Dear fellow bloggers and readers,
This morning while surfing on a friend’s website, I saw that she had reviewed a fun puzzle from Chris Yates.
So being a reviewer, I decided I could ask to review one of his products… I mean if I don’t ask, how would I know if I would have the opportunity to review it.
So here’s the email I send EVERYTIME I request to review a product. I have sent this email dozens of times in the past.
Good morning,
My name is Isabelle but I am known on the blogosphere as the Canadianladybug. I stumbled on your site this morning and I was wondering if you would allow a Canadian mom who blog to review your products.
Since about 3 years I am doing various reviews for products and books. It all started when I participated to the viral marketing project from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. I was part of 100 participants who had to review homeschool products from many publishers over a period of 9 months. When the time was up, I had re-discovered a love to tell others about books and products. So I contacted other publishers and started reviewing book. At the end of 2009, I had also included other products. I would love to continue to expand my review opportunities.
In case you are interested, here’s a bit more information about us. We are a bilingual homeschooling family of 2 adults and 4 kids ages 9 (Boy), almost 7 (boy), 5 (boy) and 3 (girl). My kids are involved in various aspects of product testing when it touches them. In a way, it is an interesting homeschool opportunity for our kids to get involved in the reviews. We also RV during the spring, summer and fall seasons. As a family we love to discover new places and explore together.
My blog is increasing in readers and my posts feed through to my Canadianladybug Reviews! Facebook like page. I also tweet about the review I do on my Canadianladybug Reviews! Twitter account. When it is possible I also post on amazon.ca and indigo.ca.
I do not charge for reviews. However, I request a full-version sample of the products to be reviewed which I get to keep. If you would let a Canadian mom review some of your products, I would be interested.
I am also open to do giveaways on my blog. However, the only request I have if you choose to do a giveaway is that the product by shipped to the winner by you.
I look forward to discover your products and work with you!
Isabelle aka Canadianladybug
Visit me at Canadianladybug Reviews! or Mouthworthy
Like the Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook
Follow me on twitter.
Clear. Simple. Straightforward. Sometimes, I don’t hear back from the companies I contact. Other times I get a simple No or Yes. But never in the past three years during which I have been doing this have I received this kind of a reply.
This afternoon, while I was preparing supper I received an email from Chris Yates saying:
You don't charge for reviews??? And you're on facebook *and* twitter??? Wow, I should just send you all kinds of free stuff for your kids to play with!
-cy
To this I replied to him with the email below.
Yes I don't charge for reviews. However if you do decide to send anything please make sure that you do send media mail to avoid charges when it cross
the border. If you send UPS please mention you will pay for charges as well...
That is all I ask. I could do a giveaway as well but I ask that it is shipped by the company who is making the product. I could limit the giveaway to US or or US and Canada. It is up to you.
I think the whole family would enjoy your products.
Thanks for considering it.
Isabelle aka Canadianladybug
To this he answered me… (dear reader and fellow blogger – please sit down before continuing)
I think someone forgot to turn on their sarcasm detector today.
Excuse me?
Granted I might be a little bit gullible but at first it actually sounded like a compliment. What can I say?
Should I permit this person to walk over me and make fun of the whole request. If Mr. Yates is not interested he just have to either delete the email and be done with it OR email me stating that thanks but at this time he is not interested.
Would I recommend my blogger friends to approach this guy to request to review his product? Definitively not.
Would I consider purchasing products from Chris Yates? Not anymore. As cool as the products might be, I do not appreciate being treated as a door mat and being ridiculed this way.
This person obviously needs some lessons on how to treat people. How can you expect doing business with others if you are treating them with sarcasm.
So fellow readers and bloggers, if you are considering either reviewing or purchasing his products, please don’t.
Gullible and proud.
Isabelle aka Canadianladybug
