Anybody posting a "review" under those conditions can never be taken seriously again. If you come on here, pretending that you made a flashlight purchase decision of your own accord, then typing what the seller tells you to say as if it was really your opinion? If anybody is considering this, they need (and probably will get) a lesson in journalism ethics 101 and remedial honesty for dumbasses.
A person only gets one shot at credibility, once it's gone, it's gone.
Foy
Okay, it seems there is a thing here called a "sponsored review." I suppose that may be a different thing if it is clearly identified as such. Still; I don't think my old-school-curmudeon english professor would like it. Too bad because I really would like a free flashlight.
gettingdownoffsoapboxFoy
That's why I didn't even answer the PM. I'm sorry yoki, it seems you picked a bad job.
I didn't mean to say you should or shouldn't do anything with regards to reviews or free lights ..I almost got on that soapbox when the discussion for dx was going around earlier this week . I fully expect people to do a myriad of things I may or may not do or like ,most not needing me to lecture them .I just noticed in your post DD and suddenly realized it wasn't dungeons and dragons . DD bears a bullseye on it's back , and untill I get a refund or new lights and an appology I'm going to go off on them like a spider monkey ..Unless i am calmly asked to step back from the ledge by Our fearless leader Mr. Administrator himself.
I sincerly hope they get their act together and address my issues .I eagerly await their response.
I got the same message, I did not respond, it just sounded like a window to spam and decieve people and this forum. My intuition seems to have been correct!
At work i don't mind to have some chit chat with Yoki. As an individual i find Yoki quite nice for chit chat. I pointed out that redeeming DD in BLF eyes might take a while but solving past issues might be the best they can do. Let's see how they play their cards.
I believe everyone deserves a second chance. I really do not wish to be involved more that i managed so far. I'm not going to risk losing my credibility over such nonsense. Perhaps i'm being too friendly but so far my tendency toward being nice to people i don't know made more good things than bad. Still believe that i can safely say when it is too much. I will keep my word to Yoki for the DD review and consider it for BLF and actually i don't think there is anything wrong with it at all. IF i get junk, it will be noted. IF not the review will be reasonable and as far as i can make it objective. Said that i hope BLF did not get the idea that i can be sold that cheaply. For a few million € i would probably don't mind to change hobby but a free flashlight can hardly make my eyebrow move. Since i learned from BLF all i know about flashlights i feel the need to help the comunity as best as i can. Being objective to the possible extent is also my priority.
I've just talk with yoki through msn. I would try to understand what he/she really need. Maybe also for a misunderstanding i think he/she need a review, so i ask at least to have ALL technical specification, but the reality is the real need is to post a DD deal on the forum. As i said to yoki, this is his/her job not mine. I also said to feel free to contact me again if he/she need a real review.
Ok, maybe the way he/she use to obtain visibility is not 100% correct but i think it's his/her job and he/she try everything to do it. However, if admin and forum rules allows it, anyone can decide freely to accept or not.
I decided to refuse because i usually hate spam and advertising on a forum and if i need an R2 i can still buy it myself.
Selfbuilt, light-reviews, and many others write excellent reviews and don't pay a dime for any of their lights (lucky bastards). I have no problem if someone gets a free light and writes a review of it as long as they mention it was free. It is pretty easy to tell a sales pitch from a review. Reviews at epinions always sound like sales pitches (people are being paid a commission on what people buy via the review) vs. Amazon reviews which tend to be buyers. But even some Amazon reviews are glaring astroturf.
Think just about everyone got the PM about a free 501. The 501 may just be the worst P60 body ever built. Would work OK with incandescent bulbs.
Given that I already have a 501 body, the dropin would be the only item of interest. And I have plenty of generic R2 dropins already and exactly no interest in getting any more.
It is dubious whether I have anything good to say about that body so nobody sending me one at any price is going to be happy with my impressions of it, why bother replying?
If I get a freebie that might be interesting, I'll reply. And make it clear that I will say what the freebie cost me. When there is no way that there is anything positive I could possibly say, why bother?
If it isn't any good for me, I will say so, regardless of what I did or did not pay for it.
I may, or may not have a light coming for review. If i do, I hereby state that it will be given away whether I like it or not. If I like it enough I will spend my own hard-earned on it. If not, I won't.
I've learned a lot from all sorts of folks here. Why should I be the only one to benefit from what I've learned? Lots of people freely gave their time and learning to educate me. Time to pass it on.
Suggestions for crazy ways to do a giveaway welcome!
That's pretty much how I see it. I like full disclosure (feels weird to have the FTC on my side :D) and I absolutely don't mind someone getting a free flashlight in exchange for the time and effort they put into thoroughly testing it and writing up a review. Here's my problem: if you have a dodgy reputation and really are trying to make amends, you just don't go ahead and spam a forum or its members. If you're trying to drum up some publicity, fine, that's legitimate and I don't think it's any different from running a promotion to get 5 star DSRs on eBay. As long as there's full disclosure, I'm okay with that. But it would have been nice to ask the guy who pays the bills before coming to his house and opening up a lemonade stand in his front yard, while walking all over his roses.
