HONEY is a browser extension that has been widely promoted by influencers to help customers find discounts.
But the software that seems too good to be true is facing accusations of misleading practices – here’s what we know.
Honey promised that it would automatically apply discount codes even if you missed them[/caption]
What is Honey?
Honey was founded in 2012, and by 2014 the extension had experienced explosive growth with over 900,000 users already using it.
Honey promised that it would automatically apply discount codes even if you missed them.
Deepak Tailor, founder of LatestFreeStuff.co.uk, explained: “Free discount code browser extensions should be on everyone’s browser. After ad blockers, I think it’s the most important thing you could have. It’s like free money.
“When you’re on a shop’s website, with the Chrome extension installed for free, you’ll see a little pop-up suggesting there may be some discount codes available. At checkout, you can try the codes and see if it saves you any money.
“These extensions save you from manually searching on Google and going to lots of different coupon websites. It’s there right where you want it.”
The service has been promoted by many popular influencers including MrBeast and Marques Brownlee.
It was bought by PayPal in 2020 for $4 billion and renamed PayPal Honey.
PayPal bought Honey in 2020 for $4 billion[/caption]
What has Honey been accused of?
YouTuber MegaLag claimed in a recent video that Honey selectively displays discount codes at checkout.
This supposedly prioritizes those that benefit its business partners over better deals available to users.
MegaLag explained that Honey sometimes shows smaller discounts, such as 5% off, even when more significant savings, like 30%, are available.
Honey partners with businesses that dictate which codes are promoted, potentially costing consumers money.
He further alleged that these actions contradict the extension’s promise to provide the best deals automatically.
Does this impact influencers who promote Honey?
MegaLag claimed the extension reattributes sales made through affiliate links, ensuring Honey, not the influencers, receives credit for the sale.
This denies influencers the commission they would normally receive for driving these forms of revenue purchases.
Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticized Honey for what they perceived as predatory practices.
One user warned, “If you’re using the Honey browser extension, remove it. This is predatory and bad for customers, brands, and content creators.”
Another highlighted previous security concerns raised by Amazon about Honey, stating, “Now this video from MegaLag shows in detail how Honey is outright stealing commissions from YouTubers.”
Honey and PayPal have yet to comment on these allegations.
Should you uninstall Honey?
Honey and PayPal have yet to comment on these allegations[/caption]
Whilst the decision to uninstall Honey lies with the user themself, experts have advised customers that these Honey accusations do not paint a good picture of the company.
It has been suggested that Honey can no longer be trusted in light of the claims.
Given that there has not been an official statement on this yet, customers might want to wait and see what is said before making a decision.
But there are other ways to do price comparisons, even as simple as shopping around before purchasing.
Honey partners with businesses that dictate which codes are promoted, potentially costing consumers money, it has been claimed[/caption]
