I think it is a great honor being able to write for a site. As you are well aware we get a lot of equipment from the OEM’s to try out and review. It is a great opportunity to get to try these products and pass along our findings to the community. Typically we get a unit to review for 30 days and at the end of that time we have to send it back. Not a bad deal. On occasion the company may lets us keep the product and the rule at Mobility Today is that it is then given away to the community by way of a contest. This makes everyone a winner.
I am sure that other sites may do the same thing or they might decide to keep the equipment for themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, since it was given to them, and they can do with it as they choose.
I have heard that some sites won’t review a product unless they can keep it. Personally I think this is wrong, unethical, and boarders on blackmail. I guess the mentality is that since they take the time to review the product they should be compensated for their time. I don’t think this is right. I can’t speak for everyone but I believe that most folks that either set up or work at these sites do it because they love technology. They don’t do it to get rich, the site owners just want to cover expense assocated with running the site, they don’t do it to get free products, and they don’t do it to make a name for themselves. They do it to help others.
In my limited exposure over the past few years I can honestly tell you that running a website is not an easy task. I tip my hat to all of the folks that run honest and reputable sites. They sacrifice a lot of their time and money in the pursuit of their interest and to have a few unethical people sully their reputation is despicable.
What are your thoughts on this?
Wow. That sounds like heaven, to be able to get all these products from the OEMs…
I will gladly do any product reviews if anyone is willing to allow me to get my hands on it and write about my findings, just for the opportunity. I have absolutely no problems doing so, especially if the product costs quite a bit of money.
The main problem is that I get very limited revenue, being such a small site from the affiliate ad links I put on my site and to have to shell out the money to return things back may pose a problem.
I do hope that I will get bigger in time so that I can give away some of the stuff I’ve received. Now, if I can get some sponsors….
At least your doing it for the right reasons. Some people do it just to get free products and that is not right.
Its an interesting point but there are people that actually do the job full time as a business so they have to make decisions about how they get their income. Either its from ads or some other payment. I don’t see any problems in a paid-for review as long as the review is impartial. It can help to reduce the number of ads a visitor sees but it would be difficult to convince visitors that the review was impartial. Its a shame Google can’t work this out yet!!!
Steve.
Carrypad.com
P.S. I don’t get paid or ask for payment for reviews.
It should also be stated up front that company X is paying for this review.
Hey, just bumping this up (as a little self promotion of sorts), I’m having an Otterbox 1920 giveaway contest that Otterbox was very gracious in allowing me to give it away. So, if you know of anyone who owns a Treo 650/700w/p and needs something like the Otterbox 1920 rugged armor case, throw them over my way. I’d love to get more exposure.
Thanks in advance!