Comments on: Classic Autumn Rant on Full Disclosure http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/ be stylish • be lovely • be coveted Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:09:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Casey http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19777 Casey Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:16:59 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19777 Firstly: I am supremely jealous you're able to bundle up in such a chic outfit! (It's in the 90s in FL still! :p) You look so ready for autumn! I'm a little annoyed about the FTC ruling, if only because most of the bloggers I know already are vigilant about disclosing free/sponsored posts! The few posts I've done reviewing products, I've been very clear to state that the item was received free from the manufacturer. To me, it just seems logical and boosts a level of authenticity and honesty with my readers. It just mystifies me why the FTC chose to pick on bloggers, rather than the big magazines and such that clearly generate a lot more freebies (and don't disclose it!) than we do. *sigh* .-= Casey´s last blog ..<a href="http://blog.caseybrowndesigns.com/2009/10/swing-kitten-style/" rel="nofollow">swing kitten style</a> =-. Firstly: I am supremely jealous you’re able to bundle up in such a chic outfit! (It’s in the 90s in FL still! :p) You look so ready for autumn!

I’m a little annoyed about the FTC ruling, if only because most of the bloggers I know already are vigilant about disclosing free/sponsored posts! The few posts I’ve done reviewing products, I’ve been very clear to state that the item was received free from the manufacturer. To me, it just seems logical and boosts a level of authenticity and honesty with my readers. It just mystifies me why the FTC chose to pick on bloggers, rather than the big magazines and such that clearly generate a lot more freebies (and don’t disclose it!) than we do. *sigh*
.-= Casey´s last blog ..swing kitten style =-.

]]> By: SwanDiamondRose http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19687 SwanDiamondRose Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:36:31 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19687 i forgot one thing. i also send freebies to people who i know will probably never post photos or blog me. i send them things because they told me they loved something in particular, and i just wanted them to have it, so they would be happy. and i never blog them either, it's just a gift, no strings attached. it's how i connect to people. sometimes people do nice things just because. .-= SwanDiamondRose´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.swandiamondrose.com/swanclothing-sock-garters-are-finally-here" rel="nofollow">SWANclothing sock garters are finally here! [1]</a> =-. i forgot one thing. i also send freebies to people who i know will probably never post photos or blog me. i send them things because they told me they loved something in particular, and i just wanted them to have it, so they would be happy. and i never blog them either, it’s just a gift, no strings attached. it’s how i connect to people. sometimes people do nice things just because.
.-= SwanDiamondRose´s last blog ..SWANclothing sock garters are finally here! [1] =-.

]]> By: SwanDiamondRose http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19686 SwanDiamondRose Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:19:16 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19686 and Jennine you look lovely! thank goodness autumn is here. and guess what, i don't give compliments i don't mean. wacky huh? honest people. go figure. maybe they can find a way to regulate these waves of niceties out here in cyberworld too. ha. and Jennine you look lovely! thank goodness autumn is here. and guess what, i don’t give compliments i don’t mean. wacky huh? honest people. go figure. maybe they can find a way to regulate these waves of niceties out here in cyberworld too. ha.

]]> By: SwanDiamondRose http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19685 SwanDiamondRose Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:17:41 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19685 oh brother. does this even make sense? first of all, so this is just for the states? and what about magazines, i mean you obviously see more product from advertisers featured in fashion editorials, and there isn't some sort of statement that has to be made with that. [i just now saw your magazine reference.] if you ask me this is f*cked. [yes i am swearing with asterisks*.] and i'm not just saying that because i have given freebies out because i have. but if you give freebies, beware! bloggers aren't owned by anything or anyone, not even their lust for fashion. any blogger worth their bloggings is a good gatekeeper. and knows that they will lose their reputation for spotting quality and originality if they start acquiescing to pretty bribes. i've had "well known" bloggers as clients and i've given "well known" bloggers freebies. and even though i have faith in my product, i always hold my breath, because they first of all might never blog your item if they don't like it [and my items can be pretty painstaking in their work], and worse-case-scenario they won't like it and they WILL say so loudly to all their readers. i have never sent anything to anyone who isn't very opinionated and passionate about fashion and about their blogging. and what exactly are they going to do. fine the bloggers?!?!?! out them in some bad blogger list?! seriously, this just seems again like some old regime trying to hang onto their power where it no longer exists. fooey on this. and honestly, i think magazines have something to do with this ruling. oh brother. does this even make sense? first of all, so this is just for the states? and what about magazines, i mean you obviously see more product from advertisers featured in fashion editorials, and there isn’t some sort of statement that has to be made with that. [i just now saw your magazine reference.] if you ask me this is f*cked. [yes i am swearing with asterisks*.] and i’m not just saying that because i have given freebies out because i have. but if you give freebies, beware! bloggers aren’t owned by anything or anyone, not even their lust for fashion. any blogger worth their bloggings is a good gatekeeper. and knows that they will lose their reputation for spotting quality and originality if they start acquiescing to pretty bribes. i’ve had “well known” bloggers as clients and i’ve given “well known” bloggers freebies. and even though i have faith in my product, i always hold my breath, because they first of all might never blog your item if they don’t like it [and my items can be pretty painstaking in their work], and worse-case-scenario they won’t like it and they WILL say so loudly to all their readers. i have never sent anything to anyone who isn’t very opinionated and passionate about fashion and about their blogging. and what exactly are they going to do. fine the bloggers?!?!?! out them in some bad blogger list?! seriously, this just seems again like some old regime trying to hang onto their power where it no longer exists. fooey on this. and honestly, i think magazines have something to do with this ruling.

