Pushy Giveaway Blog sponsor

[kijsa]

I was recently contacted by a blog that wanted to do a giveaway on her site. Her request was that I send her the item at no charge, she photographs in her home, reviews, and posts about it...then i provide a second item for the giveaway (both free of charge and my shipping cost)
Her statistics were mediocre at best, but I have had sales success with blog giveaways before (although never having to send an item to the blogger + giveaway one to readers), so I responded that I would possibly like to promote some prints I am making of my work & might consider it. She became very insistent on wanting a particular chalkboard in my shop (that funny, was sold out!) and said that for her to promote my print, I would have to provide this item for her!!!!!! (as well as the two prints!)
So, of course, I very politely told her I would be unable to do this!!

Question one- has this happened to you & how did you deal with it?
Question two - since she has not ordered (she was trying too hard to get it for free) Is there anyway other than feedback she can leave anything negative about my site on etsy? (I guess because I wouldn't give her something for free?!!)

[CatherineMarissa]

Wow, that's ridiculous. I've had review/giveaway requests, but nothing so rude.

At this point, I would ignore any contact made by her. She's out of line.

The only way to leave feedback on Etsy is through a transaction. She could complain in the forums (which I highly doubt she would), but that thread would be shut down.

[PPennee]

There is no way anyone can leave you negative feedback or open a case against you without some sort of transaction to reference.

When I get these requests I do one of 2 things. If it is a huge blog with a significant following I look to get as much information as I can about the demographic (I always am very skeptical of requests for free especially from a successful blog). I then let them know I am happy to sponsor a give away- mailed direct to the winner or I may decline the give away and ask about advertising space if it looks worthwhile.
For the pushy nasty ones, I either totally ignore them, report them to Etsy trust and security for spamming or get back to them letting them know that a bullying and demanding demeanor will definitely not get them anything free and will get them banned from Etsy when I report them for spamming!
You were way nicer than I would ever be after someone started being that pushy!

[Former_Member]

I was contacted last week...she of course wanted the item for herself to review and another one of the item for the giveaway winner with all shipping costs on me. She is international so the shipping cost alone made it not worth it for me. I told her I would gladly offer one item for the giveaway winner after the contest was over...never heard back from her. I checked out her blog and she has had quite a few of these "review/giveaways"...but she wanted these items right away!!! Again her blog stats were mediocre...I currently run my own blog and feature fellow Etsy shops...GIVEAWAYS ARE OPTIONAL for the featured seller and they ship directly to the giveaway winner. But hey...at least someone took the time to seek me out on here and liked my creations enough to ask me right?

[Former_Member]

I was approached by a blogger for a giveaway my second day on Etsy. I barely had anything in my shop at the time and she wanted me to give her the painting she was to promote. Right? And she had fewer than 100 followers on her blog. Sounded to me like someone was doing free xmas shopping early. She thought I was new and stupid and would do anything for a sale.

[Former_Member]

I had a similar experience when I was new. I ended up trying it and got no sales or views even. I was out 2 items, not a large out of pocket expense, but annoying.

Judith

[Former_Member]

I think a lot of these so called product testers target newbie shop owners. I got several last year when I went live with my shop, after a few months they dwindled off and I've not gotten any recently. I did receive a request to be featured in a blog but it's from a person I've purchased patterns from, she does not want product, just for me to answer some interview questions and provide some pictures. Easy enough if I ever get ahead on orders. lol

[BrushStrokeOrnaments]

Likewise, I've been contacted for giveaways. While I participated in one once, I did not see significantly increased shop views or sales as a result...so I took it as a lesson learned. I will not participate in ANY free giveaways. I feel that if someone really likes my product, they can mention me in their blog if they are so inclined. They don't need a free item to do so!