Google Skewered With New ‘Scroogled’ Ads

by Nate Wooley | November 29, 2012 9:15 am

[1]Search engine Bing, owned by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT[2]), is hammering rival Google (NASDAQ:GOOG[3]) in a new set of ads.

In the ads, which use the word “scroogled,” Bing accuses Google of being dishonest in its search results for Google Shopping, reports CNN[4]. The ads contend that Google’s results show only companies that have paid for placement and don’t represent an honest response to user searches.

It’s true that to appear on Google Shopping results, a vendor must be a paid participant in Google’s Product Listing Ad program. The switch to mandatory payments occurred last May and was completed in October, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Bing also features paid results, but a company spokesman says most of the results are from vendors who post sites and products at no charge. Bing’s results do include outside firms that charge for their listings, though. Free listings on Bing have been shut down for the holidays, as well.

Microsoft has launched a new website, www.scroogled.com[5], to detail its accusations against Google. The site’s front page details what it says is Google’s transition from its famous “Don’t Be Evil” slogan to a new, more paid, approach.

More stories about Google:

• Google Looking to Dish Out a Wireless Service[6]
• Will Google and Dish Take on AT&T[7]
• Google Wallet Goes Plastic … But Why?[8]

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/11/google-skewered-with-new-scroogled-ads/

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