I have decided to start a new series to give feedback about the sponsors I work with to offer you, my readers, relevant product reviews and fun contests. If you read my blog, then you most likely know that I like to keep a generally positive tone, whether I am writing a personal post or an article that contains criticisms about a product.
The reason I am starting this series is not a very positive one. In the past 3 or 4 months, there has been a noticeable increase of sponsors, both small businesses and large corporations, not coming through with the contest prizes for my readers. For one reason or another, they have failed to deliver the promised prize to the winner without any explanation after months of following up on my part.
For example, one company made an agreement to send a prize worth $150 to our winner. The contest ran for nearly the entire month of August and I have been trying to attain the prize for the winner since the beginning of September. Since then, I have emailed the sponsor 7 times and messaged the sponsor 3 times on Twitter. The sponsor did acknowledge one of the Twitter messages and one email, but still almost 4 months later, my reader still does not have her prize. Now would you as a consumer want to purchase from a business that is not upstanding and does not value your taking the time to read about their product and to visit their website? As a blogger, would you want to promote this company's product?
This is the only editorial post that will be part of this series. The reports will consist of the date the contest ended, the prize promised, the company's name, and how many attempts I made to contact that company. Also, so that these posts are not completely negative, I intend to highlight the companies that have been especially upstanding . . . ones my readers take the time to write me an email about stating how quickly they received their prize and how happy they are with the product.
I truly wish more bloggers will take a stand and post something similar on their own websites. I really do want my readers to know that I did make an true effort to get their prizes to them, I appreciate their taking the time to read my blog and enter my contests, and I hate that they have been disappointed. I am not worried about burning bridges because I am unlikely to ever want to work with a company again that is not honorable. I am not concerned about potential sponsors not wanting to work with me because my reports will only list the exceptional sponsors I have had the pleasure to work with and the sponsors whom I have been chasing for at least two months and have still not produced a prize without an explanation.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, as it is something that I feel very strongly about.
I think this is a great idea!!
Posted on December 21, 2009 4:24 PM
When people enter these contests they spend a lot of their time. I know I entered 2 contests - one for Tupperware and one for McCormick Spices - it has been months and I never received anything from either of them. I feel especially bad for the girls who hosted these giveaways on their blogs. It should be illegal for companies to do this....just my opinion.
Posted on December 21, 2009 4:24 PM
Thanks for starting this Karen. I think that we had the exact same sponsor from August. My winner also did not get her prize either.
Posted on December 21, 2009 4:27 PM
I think its a great idea Karen. So far I believe all my sponsors have followed through but I have won on some blogs and never received my prize. Thanks for starting this so we can all see which companies are credible and care about their consumers.
Posted on December 21, 2009 4:34 PM
Kudos to you Karen - as a giveaway blogger myself, it's frustrating when a firm decides to run a giveaway and then does not come through in the end. It makes me less likely as a consumer to even consider products from their company when I need to purchase something.
I'm hoping to never need to write a post like this on my blog.
Posted on December 21, 2009 4:48 PM
I think its a great idea to put this together.
Posted on December 21, 2009 5:40 PM
This is a great post. Maybe these companies will take notice. I for one know I wouldn't want to work with them knowing they won't follow through on their end of the deal.
Lee
Posted on December 21, 2009 6:11 PM
As a blogger who hosts giveaways, I have also seen an increase in sponsors not fulfilling their end of the deal.
I really hope that some see this, spread the word to others and make it lesson to always get the prizes out to the winners.
It's fine if they want to tarnish their reputation but when they start messing with mine, it's a whole 'nuther story;)
Posted on December 21, 2009 6:15 PM
As a review/giveaway blogger I have been fortunate enough that this hs not happened and my sponosrs have come through. I would be really mad if they didn't because reviewing a product and taking the time to write about is work and if you do your part, they need to do their part. I would hate to have them welch because the people who enter deserve better.
On the other side, as an entrant in blog giveaways, I have not received prizes that I won and that is very disappointing. Blog giveaways unlike regular sweeps require time and effort to enter. So when a sponosr doesn't come through on the prize, it is upsetting. Not only does it make their company look bad but it also affects the blogger as well. That is not fair.
Posted on December 21, 2009 6:39 PM
Truly great idea! You are awesome with how you handle things!
Posted on December 21, 2009 9:15 PM
I think this series is a wonderful idea! As a blogger I don't want to work with companies that do not stand behind their word on promises and contracts. And as a contest entrant at times, I would not want to enter a giveaway if there is a chance that after spending the time reading the review, going to their site to learn about the company and product and then go through all the entries to get my best chance at winning, if I was not going to get the prize in the end anyway.
If a company wants good reviews on not only their products but on their workers, reps and their words to bloggers then they need to step up and make sure they fulfill their end of the deal.
Posted on December 21, 2009 10:32 PM
This is a great idea. I won a prize over 6 months ago and never got a response from the blogger or the company. Worst part it was just a couple of business cards with romantic hints on it. Thanks for letting us readers/bloggers know who has been good and not so good working with.
Posted on December 21, 2009 10:46 PM
I think this is a great idea. As a blogger, there's nothing worse than doing your part and not having the sponsor follow through, yet you get the blame. I see it all the time. It makes me hesitant to run giveaways.
As a consumer it doesn't make me want to purchase from such companies either. It's just not right to create buzz with a review and/or giveaway, and then not come through with the prize, especially when one of the requirements is usually to visit the sponsor's site. They just took all that traffic with nothing in return as promised.
Posted on December 21, 2009 11:47 PM
It is time-consuming on both the blogger's and entrants part. It's not right when they don't fulfill their end of the bargain.
I love this idea!
Posted on December 22, 2009 12:48 AM
I'm not a blogger but I do enter a lot of giveaways. And, here's further proof that I read non-giveaway content.
When I win a giveaway, I really appreciate it when a blogger shoots an e-mail letting me know that they received my winner confirmation/info and that's a prize has shipped (if they do the shipping, that is). I sure do wish all bloggers extended the courtesy.
I agree that it's a great idea and will share your post with my blogging author friends.
Posted on December 22, 2009 2:42 PM
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