Is the Honey browser extension legit? What is the controversy?
Finding great bargains for last-minute Christmas shopping might be harder than it appears at first glance.
Holiday shoppers looking for last-minute online discounts should be cautious, as not every deal is as great as it appears at first glance.
A YouTuber's investigation has highlighted potential issues with a browser extension that promises to help online shoppers discover the best discount codes.
Online content creator Megalag conducted an in-depth investigation into the Honey web browser extension, suggesting that it might be more of a “honey trap” than a helpful tool.
Is The Honey Browser Extension Trustworthy?
In a video released on December 21, investigative YouTuber Megalag claims that the free web browser extension might not always identify the best discount codes for consumers.
He mentioned, "There's a saying that goes, 'If something is free, you might actually be the product.' This idea holds true for PayPal Honey, as you'll discover in the upcoming investigation."
Instead, he has asserted that it highlights certain discount codes, either unique to Honey or its business partners, while overlooking those that might provide greater savings.
He mentioned, "One of the major advantages for retailers collaborating with Honey is that they have complete control over the coupon codes that get activated on the site."
He asserts that the company is also reallocating sales generated through a social media influencer's website and is taking credit for those sales.
When influencers promote a product, they typically provide links for their followers to buy it and, in exchange, receive a commission on the sales made through those links.
However, Megalag claims that if customers click on these links while using the browser extension, the sale is credited back to Honey.
He mentioned, “The company is subtly taking money straight from the influencers' own earnings.”
Consumers looking for the best bargains are encouraged to do their own research instead of depending on tools like Honey.
The i Paper has reached out to PayPal Honey for their comments regarding these claims.
What Is The Honey Browser Extension?
Honey was established in 2012 by entrepreneurs Ryan Hudson and George Ruan. It started as a free browser extension that automatically finds and applies online coupons and discount codes while you shop on eCommerce sites.
In 2020, the digital payment platform PayPal acquired it for $4 billion (£3.1 billion), and in June 2022, it was rebranded as PayPal Honey.
Users can download it at no cost as a mobile application or browser extension, which assists in saving money while shopping online.
It's designed to help users save both time and money by looking online for the best available coupon codes for their purchases.
It will look for the most competitive price for a product.
