a really troubling experience...

[Former_Member]

a girl contacted me a few days ago and asked me if i would like to trade a item for a review on her blog... im usually skeptical about this but once i reviewed her blog i thought it might be a good fit. i asked her if there was any specific item she was thinking about and she came back and said she liked the purple kids hat on my store. but that she wanted to know if i could make it blue and green since that was her daughters favorite color and she wanted to give it to her for christmas. Slightly annoyed i told her sorry no i dont have blue or green yarn but if she wanted to pay for materials and shipping id gladly make her one. i said, 50% off my listed item price, so $8 and ill make you your custom hat. She answered and said... well i dont have any money but i saw you have a man modeling a brown scarf, can you make the hat brown? my daughters coat is tan so that would work too....

I havent answered her yet-im not really sure what to say. I dont like the idea that im giving my products away for free anyway in exchange for something that may or may not benefit me but i understand sometimes you have to do it. But do you have to make it so obvious your just trying to get free things?

[beevintageredux]

No no no, this sounds like a really bad idea. She is very obviously only trying to get something for free. Is it really worth your time and effort and now frustration for the possibility of a little exposure?
I would tell her that you're sorry, but it is the holidays and yo are very busy. Since you had already discussed it with her, maybe tell her you are still willing to send her something already in your shop or at the offered discount, if you're still willing to do that. Otherwise, thank her for her interest and offer, but no thanks, and move on.
So sorry this happened! Good luck with the situation.

[Former_Member]

i think that there are some really great blogs out there- and it can potentially be a great way to get exposure however i've become very... picky (i guess thats the best word) due to various reasons.

something that would concern me outside of the custom colors... you're probably expecting to have your blog post/review during the holiday shopping season right? is she planning on writing the review before she actually gives her little one the "gift"?

[MakeOrBreakStudio]

I understand she makes it sound very unpleasant,
But if its a successful blog and has many followers (and only in this case!) Maybe it's worth it.
But I would send her only when she will publish the post on her blog, and not before.

[Former_Member]

So, who is she? LOL I wouldn't mind being taken advantage of for a little free press right now ;)

Half of me wants to say "FORGET IT". She just came up with a scam to get free things. But then the other half says.... isn't that what TONS of sites are doing? They just aren't as obvious about it.

I don't know...

I "think" I'd tell her that at this busy time of year, you'll trade for an item in your shop, but not a custom order. Besides... if the girl's coat is tan, wouldn't anything match?

~Linda

[Former_Member]

@Chelsea, I totally agree with Heather. The way you explain it, I would not do it either. Sounds like she just needs gifts for the holidays.

[Former_Member]

i did tell her that! after she asked for the blue and green one, i said she can have the purple one in my shop free or pay materials on the new one and she said she had a better idea and proposed the brown one.

I do understand that tons of sites are doing that but it makes me feel taken advantage of to know shes contacting me because she cant spend $8 on her daughter for christmas-not because she wants a well rounded blog ... blah blah...

Anyway - doesnt she need the item before she can do the review?

PS
If you want some free press might i suggest submitting something to craftgawker, i did it this week and have had 900-1500 views a day on my blog since.

[TheButlersPottery]

People post things on their blog, usually free because the more you blog the more exposure. It is advertising for her too.

[Former_Member]

Heather from beevintageredux says

No no no, this sounds like a really bad idea. She is very obviously only trying to get something for free.

***
THIS

Please read up on this - it's an every day occurrence where new bloggers will spam Etsians to receive free stuff.

It's a problem because 1) they are illegally contacting you and should be reported as spam and 2) they are not interested in anything but getting free stuff - this person just made it more obvious.

The only time you should ever send free stuff for a blog review is when YOU contact THEM - NOT the other way around.

I have team members who get these requests almost daily. I would either report them or ignore them.

[Former_Member]

How many followers does that blog have?
Are most followers persons who might buy your product?

I blog and I feature Etsy sellers, and I would never ask for something for free. The last person I interviewed even got a sale because of someone who discovered her through my blog and I think that's awesome.

