Microsoft announced this week that it will offer cash back to consumers, who search on Microsoft Live and make a purchase. This was treated as news; even though Bill Gates had already told us he was doing it way back in December 2005!
It seems the focus at Microsoft as far back as 2005, was not to develop a better search product than Google - but to pay people to use an awful one. An interesting business model for the world’s richest technology company. With that approach to search engine innovation, it’s really is no surprise that Google still rules the search space!
The reason Google is ‘killing’ Microsoft Live Search in the marketplace, is because of the inferior quality of the Microsoft search results. Many great sites and pages are not even indexed by Microsoft Live Search and of those which are, many have stacks of pages missing – it’s a total mess!
I think the only way this can work for Microsoft, is if people use Google to find what they want to buy, and then try to locate that same deal via Microsoft Live Search, so they get their cash back!
Microsoft, why not just focus on making your own search results more accurate and relevant? You have the money, go and hire the people who can fix your search engine, then make your product better than Google‘s.
It is any wonder that Microsoft and Google are looked at so differently by the public? This week, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer was being pelted with eggs, while the media gathered in the UK to kiss Google’s ass!
No related posts.
You’re obviously not a good tech journalist.
“pay people to use an awful one” – If you actually did your research, you’d know that MS isn’t paying from own coffers. It’s simply offering an easy way to get a rebate on the products you buy via Cashback.
And did you even perhaps try using Cashback? I searched for items I might want, and surprise, surprise, they were listed right there.
Just plain hate and FUD.
Hey Quikboy,
Don’t ya just love it when people post to a blog without reading either the post they are moaning about or the rest of the blog?
Quikboy, I am NOT a Journalist – either a good or bad one. Where the heck did you get that from? This is a 6 day old blog; written by a tech user who blogs about his experiences.
You are also wrong about the cash-back or kick-back offer – Microsoft WILL be facilitating a cash back facility. Regardless of who takes the hit (and by the way, it’s ALWAYS the buyer), it’s Microsoft who feel the need to pay people to use them.
If you doubt me, you might believe Bill Gates; here’s an article from infoworld.com that covers Bill Gates announcement back in 2005 (they have been planning this for a LONG time.)
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/12/08/HNmssearchengine_1.html
And (this is getting embarrassing) you are wrong again calling me a Microsoft hater. Had you read the blog you would see that I had ALSO written, on the same day, an article all about Microsoft’s amazing ‘Surface’ technology; with links to a full video interview with Microsoft’s Andy Wilson.
http://thetechnewsblog.com/2008/05/24/microsoft-surface
I also wrote last week about my hope for Microsoft to block Google’s search engine dominance. Oh yeah, this post is written on my Vista powered laptop!
I am NOT a ‘fan’ of Microsoft but I don’t hate them. As I blogged yesterday, when they get things right they deserve a pat on the back. That’s why I applauded them yesterday and why I spoke out when Steve Ballmer was attacked in Europe last week.
Jim Connolly
Here’s an interesting article from Cell Life blog which is worth a read. http://cellstrat.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/microsoft-search-cashback-stroke-of-genius-or-sign-of-desperation/
Jim ignore that guy. Just checked him out and he runs a microsoft fan site. Funny he never mentioned that?
So, he goes to your blog and insults you and accuses you of being biased against microsoft, when he runs a pro-microsoft blog and is too unprofessional to mention it.
whats wrong with some people eh?
I don’t really see what’s wrong with the Cashback service.
I shop online a lot, and it would be nice to save a little or a lot on each product I buy. I could use that money to buy some more groceries or buy something nice for somebody. Some of the rebates on Cashback are pretty good.
I don’t get what you mean by the “searching” part. The only searching involve is just to find the product, and then compare prices and pick the store you think offers the best deal.
Again, I don’t see what’s wrong with Cashback for online shoppers like me.
Hi Sammy,
Look, there’s nothing wrong with cash back.
What I disagree with, is the fact that the world’s largest tech company has decided to pay people to use it’s inferior product – RATHER than make their product better.
Google killed Microsoft in search, because they were better. They started off with nothing compared to Microsoft, then in a few years totally owned the search market. That’s what I would like to see Microsoft do – win the market by developing a better search product. This way, you and me benefit from better search results!
If Microsoft develop a decent alternative to Google and still offer to pay us cash back to buy stuff from it – COUNT ME IN!