]]> By: K @ Blog Goggles http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19680 K @ Blog Goggles Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:13:26 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19680 Awesome post. I completely agree with you. Even if I was talking about something I got for free (which I don't ever get!) I would mention that. But, heck, maybe Kim Kardashian will stop with her annoying tweets about flossing! .-= K @ Blog Goggles´s last blog ..<a href="http://bloggoggles.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-track.html" rel="nofollow">On track</a> =-. Awesome post. I completely agree with you. Even if I was talking about something I got for free (which I don’t ever get!) I would mention that. But, heck, maybe Kim Kardashian will stop with her annoying tweets about flossing!
.-= K @ Blog Goggles´s last blog ..On track =-.

]]> By: Carla http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19650 Carla Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:54:59 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19650 I have received free items, but didn't feel good enough about the product to review it. Most of the products I've written reviews for were products I purchased or received from trade shows. I reviewed them because I believed in the product, not because I'm getting compensated (which I am not). I LOVE your coat and boots! .-= Carla´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.greenandchic.com/blog/about/green-and-chic-store-makeover-soli-design-studios-review/" rel="nofollow">Green and Chic Store Makeover & SoLi Design Studios Review</a> =-. I have received free items, but didn’t feel good enough about the product to review it. Most of the products I’ve written reviews for were products I purchased or received from trade shows. I reviewed them because I believed in the product, not because I’m getting compensated (which I am not).

I LOVE your coat and boots!
.-= Carla´s last blog ..Green and Chic Store Makeover & SoLi Design Studios Review =-.

]]> By: rebecca http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19607 rebecca Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:59:44 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19607 double standards, indeed. there's also a massive difference between blogs with no standards and blogs with a distinct sense of style and readership. i've been contacted by several blogs asking for free stuff in exchange for a review. every single time this has happened, i've checked the blog only to see it has very few followers, an incredibly wide range of reviewed product, and no apparent direction or point of view. on the other hand, blogs i admire and follow have only ever asked for a giveaway offer for the benefit of their readers, or have been generous in writing complimentary reviews without even trying my product. be proud of what you do and that you stand for something. don't group yourself with jump-on-the-wagon bloggers who need rules and regulations to keep their ethical standards in check! ps. adorable autumn outfit! you always look great in yarnovermovement (disclaimer: i was not paid by yarnovermovement to say that) double standards, indeed. there’s also a massive difference between blogs with no standards and blogs with a distinct sense of style and readership. i’ve been contacted by several blogs asking for free stuff in exchange for a review. every single time this has happened, i’ve checked the blog only to see it has very few followers, an incredibly wide range of reviewed product, and no apparent direction or point of view. on the other hand, blogs i admire and follow have only ever asked for a giveaway offer for the benefit of their readers, or have been generous in writing complimentary reviews without even trying my product.
be proud of what you do and that you stand for something. don’t group yourself with jump-on-the-wagon bloggers who need rules and regulations to keep their ethical standards in check!
ps. adorable autumn outfit! you always look great in yarnovermovement (disclaimer: i was not paid by yarnovermovement to say that)

]]> By: Kate http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19596 Kate Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:39:07 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19596 I do think it's a little strange that now we "have" to disclose that we have received a free item. I also get offers all the time, most of them being stuff I wouldn't be caught dead in. I have pride in my blog and I wouldn't just put anything on there. Personally I think it's our business if we get free items and if we like something and we do a review on it, what's the harm in that? Basically the FTC is saying that our business should be made public. Well then, why shouldn't business done behind closed doors by other companies be made public? .-= Kate´s last blog ..<a href="http://sweetfuzz.com/2009/10/08/littleredridinghood/" rel="nofollow">Little Red Riding Hood</a> =-. I do think it’s a little strange that now we “have” to disclose that we have received a free item. I also get offers all the time, most of them being stuff I wouldn’t be caught dead in. I have pride in my blog and I wouldn’t just put anything on there. Personally I think it’s our business if we get free items and if we like something and we do a review on it, what’s the harm in that?