We are meant to support each other, not to take advantage of each other. I saw, run away from those asking for free stuff (especially with such specific requests! it seems that person is just doing holiday shooping)

[Former_Member]

She does need to have your product in hand to properly give it a review. If you offered her something in stock or at a discount and she pressed the issue of getting a custom made hat for free- I personally would just forget it.

I kinda got a little laugh about the brown scarf- yes that means you *had* brown yarn it doesn't technically mean you have more of it on hand.

[honeystreasures]

She's just trying to get a free gift. I would not do it. I did it once and didn't get any return for my investment.

I honestly do not like being contacted for people looking for free things or trades and either politely say no or delete the msg.

[StarJewels]

Anyone can write a blog and many people do. Unles she has a really huge readership that is exactly your target market I wouldn't do it. Sounds like she is just looking for something for nothing.

[Former_Member]

Sounds way to complicated to be a good thing. If she is "professional" blogger, she shouldn't be fishing around for such free stuff. If you want to bow out politely, other people have given great advice about citing the holidays.

[ShaynaMade]

Sweetly respond that after further thinking you've decided that this is not a good fit for your online shop at this time. Thank her for considering your items as a blog review & wish her a very wonderful day. :)

[CopperLeafStudios]

You are making a business decision. What does your gut tell you? The professional blogs & organizations will purchase. If it is a giveaway, they will purchase and have you send to an alternate address. If you are trading a product for a service (advertising), you technically should disclose both on your taxes. Will she give you the documentation for your records? Did she give you her blog statistics? Those are good questions to ask to politely find out if she's on the level.

[Former_Member]

I never participate in giveways or trades. I usually just say that the person can use my photos, links and shop name on their blog, but I won't be sending any products. I mean, really, I sell greeting cards. What is there to review? How nicely they fold open?

If it's a super popular blog you *might* get exposure. I got exposure from one blog, and it was great, but no direct sales that I could see. However, in the next couple of days, I was drowned out by new blog posts. That item still has not sold in my shop.

[Former_Member]

I get asked a lot for free stuff to "review" for "free" advertising. I did it a few times a few years back. The ONLY thing that came of that "advertising" was hundreds more people asking for free stuff. About 80% of the people I sent free things to never even wrote a review or did a video. The thing is the reviewer can easily mention they got the item(s) for free, which leads to your inbox being spammed like mad from other people wanting free stuff. And you have no guarantee that they will do anything at all with what you send them aside from enjoy it for themselves. I have since made it a policy to never, never, never send out free stuff to bloggers or youtubers. It just isn't worth it at all. And seriously, if I sent something to each person who asked I would not have anything left to sell.

[Former_Member]

Oh and I'll second the statement that really great bloggers don't ask for free stuff, they buy things or wait for you to approach them. ;)

[tkiDesigns]

I get asked a lot & IMO the couple times that I said yes, it did absolutely no good & I gave away my product for nothing. I now say "NO thank you!!".

[Former_Member]

I have had a lot of people contact me asking for free items. I am under the impression that when people want to review items, they purchase them just like anyone else so the review will be unbiased.
It sounds like she is just trying to get free stuff.

[Former_Member]

I say go with your gut. If it feels like something is off, then I would just politely decline. I'm sure there are better ways to get attention to your shop.

[MoonlightDesigns2]

I for one do not like being taken advantage of. I signed up for another Etsy sellers Blog giveaway once, a little blurb about my shop was all I got...hardly made a difference in views, no sales and I never did hear back who was suppose to receive my free item. Supposedly it was a give away and I am glad I did not send the item ahead of time.

Guess it's up to you but I know how hard I work and there will not be any freebies from me ever again, so not worth it in my opinion.

[IslandPicnic]

I agree with everyone who said NOPE! Not for free, no thank you. Been there, done that myself in the past, and nothing came out of it. Just gave away some products, that's all.

This woman sounds like she has some serious nerve! To ask for an item for free, fine... I've been asked quite a bit, I think that's normal (not that they should, but they do...). But to request a specific color for her daughter??? And when you said, sure only $8, she said no???? Dang, that was a good deal!!!

I'd politely decline. :)

[Former_Member]

someone else mentioned it earlier- and i've also noticed it. once you do a giveaway on a blog/anywhere people come out of the woodwork looking for 'freebies'