(In the interest of clarity, language barrier and all: I believe these things should go through Mr. Admin first - particularly if an attempt is made to "recruit" a significant number of users using the site's PM system. I got the same message and even though I don't consider it to be spam per se, I have to wonder why I was picked - well, make that "picked" - in the first place: I don't really do reviews since I'm hardly qualified and I rarely have the time. Yes, asking for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission but the thing is - the Internet never forgets. Methinks this offer, albeit possibly well-intended, backfired.)
My problem with this is not, getting a light to review and keeping it. It appeared that she wanted me to post a review with her telling me what to say. In folow-up e-mails it seems (perhaps) she simply meant she would provide the specs. I can see how that may have gotten twisted in the translation and if so, I appologize for my contribrution to it. As many have said, it's all about disclosure and as long as everything is up front then I suppose there's no harm/no foul. As for myself; of necessity I must set the bar a little higher so if someone is desperate enough to request my services (thankfully my employer is) someone here will get a free light. Ultimately and in addition, I really would like to be part of this community. I value being here on this board. I know it's just flashlights and even though it occupies a relatively small part of my particular universe, it is important to me. I have some major difficulties in my life at present (nothing we can't handle, so far) and this is a very much needed escape.
foybeingtoodeepFoy
The 501B is a fine light , ok it not as heavy a build as other lights , but you dont always need bulk ...
Mine is XR-E R2 and runs fine [ pill is wrapped in Al-foil to heatsink into the body better ] but mine handles the XR-E just fine [ up to 1.7A @ the tail ] and have never had an issue with heat .
If you just dont like the look of it , I can see that , and the 501 is not a good choice for MC-E / SSC-P7 / SST or XM-L ..
Anything else though , should be fine .. I like my 501B for the reason its lighter and smaller than other 18650 hosts , and in XR-E R2 it throws fine and is a very nice flashlight .
The only issue I have had is the clicky switch, it may need a little work to make it 100% ... Often the switch boot is to tight a fit and presses down on the switch , and you may need to trim the switch boot a little .. [ THe rubber boot on the end of the light ]
Oh man ??? Where was my Email ??? Just kidding !!
Seriously , if 5 lights are sent out for review , then that should give us a better idea of the product , especially if everyone writes a review ...
Funny that , a ways back a manufacturer sent out a whole bunch of batteries for testing - review and I never saw more than one review as a result [ yeah , I was the only one to post a review ] , for the manufacturer . [ A rather poor result ] . But its up to the sponsor , they pick who they are interested in doing the review , etc .
And then its up to the individual to decide if the terms are acceptable ..
Sounds like the 501 is invoking a bit of negative feeling ?
That's great idea. Send a light to 5 or 6 of us and let us all contribute. That would be the best, most informative review they could get and I bet it would sell a few lights too.
Foy
To the Chinese business is like war...
Yoki wants forum members to post links to deals on DD on this forum in order to get free flashlights.
The review is just the first step.
Recruiting forum members to spam our own forum.
Read carefully and you will see...
"Thanks very much for your reply. If i want you to help me post an exclusive deal info for me in the forum and for a reward you will get this free UltraFire WF-501B CREE R2 250Lumens LED Flashlight from our company, would you still interest in this deal? of course, i will tell you the product information you may post on the forum".
"If i want you to help me post an exclusive deal info for me in the forum"
Yeah, it's definitely NOT our place to do that. We can do reviews for her, provided we can use purely our own opinion, but posting deals for her? DO IT YOURSELF. THERE'S A FORUM SECTION FOR THAT.
And honestly a real review is worth so much more that spam, even if the review is bad, at least I won't have a bad taste in my mouth from that company's spam (I like SPAM the food though. Yummy).
Interesting. I was asked only for a DD review and declined any futher involvement. Apparently worked for me tho. The more i read this thread the more i feel the soap effect. It seemed a good proposal to me at that time but due to the recent events i start to see some lonely soaps around waiting to be picked. Still feel reasonably clean so i did not manage to pick one up...
It seems the majority think that DD should be shot on sight. Others that might have a different opinion are keeping very silent on the matter perhaps avoiding any potential involvement. Personally i feel quite uneasy about being the only one kind of neutral on the whole thing.
Many feel like:
Anyway, my "order" shipped.
I did not get a PM maybe no one believes in me.
Budgeteer, that is the most disturbing photo I've seen since the cpf thread....
:Sp
lol I just realized there are 2 pairs of feet... what's goin on...
yeah, I saw that too. And they're real too close to each other. LOL