Microsoft to pay users to use Live Search

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 22nd May 2008
Comments (15) Stumble
Microsoft to pay users to use Live Search

Microsoft has announced that it will pay users to purchase products through Live Search cashback. It comes across as a pretty desperate measure.

In a move that will give Google a few laughs, Microsoft has announced plans to woo web users over to Live Search by paying them to use the service through its Live Search cashback scheme.

Yes, you read that right – Microsoft wants to pay you to use its search engine to purchase products sold through participating retailers listed in Live Search’s results. The Redmond giant says that it will give between two and 25 percent of the purchase price back to Live Search users.

Why?

“We want to earn your loyalty and reward it with cashback savings for your everyday online shopping. We are "The Search That Pays You Back"!” says the Live Search cashback FAQ.

The offer is currently limited to US Citizens, but we expect to see this expanded to other markets. Savings garnered through purchases that qualify (look for the cashback logo) are tallied up and you’ll be able to claim back your savings once you’ve got over $5 in your account.

Microsoft says that there are over 700 partners in the scheme, including stores like Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, Home Depot, J&R Electronics, NewEgg, Overstock and TigerDirect.

It’s not all rosy though, as you’ll need to sign up for an account and use Microsoft’s own payment methods in order to “guarantee that your purchase will be reported to us correctly,” said the company. In addition, there are a limited number of retailers on the program which means that the best price may not be at a participating store, essentially negating the point of the whole scheme.

I guess if Microsoft is unable to grow marketshare organically, the next step is to pay to increase share. After all, wasn’t that what the Yahoo! deal was all about? Share your thoughts in the forums.
Quote liratheal 22nd May 2008, 14:09
I.. I just don't think so, Microsoft.
Quote naokaji 22nd May 2008, 14:25
all relevant pc related uk online shops easily fit into the bookmarks, its not like we would have a wide selection of shops... so no point expanding it to the uk.

Besides, get paid to use their search engine, what a pathetic attempt at buying marketshare. On top of that, its limited to companies that sign up for it, so its not like it would actually be useful because you wont be able to use it on the full range of existing shops anyway.
Quote Fod 22nd May 2008, 14:27
quidco *shrugs*
Quote Mr_Sinister 22nd May 2008, 14:34
LOL that is just desperate, they will never give yo thow will they
Quote TheoGeo 22nd May 2008, 14:41
sounds like a rubbish version of quidco
Quote Jamie 22nd May 2008, 14:42
Sounds like the ******* child of quidco and pricegrabber.
Quote steveo_mcg 22nd May 2008, 14:48
Could be a problem for google though, All the hard work gets done by google (research) and then the profitable stuff gets done on msn (sponsored links). As it stands I already do something similar, as i suspect many do. Decide what you want to buy from google then link in through quidco for the purchase.
Quote sotu1 22nd May 2008, 15:12
what is this quidco you speak of?
Quote mclean007 22nd May 2008, 15:22
Maybe if their search engine wasn't such gak, they wouldn't have to bribe people to use it. That said, I hear that MSN search has improved greatly in recent years (probably by stealing ideas from Google) - I wouldn't know because Google is my home page and it is fast, reliable and produces the results I need. Because of that, I don't have any reason to look elsewhere, and I imagine many others are the same. It's an inertial thing - why move away from what you know, if what you know does what you need it to? Like Dvorak keyboards - technically they may allow you to type faster and more accurately, but why bother re-learning if you can already type 60 wpm on a QWERTY keyboard?
Quote MrMonroe 22nd May 2008, 15:25
Why do established, successful companies insist on breaking into markets they cannot possibly compete in? (I'm looking at you too, Intel)
Quote jazzman831 22nd May 2008, 16:53
Oh man this would have been nice to know yesterday when I ordered an entire computer from Newegg!

Oh well, I've already bought it so I guess I can stay with Yahoo :)
Quote johnmustrule 22nd May 2008, 22:05
They're buying my loyalty, way to go MS! you better beat price grabber though
Quote Woodstock 22nd May 2008, 23:36
i see balmer is really killing google now
Quote Cadillac Ferd 23rd May 2008, 05:45
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMonroe
Why do established, successful companies insist on breaking into markets they cannot possibly compete in? (I'm looking at you too, Intel)

MS's search has been around for a loooooooooooooooong time, it's not like they're trying to branch out in to completely unfamiliar territory or anything.
Quote mikeuk2004 23rd May 2008, 08:05
Quote:
Originally Posted by sotu1
what is this quidco you speak of?

WWW.QUIDCO.CO.UK

gives cash back then you buy online. they have alot more partners than ms including all the big names like tesco, play.com etc
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