Comments on: Do You Accept Products for Review?

By: William from Maxwell Scott Bags

William from Maxwell Scott Bags — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:22:18 +0000

I just wanted to give you a perspective from a retailer/manufacture. We sell very expensive leather products handmade in Italy. What we find is that its very difficult to get many high profile bloggers to talk about our products. Unfortunately, as a small business we can not afford to send out 000′s of $/£ of product. Bloggers often ask for the world which is impossible to cater for. We are very strict when sending goods and really try to focus on the correct content. Many of the blogs we send items to ask to keep the product too…… i think its very difficult to get the balance right.

By: carrie

carrie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:57:26 +0000

I think it is ok to get free products to review. I would love to do a few of those myself. I usually blog about my everyday products that I buy, but I would love to learn about and review some new products! After all, you have to know that product is there to buy it, and if someone approaches you with something new, why not give it a try!

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:56:39 +0000

The top professional blogger from India Amit Agarwal http://labnol.org survives on paid product reviews, most of them aren’t reviews at all. At times he would distribute free licenses so people don’t mind. But I don’t think he has the guts to openly say that the reviews are paid reviews, readers won’t take that nicely.

By: Bill Brelsford

Bill Brelsford — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:29:20 +0000

I occassionally receive books for review. I try to remember to mention that in my blog posts, although looking back, I can be more diligent about that. I do feel like I am more critical of books that have been sent to me for the purpose of review.

I also try to review it from the point of view of my audience (small business owners). I have reviewed books that I enjoyed, but have steered my readers to other books on the same subject that I thought were more appropriate.

I also participate in BzzAgent (www.BzzAgent.com) word of mouth campaigns. I always state up front when I am reviewing a product through that program.

By: Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:53:33 +0000

Very interesting topic. At one blog I work on we are almost treated as journalists and often get review samples from pr companies. Having said that, I bought my own iPhone so I feel I can be totally impartial – not that you can get a review iPhone anyway!

Disclosure is key elsewhere, plus an understanding that you will do companies no facours just because they gave you something free.

By: Solo Business Marketing

Solo Business Marketing — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:18:04 +0000

I agree with Hendry. Your audience will know, from your past blogging, if the review is genuine or fake positive.

You can also survey readers beforehand to learn if reviews will be beneficial for them.

Several wholesalers advertise on one of my sites and the corresponding blog. I’m considering writing reviews, but if my readers don’t want it, I won’t start.

By: Hendry Lee

Hendry Lee — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:59:26 +0000

Product reviews are certainly not paid links.

If the product can help your readers, why not? I think all bloggers should start with the audience in mind.

It is a disservice if you know how to help readers but fail to do it.

But it’s important to be honest. I usually don’t write a bad review. Either good review or no review.

At the end of the day, blog audience will know if you do that just for the sake promoting (and perhaps making money via affiliate commissions.)

By: GoingLikeSixty

GoingLikeSixty — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:13:39 +0000

No problem with it – as long as somewhere it’s mentioned that the product was a freebie.

This puts blogs above MSM. Think newspapers and mags pay to send reporters on those fantasy trips? (or any trip for that matter) and then review?
Sports writers have a feast at their disposal before during and after events.
Books, CD’s, food, etc. all free to MSM. Morning TV has become one long informercial under the guise of “morning news.”

Sure, if they offer (and they do) I’m accepting it as I would any other gift – except if I don’t like it, I don’t hesitate to say so.

By: J. Angelo Racoma

J. Angelo Racoma — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:49:39 +0000

PS – even though I live in Southeast Asia, companies and PR firms have been more than happy to ship over books and other small items for review. No one has sent me electronic items, though. Probably too complicated.

By: Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:49:20 +0000

I have yet to be invited to do a food review, perhaps because no restaurant wants to be associated with my chubby girth ;)

By: J. Angelo Racoma

J. Angelo Racoma — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:47:55 +0000

I’m okay with bloggers being sent items for review. What’s important is that there is adequate disclosure of how a blogger came about with that particular item, and that the review is not biased toward the positive.

Bloggers are mostly honest, I tend to think. Most would review products or services that they buy themselves. A few are sent freebies by companies or PR firms, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, unless there is an explicit agreement for the blogger to give a positive review instead of a candid one. There is, after all, still an issue in the blogosphere with paid reviews.

I, personally, have received books, CDs, and other items for review. I haven’t always highlighted the positive things about those items and services, and I make it a point to disclose the fact that they were sent in. Some review items are a
actually loaners (like laptops or such). And of course, no PR company has actually paid me to do a review.

And – I always welcome invitations for food/restaurant reviews! Yum!