"The readers are not holding the items in their hands before buying, and they do not have the option to try them before buying. Reading an article from someone like themselves, who has had this chance, brings them closer, and that is the purpose of the LMR review."
- Most robot builders love to get new components, kits etc by mail. And specially when it is free of charge.
- Manufacturers and vendors who make and sell robotic products, want robot builders to talk about their stuff; Show it, debate it, use it and inspire people to buy it.
- Everyone loves to read an interesting review before buying.
We have put these things together, and have conceptualized..
--== The LMR Review ==--
In short: Vendors can get stuff reviewed on LMR. Members can sign up to be reviewers. No money involved, but vendor sends reviewer samples to be reviewed, member keeps sample afterwards, reviewer has access to spots on LMR that gets seen by thousands of robot builders, so review gets exposure.
This is how the whole world could work, however, there is a problem: Not everybody who THINK they are going to write a review or build a robot, end up getting to it. Shipping out free samples to people who never use them is a waste. For everyone! This is a returning problem for vendors.
On LMR we understand that vendors have a business to run. We want to make sure that if you send a member something free to be reviewed, then nice pictures, a good review, and exposure to thousands of robot builders is what you get in return.
As a vendor:
Contact us with information on the products you would like reviewed. We will evaluate your review suggestion and call for reviewers on the LMR website. All you will have to do after this, is send the agreed sample(s) to the chosen reviewers. Finally, you will be informed once the review is posted on LMR.
As a reviewer:
Show your skills by posting projects and robots on LMR. You will then be in a better position to participate in our calls to reviewers and have a chance to obtain free products for reviews. There will be at least 2 calls for reviewers per month.
Selection is not based on "everyone should have something", or "This person needs it more than the other". Based on members past posts, estimated skill level - or lack of same, beginners get beginners stuff, people with kids get kids toys, advanced nerds get the complicated reviews etc. Everything is fair, meaning that this is about making great reviews, not free gifts. People who have made stuff that draws many visitors, whose material get's on other blogs etc, are more likely to be selected, and thus rewarded for what they have done.
Trust:
A piece of hardware donated to an LMR member is guaranteed to make a great review, or to be returned to the vendor if the review cannot take place.
That is "the contract".
If that contract is broken, the member will be black listed. We trust members to do the reviews that they signed up for.
If the member is unhappy with / unable to use the recieved part(s), or anything get's in the way, we will be glad to help.
Feedback is appreciated.