Please Stop Asking For Review Copies

matapples01 · Dec 16, 2008

I'm sick of every thread I look at where someone is looking for a freebie. If it's something worth selling in the BST area, it's going to get a mod review. If it's in freelance, stop asking for handouts. Pay these guys what they deserve or move on.

If the seller looks shady, don't buy, wait for others to try it or try it on a small scale first to see what the quality is. This ain't rocket science. Don't buy 100000 articles from the guy right out of the gate and don't send $500 via Western Union to some outsourcing company for an enormous project if you've never worked with them before...duhhh.

End of rant.

netjedi · Dec 16, 2008

LoL.. wow, what happened there Bobfrapples?
You sound very... angry..

vivalafeva · Dec 16, 2008

I myself am someone who often asks for a review copy, why is it so wrong? if I dont get the review copy thats fine, as long as someone gets it to verify the legitamacy of the OP. Very often a review copy is helpful for both the reviewer and the seller, one person gets a service for free, and the other one gets more orders because of the review copy.

justthinking · Dec 16, 2008

I agree with bobfrapples. It is extremely irritating when members start asking for review copies. It seems we are starting to get a 'DP' mentality.

But if you do create a e-book about this topic bob, I would like a review copy.

netjedi · Dec 16, 2008

Gotta agree with vivalafeva on this,
Review copy = more trust people have
more trust people have = more sales
more sales = more profit

win-win for both.
I know that you're trying to state a point that we shouldn't ask for a freebie, but i think its a win win situation

matapples01 · Dec 16, 2008

netjedi said:
LoL.. wow, what happened there Bobfrapples?
You sound very... angry..

No, it's all good, and I'm not even smart enough to sell anything

I just think people should get paid for their work.

netjedi · Dec 16, 2008

justthinking said:
I agree with bobfrapples. It is extremely irritating when members start asking for review copies. It seems we are starting to get a 'DP' mentality.

But if you do create a e-book about this topic bob, I would like a review copy.

lol.. well i think giving away one free review is alright. Its up to the seller.

Whether he wants to give a

free review
half price
promotional price
package
etc

vivalafeva · Dec 16, 2008

yea it really is up to the seller, if they decide to give some away thats their own choice. Hey im not gonna turn down a free copy of something i need, and all i have to do is give my opinion.

netjedi · Dec 16, 2008

bobfrapples said:
No, it's all good, and I'm not even smart enough to sell anything I just think people should get paid for their work.

Have to agree with you on this point bobfrapples, people should get paid for their work

But humans are built with the need......
the need... to get free stuff lol...

that how human are made lol..
NOT all though lol..

matapples01 · Dec 16, 2008

The review copy process is flawed by its nature. A review of a service is useless because the provider knows it's a review and MAY go above and beyond their normal level of service to get a good review. A review of a product never gets as crucial of a critique as something you paid for...just human nature. You're not gonna skewer some guy who just gave you a free piece of software, ebook...no matter how bad it is.

netjedi · Dec 16, 2008

vivalafeva said:
yea it really is up to the seller, if they decide to give some away thats their own choice. Hey im not gonna turn down a free copy of something i need, and all i have to do is give my opinion.

NOBODY turns down a free stuff lol..
thats what my economics teacher always say haha..

except if...
IF the person is BALD and someone is giving him a free COMB...

The Scarlet Pimp · Dec 16, 2008

might be a good idea for writers to prepare a special "review copy" of their book.
this would be identical to the book they are selling, except there would be bits
and pieces missing. if you thought the idea was good, then you buy the book.

for example... the missing data could be the names and phone numbers of suppliers.
or the name of a program that you need to make their system work. etc.

this lets people see what you have to offer but it does not allow them to progress
without paying you for your info.

gimme4free · Dec 16, 2008

I think the problem people really get pissed off with is newbie DP members with 10 posts asking for review copies. If you actually look through their 10 posts you will also notice that they have been through 10 BST threads and asked for reviews of everybodies products.

Personally what I think is fair is trading products to offer a review to each others products. Obviously this would make both parties a bit more wary of what they post the review about as they wouldnt want to receive a bad one back themselves but 99/100 times people get a free review copy they don't leave a bad review anyway so it shouldnt make too much of a difference.

scubaslick · Dec 16, 2008

A review is only as good as the reviewer. If you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground, what kind of a review can you possibly give?

I'll ask, in PM, for a review copy of some items if I suspect the person might be a potential scammer or if it's a topic I know something about. I can usually spot the first, and I try to help them make the product better in the case of the second. When I do a review for someone I do it for the author first to help them clarify their ideas, improve the presentation, add value etc. to help them sell more copies. But only if it's a good product. If it's a piece of shit, I tell them so.

I've reviewed a few products pre-launch that never saw the light of day, and for good reason.

So asking for a review copy isn't necessarily a bad thing, but giving a review copy to a clueless one post newbie doesn't help any one - seller, buyers or the forum.

stylesb · Dec 16, 2008

im with netjedi and vivalafeva ... it helps all parties ...

netjedi said:
Gotta agree with vivalafeva on this,
Review copy = more trust people have
more trust people have = more sales
more sales = more profit

win-win for both.
I know that you're trying to state a point that we shouldn't ask for a freebie, but i think its a win win situation

I had a guy on DP screw me with CL posts and I ripped him in a review. Definitely saved a ton of people money by getting screwed going forward.

DrJekyll · Dec 16, 2008

I think where bob is coming from is it makes us look like no money having noobs like on another forum, So just pull out your wallet, and buy if you really can use what is offered. At least act like you are making enough money to test a new product or service

graphicnut · Dec 16, 2008

I agree this forum has gone nuts with noobs wanting freebies, i think someone has made an ebook at dp and the method was to visit bhw

Please Stop Asking For Review Copies

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