I see a ton of threads in the BST section that are inundated with requests for review copies of products and services - I can see how that would be an effective marketing method , but then I also see how that can be annoying ... wondering what other people think?
Probably best to offer review copies when you start selling something, but set minimum qualifications. Say, only for people who have been members for X months or longer, or have more than X posts.... Though the best of all, would be to limit review copies to people who have at least 5 or 10 iTrader score
I've seen people say this before and never understood it. Why do they annoy you? It seems to me that they help the person marketing a product/service, by being able to get some reviews, they help the people who get the review copies (obviously, because they don't have to pay, or they pay a reduced amount), and they help other members who thereby have more information to go on and interpret before making their purchasing decisions. Where's the "annoyance"?
When I was in one of the sections of the BST forum recently, I saw people that posted that they wanted a review copy of like 25 different things all in like 5 minutes and they were all for drastically different things. Also, sometimes I read on threads people getting a review copy and then the review is something to the effect of "yea, it's cool ... " As a seller, if I offered a review copy, I would want a genuine review that would really reflect why my product or service is so great - seeing people just take 25 different products that are all so different and offering a review that does not really say anything seems like it defeats the purpose of the concept behind even offering a free product in exchange for a review. One the other hand, I have also seen very enlightening reviews as well that really helped me understand the value of a product or service and also, I think after recently getting scammed with a service that was never delivered to a whole thread full of people (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1175021), I wish there was a review of that service before I bought it - it may have saved money that I just threw into the wind to this DP member who just flat out refuses to address any of us. Anyway, I guess I wish there were more quality reviews ... it does not have to be eloquent or profound, just tell me whether it works, does the seller deliver, did it meet your expectations ... am I asking too much? Maybe I am just a bit scorned because of how recently I got ripped off on here
Ah, the truth emerges. I'm sorry to hear it, and I certainly agree with you that it would be nice to see more detailed reviews of better quality. Nobody can call the system perfect. But it's surely better than not having it at all?
Whatever it is, potential buyers always have the right to demand to find out more before paying for it. Of course, rather than releasing a full version, there's an option to distribute a promotional copy.
+1 .. Promo copy will help you to not to spread your product for free and there will be no need for a review copy ( full product copy ) !
Yes... It is annoying sometimes.... when a person with no i-trader and 37 posts says that his review will boost the sales of the OP... Also, some people are always there to take the review copies and their reviews are useless.They have a template pre-written and just fill the template and post it.