Samsung has been known for making questionable marketing decisions before, but this one seems to take the cake (if true). According to a report out of China, Samsung allegedly hired 500 fake fans for a launch event in China for their Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones. These fake fans were told they should act as Samsung fans or be interested in Samsung’s new devices, which probably didn’t ring terribly true when many of these ‘fans’ were using iPhones to take pictures of the new Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
This report originated from a person who was part of the recruitment process, hiring 500 of the 1,000 people who were supposed to be at the event and hiring a specific demographic – young students under the age of 30. These ‘fans’ were paid $4.80USD if they stayed at the event for at least an hour and recruiters were paid $3.20USD for each person hired as a ‘fan’. This tactic, while morally dubious at best, isn’t particularly surprising given Samsung’s falling stake in China – Samsung was overtaken by Xiaomi last August as the largest smartphone manufacturer in China and the many homegrown manufacturers show no signs of slowing down.
What do you think of Samsung’s tactics to boost the image of these devices in China? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: WantChinaTimes via Phone Arena
