Comments on: Full Disclosure

By: Grays On Trays » Blog Archive » Making a federal case out of blogging

Grays On Trays » Blog Archive » Making a federal case out of blogging — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:15:16 +0000

[…] of reputation works, I’ve often looked for Shayboarder for insight into snowboards. While she endorses the FTC rules, she doesn’t need to, as she has, over time, gained the respect of thousands of readers for […]

By: Robbie

Robbie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:03:18 +0000

Shay, I couldn’t agree with Adrian more, and on the flipside disagree with Terry.

The long-time followers of this blog know what it’s all about, and know how to take things in perspective. True snowboarders know that while a board ‘work’ for you, someone else might think it’s a crappy board. It all depends on your style of snowboarding.
Personally, I can say that I’ve used Shay’s advice twice – the first was whwn I bought my Force SLs last season. I needed an opinion from someone who actually rode them, and after 15 days on them I can honestly say it’s the best buy I’ve made in years. The 2nd time is when I ordered my Capita BDI (can’t wait to get it!!!). Shay actually owns one (older model, but still), and reviewed last year’s model as well. The way i see it, I don’t care if it was given to her or not. If she hadn’t liked it, she wouldn’t have kept it. If someone really is corrupt, if you will, then he would take the board, review it, then sell it and make a couple of bucks – why keep it?
I realize that there’s a chance that even though Shay highly recommended the BDI, I may not like it. I may think it wasn’t worth the hype and that it doesn’t meet my snowboarding needs. I that case, I won’t come back here and blame Shay for it. I looked and asked around, and made a decision.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working in the interactive marketing world over the past 6 years, it’s that nothing replaces reputation. And bottom line, this blog has it. Otherwise companies wouldn’t send over goodies or invite Shay to demo days. Like someone already said, it’s a risk they all take. They know that while a bad review won’t REALLY hurt them, a GOOD review can boost their sales and rep.
So Shay, do us all a favor – keep up the great work and ignore the haters…send them a FREE sticker or something … 🙂

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:41:29 +0000

Shay as a long time reader and friend I don’t feel this post was worth 2 shits. Not because of the content, your writing or lack of totally cool shred pics but because it wasn’t needed. All of your readers know THIS is the one place to go for straight forward honest reviews. We all value your opinion and never would question the honesty behind your reviews. You are truly one of the best snow bloggers out there all I gotta say is the FTC wasted a day of good reading that could have been better used for a review, industry profile or a shred journal! Love ya girlie and keep up the good work!

By: Shay

Shay — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:08:36 +0000

Terry, I always offer to pay for my gear each year and always ask, I never assume I’m getting free gear and if I was rich enough, I would always buy it unfortunately that’s not the case. I see where you are coming from but don’t believe that every “reviewer” is in it for free gear.

I wouldn’t assume that all reviewers are in for free gear. If that was the case, I wouldn’t spend 10+ days a year doing demos, paying to go to those out of my pocket in the past and taking off time from work to review boards. Demos are the majority of my reviews. I’d rather do that than have people like you assume something gets a good review because it gets handed to me. There is a reason why I never ride really low end crappy products, lets be honest snowboard products today are good rides across the boards, depends on the rider how to interpret them, the conditions, the day…but what works for me, might not work with another person and the opposite factor. I will say why I didn’t like a product, why “it’s not for me” and I’ve seen someone buy that board on the same reasoning because what didn’t work for me, would work for him.

By: Terry Haakonsen

Terry Haakonsen — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:29:00 +0000

getting product for a review IS GETTING PAID to review. its not in cash but its getting PAID non the less, we all know thats what you guys are in it for, and thats why you don’t see negative reviews ever, you might whitewash it and say its not for you or something but you “reviewers” will never diss a product because you are getting paid (in gear) to review it.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:46:03 +0000

Yak, I would think the only way it falls under false advertising is if the advertiser is providing the text to the “reviewer” as well as paying for it. As long as the advertiser is just paying for a good review (still lame imo), I think it does fall into a free speech gray zone, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the larger blog sites decide to challenge it.

Regardless, I think the real problem is in how broadly this rule was written.
Summed up nicely by Ann Althouse: http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/ftc-going-after-bloggers-and-social.html
The most absurd part of it is the way the FTC is trying to make it okay by assuring us that they will be selective in deciding which writers on the internet to pursue. That is, they’ve deliberately made a grotesquely overbroad rule, enough to sweep so many of us into technical violations, but we’re supposed to feel soothed by the knowledge that government agents will decide who among us gets fined. No, no, no. Overbreadth itself is a problem. And so is selective enforcement.

By: Shay

Shay — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:19:18 +0000

JB and Yak, the Ultrafear I haven’t reviewed yet actually so that will be one of the first reviews this season when I switch to adding the sentence on how I received it at the bottom of the review.

But definitely the majority of snowboard and binding reviews are done at demos which I find a lot easier to deal with.

Yak, definitely they will be going after the advertiser. It will be interesting to point out the free things. I consider all stickers free so i think that goes under the radar. I think for the most part it’s just identifying the reviews and making sure you are clear with how you got it.

By: Yak

Yak — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:05:06 +0000

I was wondering how you ended up with a board you hadn’t reviewed yet (the Ultrafear). Heh. We can rest easy on this one. My relief comes from this quote from the article, “the FTC’s enforcement priorities make it more likely an advertiser would be targeted for disclosure or testimonial violations than a blogger.” Say a board company gives you their entire lineup and pays you for dishonest reviews, the company will still be the one going down.

Chris, I think it’s not a free speech issue just like false advertising isn’t a free speech issue.

I hope to have some fun with it, just pointing out every little thing that I do/get for free. For example, I went to ‘Nice Try’ last night for free and got some free stickers from US Outdoor Store. They’re having a sale.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:53:40 +0000

I’m new to your blog but really enjoying it, I say take all the free stuff you can, just keep the helpful and insightful reviews coming please!

By: JB

JB — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:28:59 +0000

Smart move Shay – really the guidelines are designed for bloggers who are making a sustainable income or business level income to ensure their freebies & payments fall into the right hands: revenue, gift, etc.

Like you I don’t take paid reviews and really only extend any type of review or thing I like/ love to something requested, innovative or just flat our great product. Doesn’t guarantee good or bad.

The disclosure of the capita & malolo was smart and if your readers are aligned with your past blogs they’ll see you reviewed those prior to accepting the decks.
-jb