According to the BzzAgent Code of Conduct this is stated.
"Bzz is only effective when it's completely honest
Bzz only works because it is honest - and that means discussing any bad with the good. People are smart, and they'll pick up on fake or dishonest Bzz. Why would you want to be misleading and risk damaging your relationships? Your honest opinion is what matters and that's what you should share with others."
So thats what I am doing in this post about Bzz Agent.
This morning I had an invitation to join a new campaign. Cool. They are giving me an opportunity to try something and evaluate it. I click on the link and am taken to a sign up page which tells me I have to pay $85.00 to join it. WTH? When I joined this service it was because I was offered a means to try and evaluate products and services "at no cost". I just noticed on a page that you have to click through that buzz agents are offered discounts to try products. 85.00 is a discount? For Fabric Freshener? I dont know anyone that would pay that kind of money for Fabric Freshener. Thats a tank to two tanks of gas. So I turned it down. This is the survey question they asked when I turned down my second campaign offer.
Why did you decide not to join the Whirlpool® Fabric Freshener BzzCampaign
"Because I dont have the money to pay for something like this. My personal opinion is that if I am providing you with a service you should be paying me and offering the product for free. In the very least offering the product for free as compensation. I wont pay for any campaign."
This is a copy of the Nastygram (email) I sent them.
"I get to try products and services at no cost with samples, coupons and stuff like that."
So far this hasnt happened. You have tried to charge me for the campaigns I have been offered.The first over a hundred and this one 85.00. Where is the "at no cost"? The above quote is a excerpt of the invitation I was sent when I decided to sign up. It is the same one I sent out to friends and relatives endorsing your site as a way to try new products for free while being able to give a public opinion about how great or bad a product is. If this is what my friends are getting, you are making me look to be a liar and I dont appreciate it. So I am going to post this on a site I write for. Forewarned. I am posting any replies I am sent as well. Hopefully you will send me a legitiment explanation and not some generic prepared statement.
Thanks in advance.
Bryan
So lets see what if any response I get. I will update this if/when I get a response. My apologies to those that have sent me requests for invites for BZZ. I am suspending that until I get a satisfactory response. They want honesty from Bzz Agents? Good...They got it.
Have a great day folks!
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Comments: 68
I did however get in on others that there are no fees recquired... so keep bzzing.. there will be other bzz's that there are no requirements to try the product..
However, I do agree 100% with your post. Why would they even offer such a thing?
A few of you have suggested that they do offer free products to try but they ought to have an option you can click on to say "Only send me free offers" or "Dont send me campaigns that cost.". Just my opinion, as the ones that cost are only wasting my time since in the current economy I cant afford to buy a ton of unnesessary items.
I have only had a few all together, and so far, only 1 that I was supposed to pay for. I, like you, will likely never do a pay one- unless it's for an item I was planning to buy at full price, and can get at a discount that will make it worth it.
Great suggestion Bryan. With the prices that the "discounted" campaigns are going for, I see these as really shams more than anything else. They may be great products, but you can bet that the company is only trying to recruit new sales -- rather than product testers -- through their pay-to-participate Bzzz campaigns. Of course, Bzzz is trying to make its money were it can in this down economy, so I can't fault it too much. But nonetheless it's disappointing that this is the route it has gone.... Just my two cents.
Meanwhile, I'm waiting for my Rain Organic vodka "coupons" to arrive.... Let's hope it's a freebie and not just a few dollars off of what may be an already too-expensive product. We'll see....
Now that I've heard all this, I am definitely gonna quit it!
Then they had the Plum American Express Card - as I have no credit, and even if I did, don't think a credit card would be a good idea in this economy - have had no FREE offers since.
Did get the offer for the $129 DNA vitamin test and declined.
I had a steady stream of offers until I declined the Plum Card and nothing but the one 'pay' for one in over a year. Don't know what's going on over there.
I never just wait for an email Campaign to show up on the web site. I actively look for campaigns, as alot of the free campaigns fill fast and you never get an email. So if you are not looking you are only getting those that do not fill fast which might just be the ones that cost.
