantasy at the time of writing the post on Samsung Galaxy Tab 750 but we really borrowed it from our contacts and after using it, we did the review. The part in which we find ourselves (Tech2Date) guilty is that we could have reported some more negatives of the tab if we were not living in the fantasy of the contest.
We are those rats who fell prey to the shiny world of media full of cheese all around. Our situation again reminded me of the lesson “RAT-TRAP” which I read during my school days.
See the hell that we are still trapped that we are writing again about Samsung India, the Tab and IndiBlogger. They already got what they wanted and now they are getting bonus promotions while we write for their mishap.
IndiBlogger Reactions !!!
Renie Ravin is the founding father of IndiBlogger and if I take his points into consideration, then they are putting the whole blame to Samsung India. I tagged up Renie and IndiBlogger on Facebook this morning to my post on the issue and below is the screenshot having Renie’s reply.
I also replied to Renie on it and we are still awaiting reply on it.
I won’t blame Renie and IndiBlogger for the whole mishap because Samsung India played a major role in it and thanks to Renie for clearing a lot of our doubts.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 750 Contest Winners Announced : What a Joke !!
If you go through the post of the winners, they you can’t stop laughing or if you are hot blooded like me, then you will surely break your screen or kick your system.
The winners are mentioned on the right hand side of the below given page :
http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=41
Few winning entries are really justified and most of them don’t.
The Blogger’s Reaction :
Every action has its reaction. Samsung didn’t justified with the Indian Bloggers. So how could the Indian Bloggers stay calm and quiet. As a part of revolt, many bloggers have removed their blogs from IndiBlogger and many more are on the way to say Good-Bye to IndiBlogger. We also removed our three blogs registered at IndiBlogger and we expect the same from you if you have any blog registered at IndiBlogger. All this was a part of our Humble Protest.
And how can Samsung India remain untouched ?
If you want to catch updates about the Anti-Samsung India and Anti-IndiBlogger campaign, then follow the hashtag “indisammyscam” on Twitter or visit – http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23indisammyscam
Reactions from some more Indian Bloggers :
Twitter :
Reactions Recorded on Facebook :
If we have missed posting your reaction about the whole thing, then please let me know through my mail id – beinggourav [@] gmail.com
We will add your reaction to the slideshow above.
Credits and Other Must Read :
Must Read :
- IndiBlogger-Samsung Conspiracy Against the Indian Tech Blog Community
- What Not To Do With Bloggers !!
- Scam Credit : Samsung India and IndiBlogger
- Tweet Screenshots and IndiBlogger Screenshot Provided By : Jose Tinto (TechJunoon)
Please spread this post as much as you can. We want the post in-front of all. Bloggers, please unite and stand against the odds of IndiBlogger and Samsung India.
(Update) : We will be happy to remove this post, posts on Facebook and Twitter as soon as Samsung and IndiBlogger comes up with some definite and fair results.
Note to Samsung India : We are not at all against you neither we want a cyber war as we know casualties and loss occur to both sides. We don’t even demand prizes and gift for ourselves. We just want you to announce fair results and take care of the guys who really deserved winning the contest. We, Tech Bloggers did a fair job and we also expect the same from you. Things can still become better if you like.
Note to IndiBlogger : Guys, you know it well that I was never against you even in worst situations. But after today’s careless attitude, I’m forced to change my mind. The careless and uncontrolled professional attitude in managing contests really hurts a lot. And finally, I wanna say that please stop Blaming Samsung for today’s mishap. You guys hold major responsibility of the contests because sponsoring companies like Samsung didn’t mailed us to participate in the contest but IndiBlogger did. So we know you as the Contest Caretaker.
Note to all : This article will be constantly edited as per response and reaction of all fellowmates.
Disclaimer : The post is not made to hurt someone. Its published as a part to reveal truth which our visitors deserve to know. We respect Facebook and Twitter privacy policies. We are sharing screenshots from Twitter and Facebook as a part of Liberty provided to Journalism.
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About Sathishkumar Varatharajan
