Samsung is under heavy criticism from all corners after reports emerged that it left two Indian bloggers in the lurch after they allegedly refused to honour conditions related to their sponsored visit.
Samsung India had sponsored visit of two Indian bloggers to the
IFA event in Berlin. As part of the terms of the visit under Samsung's Samsung Mob!lers program, the bloggers were expected to conduct certain promotional activities for Samsung. After they reached Berlin, the bloggers said that some activities that Samsung expected them to do where not part of the original understanding, and refused to play along with the changed terms.
Samsung India warned them to fall in line or face consequences. Here's part of an email that Clinton Jeff, one of the affected bloggers, shared with
TheNextWeb:
"We got a call from Samsung India saying 'You can either be a part of this and wear the uniform, or you'll have to get your own tickets back home and handle your hotel stay from the moment this call ends...
A few minutes later, we got a call from the Samsung India guy who said that our flights on the 6th have been cancelled, and that they're bringing us back on the 1st instead. But this is only if, and only if, we agreed to wear atleast the samsung branded shirt at the unpacked event, and not blog about any of this incident.
"None of this should leave Berlin. Or Reach India"
After the news became public this morning, Samsung issued the following statement:
Samsung Mob!lers is a voluntary community of active Samsung mobile device users, who are offered the opportunity to participate in our marketing events across the world. At these events, all activities they undertake are on a voluntary basis. No activities are forced upon them.
We regret there was a misunderstanding between the Samsung Mob!lers coordinators and the relevant blogger, as we understand he was not sufficiently briefed on the nature of Samsung Mob!lers' activities at IFA 2012. We have been attempting to get in touch with him.
We respect the independence of bloggers to publish their own stories.