I’ve been involved in an email conversation over the course of a few days with a rep from a PR company about reviews. Today she sent me a reply that read…
“If you can do a review without any samples, that would be great! Let us know what you need.”
What? Did she really just ask me to fake a review?
Which got me wondering, are there bloggers out there doing this? If you are, this not ok! It is lying! It is taking advantage of your readers! It’s also just bad ethics in general and I can not imagine that it is good for your Karma. Even if I was offered money, I still would not post a review of a product I have not personally tried. Sure, I will post a sponsored informational post and also disclose that I was paid to tell you about the product. But to straight up lie and say I used it and loved it? No, never!
Readers, I will always be honest with you. I will not fake a review just to have content, or fake a review to get paid.
Bloggers, have you ever been asked to post a review about a product you have never tried? Readers, how do you feel about this?
Names and companies withheld, I’m not looking for drama…just a discussion.
Girl on Fire
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I think that would be totally unacceptable to review something without trying/using the product! That’s not a review at all.
What did you say back to the PR rep?
I told her that would be lying and asked her how she could ask me to do that.
I have not ever done that. I wouldn’t know where to start talking about a product I have not tried. I feel like the product is my compensation for doing a review, so I don’t just say yes to everything I’m offered. If it is something my family wouldn’t use, no point in me agreeing to review it.
Exactly 🙂
I have no problem reviewing a website or doing a review of products I’ve actually used (but no one sent to me to try – just things I already had on my own). However, I hate when PR people send me press releases, and then when I reply back asking about samples, they want me to share without one. That’s fine and all, but I’m not going to post something using THEIR terminology (like BEST BABY SWING ON THE MARKET! or MUST HAVE TOY FOR CHRISTMAS 2013!) unless I have tried it and know it.
Ugh.
I totally agree! Doing that makes it look like we endorse it and how can we endorse something we have never used 🙂
I’ve never been asked to post a REVIEW without REVIEWING the item.
I have been asked to do a sponsored post (for which I was paid – and I disclosed that info) about a product, but I NEVER gave MY opinions or claimed to use it if I had not.
This is INSANE!
Yes, a sponsored informational post is a whole other thing.
I think that it’s generally obvious when someone is writing a review about something that they’ve never really tried. I would hope that most bloggers are honest about what they’re saying.
I do think that most are honest. But there are bad apples in every group…
I have never had that. But if it’s something I’d like to try, I will post something about why I would like to try it and ask anyone else if they have experience with it etc.
Yes and that is still being honest 🙂
I’m not a blogger–just a reader. 🙂 I think that’s a pretty crummy thing to ask you to do, and I’m glad you declined! What kind of company is too cheap to send a free sample or product for you to review?!
I will always be honest! I promise 🙂
Ummm, HOLY COW. Just…what the HECK?!
Ha, that was my response as well! 🙂
I have recently also been asked to do this.I am with you,that is a lie!I never do a review of a product that we have not used in our home.I also tell you if I don’t like it as well.Be honest and your readers will stay with you and believe you.
I have always been honest with my readers. I have been blogging for nearly 9 years in some shape or form and never have pretended to review something. I have also watch bloggers say they reviewed something, then later sell it unopened….hmmmm lol.
wowzers! I can’t imagine how I could comment on a product I’ve never tried. I guess I could comment on the advertising or give comments I’ve heard second hand…..
I was shocked by the email…for real. I responded back to her and she has not replied.
That is CRAZY! First of all, blogging is WORK!!! Why would you want to do work for nothing? Second of all, people look to us for HONEST reviews … what the heck? I hope that any bloggers that may do this type of thing are few and far between.