Did Samsung hire fake fans to pose at their Chinese Galaxy S6 launch? Well, maybe.

Earlier this week, reports hit the Internet that Samsung had paid people to pretend to be fans at the Chinese launch of their Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge phones.

A Shanghai-based newspaper started it all by claiming that up to 500 of the nearly 1000 attendees came via Samsung recruiters and were paid 30 yuan (US$4.80) per hour to pretend to be fans.

Samsung has shot back today, calling the reports "totally groundless and bogus."

The company added: "Our findings have indicated that under no circumstances has anyone been hired or given money to attend the event. In fact, the more than 1,100 attendees, including consumers and industry officials, have all been formally invited to the Shanghai Culture Square where the event took place."

Samsung says the original newspaper took down the report after Samsung proved it was false.

Source:
TC

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 6 Apr 2015 22:50

hearme0

Quote: Samsung has shot back today, calling the reports "totally groundless and bogus."
Yeah......like they will EVER EVER EVER admit to this one. I can imagine them at a roundtable now saying, "Prove it!"

But if a claim such as this has emerged, it's likely got a fair amount of merit.

They also use the words "our findings" meaning plausible deniability for someone without Samsung straight out lying AND, you don't get any more "formerly invited" than by being paid to show.

7.4.2015 13:32 #1

Mysttic

Quote: Yeah......like they will EVER EVER EVER admit to this one. I can imagine them at a roundtable now saying, "Prove it!"

But if a claim such as this has emerged, it's likely got a fair amount of merit.

They also use the words "our findings" meaning plausible deniability for someone without Samsung straight out lying AND, you don't get any more "formerly invited" than by being paid to show."
Finally, a logical conclusion that I can completely agree with. Until Samsung is willing to let a 3rd party investigate said claims, anyone reading this shouldn't buy into it. Plausible deniability indeed.

7.4.2015 20:04 #2

joe5454us

I have to agree, where there is smoke, there is a fire.

9.4.2015 01:53 #3

IkaMega

Where there is unsubstantiated rumour there are people willing to swallow it hook line and sinker.

agemaki

9.4.2015 12:43 #4

ichido

I think Crapple started this one. Because they could not prove Samsung stole something from them. Samsung does not need to do this, they have great phones.

9.4.2015 14:25 #5

heyjohn

I agree with IkaMega and ichido. Since when would a phone company have to pay fans to show up for the launch of a new phone? The Apple fans line up all night to see a new iPhone or iPad, and it would not be hard to get 1100 fans to come along to drool over the new Galaxy S6.
The most likely scenario is that the 1100 people were indeed formally invited, and they were probably tech journalists / bloggers and other assorted industry souls who have a good reason to go, and would possibly even gain some kudos from getting an invitation. Nobody has to pay such people to show up.
Samsung sell more than a million phones a day, so they are unlikely to need to pay Chinese peasants or students $4.80 an hour to pretend to be interested in their latest products.

10.4.2015 03:04 #6

ajsmsg78

Originally posted by heyjohn: I agree with IkaMega and ichido. Since when would a phone company have to pay fans to show up for the launch of a new phone? The Apple fans line up all night to see a new iPhone or iPad, and it would not be hard to get 1100 fans to come along to drool over the new Galaxy S6.
The most likely scenario is that the 1100 people were indeed formally invited, and they were probably tech journalists / bloggers and other assorted industry souls who have a good reason to go, and would possibly even gain some kudos from getting an invitation. Nobody has to pay such people to show up.
Samsung sell more than a million phones a day, so they are unlikely to need to pay Chinese peasants or students $4.80 an hour to pretend to be interested in their latest products. I agree 100% with you. This is insulting to Samsung actually. It's totally a lie and it was probably an Apple fanboy who started this.

11.4.2015 14:30 #7

joe5454us

Really, who cares!

11.4.2015 19:59 #8

IkaMega

Originally posted by joe5454us: Really, who cares! You, presumably, as you supported the rumour.

agemaki

12.4.2015 04:34 #9

joe5454us

Originally posted by IkaMega: Originally posted by joe5454us: Really, who cares! You, presumably, as you supported the rumour. Yes I did, but who cares? maybe someone that has nothing to do.

12.4.2015 11:51 #10

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