30 January 2009
· Filed under News, Regulatory · Tagged Entelligence, noseweek, stafford masie, yellow pages
“Greedy Google” preys on South Africa reads the headline.
Noseweek’s latest article comprehensively addresses various aspects of questionable behaviour by Google South Africa.
Covering Entelligence’s skirmish in which Google attempted to bully us off a key customer, to Google’s attempts to manipulate the press, to questionable company policies that include: (a) lack of transformation in line with South Africa’s BEE policies and (b) revenue being directed offshore & no VAT being paid along the way.
It all makes for an interesing read!
17 November 2008
· Filed under Search Engine Marketing · Tagged stafford masie
According to a recent article on Biz Community, Mr. Stafford Masie recently accused South African agencies of fraud on Google advertising accounts managed for customers. He also went on to say that he will select 5 agencies in South Africa & work exclusively with them. Not surprisingly, his wreckless (unsubstantiated) statements led to an outrage in the online advertising community.
Fraud on Google Accounts
Stafford Masie paints a picture that fraud on Google accounts is prevalent. Why not substantiate this with hard fact & name the culprits? Instead, he has collectively accused the entire group of agencies in South Africa (and effectively only the 5 he selects will be above suspicion).
Going Direct to Customers
Entelligence has seen Google SA attempt to solicit customers to go directly to them. They competed ’secretly’ with us at first, and when it all came out in the wash they tried to bully us off our Yellow Pages account, threatening to deactivate accounts used to service our customer and prevent us from creating new accounts. Given some of the posts on Biz Community, it is evident that Google South Africa have been going direct to customers in many cases – this is immoral and unethical. And if they somehow justified their actions, why not disclose their intent upfront rather than let the agencies find out for themselves. Interestling, Google’s actions of directly poaching customers in South Africa is the one issue on Biz Community’s comments around this article that Mr. Masie has not addressed.
by Sean Riley