In fact when you first join it says nothing about alwaya free Here is what it promises nothing more nothing less!!! It is your expectations that is in error You said "When I joined this service it was because I was offered a means to try and evaluate products and services "at no cost". I have been an agent as I said for several years and the site never promised that anywhere!!
Below is there promise!!!
"Top 5 Reasons to Join the BzzAgent Network
Discover and experience new products and services first
Prove that your voice and opinions matter
Always have something to talk about with friends
Be part of a growing international network of Nearly 500,000 consumers
Find pirate treasure — or influence companies and brands — either way "
To get the free campaigns you must be active on the site
In fact the site tells you not to depend on emaila
"Want to Better Your Odds?
Take the following steps to increase your chances of being offered campaigns:
Submit Detailed BzzReports
This is one of the ways to increase your Status so you can earn the resulting Early Invite and Golden Key perks. { see note 3}
1.Answer Quickpolls & Surveys
2.Tell us about yourself so we can offer you enjoyable campaigns in line with your interests.
3.Check Your Agent Home Often Login to check for new invitations and messages, since we don't always e-mail news to Agents.
4. Keep Your Profile Current"
And I could not find a place that even states you get the campaigfns free.
I just don't join anything that offers for me to pay them first.
I wouldn't pay $129 for vitamins even if I could afford them. That is an outrageous cost, and supposedly that was a "great deal". I have stopped sending referals, and if they do not offer me anything decent in the next month, I will be cancelling. I am not at all pleased or satisfied with BZZ Agent.
As for the vitamins, I just go to Wal Mart and get them for $5 and to me, vitamins are vitamins, so I won't pay $129 for them.
"Hello. Have I told you about BzzAgent yet? I'm a member, and I thought you might like to be one too (joining is free). I get to try products and services at no cost with samples, coupons and stuff like that. Then I make my voice heard by sharing my honest opinions with others, including some of the largest companies in the world. Want to learn more and sign up to join in the fun?"
I think that tells you "At No Cost" which means Free correct? Regardless of what the rest of the site says one shouldnt have to search through their site to see that they charge for some, many, all, or none of their campaigns. It should be right on the sign up screen that we do charge for some, many, all or no campaigns. You dont advertise at no cost and start out trying to get someone to pay 129 for vitamins or 85 for a new type of clothes softener or over a hundred for some health campaign. Common sense for business ( and I have owned businesses) says you draw them in with something to wet their appetite, in this case no cost as stated in the invite and then offer other services that might cost a bit more but allow the consumer to opt out of programs that arent in their price range until they request such services. So yes per that invite it is promised even if it isnt to be meant for the entire experience with Bzz.
I have gotten many invatations for campaigns where I had to pay a fee, for instance the game system, the vitamins, this one. I also got the American Express one. I turned them all down. I still get offers. But then I write at least 5 or more Buzz reports a campaign.
I really wanted thw "Whirlpool Fabric refresher' that you wrote about, I read all bout it on the Whirlpool website.
I hope BuzzAgent would make a second offer at a lower price. I'd get it if it was less money.
I'm saving for new flooring, my buget is very tight, and after just purchasing a new washer -the fact that my appliances are now all 12 years old, I can't afford to pay $85.00 for that. (knocking on wood...so something else does not break).
As for doing bzzagent, I've been a member for years. I don't have all the time in the world to focus on them, but the amount I put into it is well worth the free stuff too. A free item every once in a while is still a free item. :) I love that they partnered with MyPoints, that helps too!
Can't wait to see the follow-up...
Here's a 10, thanks for posting at Up All Nite Café.
I bet that one is free....not
Are you sure this one was a fabric softener? I was offered one for the same price you quote and it was for some sort of testing .....something about health? I forget. But it was NOT fabric softener.
If they offer you one that you have to pay for...."Just Say No".....LOL
As part of this campaign, you will receive an insider's look at the Dodge Ram 1500, as well as valuable e-certificates and information to help you Bzz (not to mention the chance to score a Dodge Ram 1500 of your own)
I don't have the kind of money to pay for every little thing,if I did I wouldn't have to worry about pinching pennies at the grocery store every week.
Thanks for posting your content to the Group: We comment back
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 7,100 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
And I hope you have a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)