Basically the FTC is saying that our business should be made public. Well then, why shouldn’t business done behind closed doors by other companies be made public?
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Little Red Riding Hood =-.

]]> By: enc http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19594 enc Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:45:18 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19594 Well said, as always, Jennine. I have had several offers to do paid posts, or to advertise. I have also had offers of free stuff. All of the offers blow my mind, given that I have only a few dozen readers. I'm not really in a position to spread the word, as it were. Many, many other bloggers have thousands and tens of thousands reading their work, and could influence more people than I ever could. Anyway: only one time did I ever accept free stuff for review (fitness clothes), and I did it under the express/clear conditions that by accepting the items, I was not guaranteeing a good review—the manufacturer was at my mercy. I also offered to return the items once the review process was done. The manufacturer declined a return (good call on their part—who wants used fitness clothes back?), and accepted my terms, so I did the review, and I kept the items. I still have them now. At the time, I was in a huge quandary over doing the review. I felt like a gigantic sellout for about a week, and I really put the items to the test with great skepticism, but as it happens, I loved the stuff, so it got a good review. In fact, I'm planning to buy more of it. I wish more manufacturers would offer me things to review. I'd love to have a go at some of the silly fitness gadgets on the market now. Chinup machine anyone? For the record, Obviously, I'd never do any review or accept any free stuff without letting my readers know what was happening. The new ruling seems really discriminatory and pessimistic to me. Would anyone accept free stuff without saying so? Isn't the implication here that we're all honest people who just want to share our love of fashion? Like you, I aver that we bloggers have integrity. Why wouldn't the government give us the benefit of the doubt, and assume the same? .-= enc´s last blog ..<a href="http://observationmode.blogspot.com/2009/10/poll-47-needs-must.html" rel="nofollow">Poll #47 Needs Must</a> =-. Well said, as always, Jennine.

I have had several offers to do paid posts, or to advertise. I have also had offers of free stuff. All of the offers blow my mind, given that I have only a few dozen readers. I’m not really in a position to spread the word, as it were. Many, many other bloggers have thousands and tens of thousands reading their work, and could influence more people than I ever could.

Anyway: only one time did I ever accept free stuff for review (fitness clothes), and I did it under the express/clear conditions that by accepting the items, I was not guaranteeing a good review—the manufacturer was at my mercy. I also offered to return the items once the review process was done. The manufacturer declined a return (good call on their part—who wants used fitness clothes back?), and accepted my terms, so I did the review, and I kept the items. I still have them now. At the time, I was in a huge quandary over doing the review. I felt like a gigantic sellout for about a week, and I really put the items to the test with great skepticism, but as it happens, I loved the stuff, so it got a good review. In fact, I’m planning to buy more of it.

I wish more manufacturers would offer me things to review. I’d love to have a go at some of the silly fitness gadgets on the market now. Chinup machine anyone?

For the record, Obviously, I’d never do any review or accept any free stuff without letting my readers know what was happening. The new ruling seems really discriminatory and pessimistic to me. Would anyone accept free stuff without saying so? Isn’t the implication here that we’re all honest people who just want to share our love of fashion? Like you, I aver that we bloggers have integrity. Why wouldn’t the government give us the benefit of the doubt, and assume the same?
.-= enc´s last blog ..Poll #47 Needs Must =-.

]]> By: eyeliah http://the-coveted.com/blog/2009/10/07/classic-autumn-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-19590 eyeliah Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:58:54 +0000 http://the-coveted.com/blog/?p=10446#comment-19590 That coat looks great on you, the perfect fall winter staple. I can't wear that color, it washes me out. .-= eyeliah´s last blog ..<a href="http://stylesymmetry.com/2009/10/08/americas-next-top-model-season-13-episode-6/" rel="nofollow">Americas Next Top Model Season 13 Episode 6</a> =-. That coat looks great on you, the perfect fall winter staple. I can’t wear that color, it washes me out.
.-= eyeliah´s last blog ..Americas Next Top Model Season 13 Episode 6 =-.

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