Cash back WITH a better search product would have been fine. But Cash back INSTEAD of a better product sucks!
I hate what Google is doing to search – they almost have a monopoly. I wanted Microsoft to make a significant dent in their ownership of online search.
I hope that if/when Microsoft and Yahoo get together they can focus on beating Google with a better product for us consumers. Rather than just paying us to use such an unpopular search facility.
Thanks for the comment Sammy and keep in touch!
Ok, I apologize Jim. I guess I wasn’t reading through enough. I too think Live Search results can get a little better in some areas, but at least it beats the heck out of Yahoo! Search.
But essentially, I think you’re getting the concept of Live Cashback wrong. Live Cashback is NOT a way for MS to pay you to use their search. More or less, it’s a convenient tool to find good rebates on products you find, and compare that price with the other online stores Cashback works with. Essentially, it’s YOUR money that you’re getting back from the rebates. The rebates from the products you buy go directly to Cashback, and you have the option to receive those rebates by check, online bank account, or PayPal.
It’s a way to SAVE money, like Sammy said. Not for MS to pay you.
I think that you’re trying to say in this article that you think Live Search sucks and MS needs to improve it more than just pulling out Cashback, but I don’t think Cashback deserves all the dislike it’s receiving. It’s not really innovation, but it’s a nice tool for those who need it.
@HeadHunter : Hey, I never denied it, OK? Sure, I do have a like for MS. I don’t need to title myself as Mr. MS, because I’ve written several articles commending other companies, and criticizing MS for not doing enough sometimes. I have like a little of everything from many tech companies, but I overall like MS for some of the other neat things they’ve done.
I already apologized, because I wasn’t thinking when I wrote that comment.
Hello Quikboy,
No need to apologize – I also agree you did not need to disclose your obvious support for Microsoft.
I’m not going through this all again. Microsoft ARE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT using cash back as a way to get more people to use LIVE search. That’s a fact and has been announced by Microsoft; which is why I (and thousands of others) were stunned and blogged it. You seem to be focusing on who’s paying who – when that’s not the issue. The issue is that payment is being used by Microsoft to win search traffic, INSTEAD of fixing a broken search engine.
As you said, LIVE search needs improving. Geeks and non-geeks alike will use the search engine that gets them what they want. Fix LIVE search and people will use it! That’s why we all went from Alta Vista to Google. Innovate!
Okay,
Here’s the best argument I have heard for Microsoft to start kicking Google’s rear end in search.
From a wonderful post at Techcrunch.com
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/25/the-importance-of-a-competitive-search-market/
Great article on Microsoft’s cash back offer:
Here’s one quote regarding Bill Gate’s announcement this week, from Om Malik of http://www.gigaom.com
Om Malik, founder of GigaOm, is not impressed. He told BBC news, “This is not going to affect Google. Google is so much better.” Microsoft is like a bad restaurant – no matter what the incentive, you don’t want to eat there. Their product isn’t working and their share of the market proves that.”
The full article is linked to below and is well worth a read.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7413099.stm
Great news now christmas is coming. Hopefully they will introduce something for the UK.
I started using MS Live to find and purchase rare coins and bullion on Ebay. 25% off is a deal of a lifetime.
I actually kind of like their service. I think the main challenge people face is trusting they will actually get their cash back. Just because Microsoft’s name is on it doesn’t mean there wont be any hiccups.
The Live.com got my attention as soon as I heard of it ( late in the game of course) I hae a little habit of buying small things for dirt cheap on ebay. mostly old school pc components and vintage motorcycle parts. I generally use buy it now unless I just come accross something by accident that is ending right away.
today and a few days ag however, i noticed something – this is going on RIGHT now ; no searches will point you to eBay – there is no way to get cashback on anything at eBay right now May 8th 2009 7AM CMT it’s been that way all night. like they want you buy some where else for awhile.
also – I do not see where any of these people that report 25% 14% and all that for purchases – every one of my buys say 8% – thats all I have ever seen. is there certain times of day the % jumps up?
It’s very odd how it is working really, i aminterested in bigger % and also in more purchases. almost every one of buy it nows have been processed and the money is in my pay pal account. so I know it does work. i do have one pending but it was a hong kong purchase so I figure that ones going to be awhile.
I can find no where on the site why the search is cut off from eBay sometimes though – anyone know?