Selling Products

I think people get the wrong idea when we YouTubers review a lot of products. I frequently get artisans that approach me and ask me for a review if they send me their product.
I always try to be straightforward with them and tell them I'd be happy to review as long as I can be frank with my review (although I've only ever had one product be a "bad" review). I'm in no way compensated for the review with the exception of the free sample or prototype. And I don't solicit for products by offering a review in exchange. They come to me. I haven't had the issue with the aforementioned Chinese vendors.
Glad you're bringing up this discussion, TSE. :-)


Be Smooth, Everyone!

I think people get the wrong idea when we YouTubers review a lot of products. I frequently get artisans that approach me and ask me for a review if they send me their product.
I always try to be straightforward with them and tell them I'd be happy to review as long as I can be frank with my review (although I've only ever had one product be a "bad" review). I'm in no way compensated for the review with the exception of the free sample or prototype. And I don't solicit for products by offering a review in exchange. They come to me. I haven't had the issue with the aforementioned Chinese vendors.
Glad you're bringing up this discussion, TSE. :-)


Be Smooth, Everyone!

If you keep doing videos (and you should) you will be approached by the Asian or Indian manufacturers.  It is inevitable.

I just wanted to advise folks that I do not sell products nor am I compensated via cash or product in exchange for reviews.  I do receive products from time to time for the purposes of evaluations and pass arounds, but I do not keep these products for myself.   I have been approached by a number of companies (mostly Chinese) who manufacture razors etc. who wanted to send me products to sell, but I either decline or do not answer at all.    This is just a hobby for me and I do this for enjoyment and promotion of the hobby.  If this ever changes you will hear it from me directly  

The only exception to this is BST sales.  I do move products that I either don't use anymore or don't like on BST forums but that's it

The rumor is that you get a dollar from Chris Cullen every time you correctly pronounce the name of one of his soaps.

on some forums, the 'higher ups' think people who do a lot of video reviews are shills for artisans. I know from first hand experience.

I just wanted to advise folks that I do not sell products nor am I compensated via cash or product in exchange for reviews.  I do receive products from time to time for the purposes of evaluations and pass arounds, but I do not keep these products for myself.   I have been approached by a number of companies (mostly Chinese) who manufacture razors etc. who wanted to send me products to sell, but I either decline or do not answer at all.    This is just a hobby for me and I do this for enjoyment and promotion of the hobby.  If this ever changes you will hear it from me directly  

The only exception to this is BST sales.  I do move products that I either don't use anymore or don't like on BST forums but that's it

The rumor is that you get a dollar from Chris Cullen every time you correctly pronounce the name of one of his soaps.

Haha, this is a great comment  This being said you know I have zero dollars from it

As a European youtuber I do not get as many artisans that send me anything, as shipping is way more expensive. So all the US artisans I reviewed I bought myself or got from a friend, not the artisan. I was contacted by some weird asian folks, but turned those down.

So far when it comes to the objective qualities of a product (slickness, cushion, ease of lathering,...) my experience was almost always spot on with Chris' assessments in his videos.
Which means even though ymmv, this seems pretty straight forward and I totally trust Chris in his videos. Actually I trusted him even before that, but I wanted to just check some things for myself and of course had some SAS (soap acquisition syndrome).

Of course scent is always very subjective and I hear some people even like Arko and for example I totally hate the smell of MdC Classic. So I guess viewers have to find a reviewer that has a similar taste in scent to get an impression.

So I watch all of Chris' videos, as they are always fun, but many of them lack a bit more Leeeeeeeroy

on some forums, the 'higher ups' think people who do a lot of video reviews are shills for artisans.  I know from first hand experience.  

I don't doubt that they do and it's really a shame.  MOST (not all) of the artisans are people of integrity and they wouldn't even consider offering payment or product to a youtuber for a positive mention.  I'm guessing the majority of the youtubers would not accept any such offers if they were made as well.  I can only recall two times where folks approached me and offered wares in exchange for positive mentions.  In both cases I turned them down and have never used their products as a result.  (These were not mainstream artisans/vendors by the way)

I just wanted to advise folks that I do not sell products nor am I compensated via cash or product in exchange for reviews.  I do receive products from time to time for the purposes of evaluations and pass arounds, but I do not keep these products for myself.   I have been approached by a number of companies (mostly Chinese) who manufacture razors etc. who wanted to send me products to sell, but I either decline or do not answer at all.    This is just a hobby for me and I do this for enjoyment and promotion of the hobby.  If this ever changes you will hear it from me directly  

The only exception to this is BST sales.  I do move products that I either don't use anymore or don't like on BST forums but that's it

The rumor is that you get a dollar from Chris Cullen every time you correctly pronounce the name of one of his soaps.

Haha, this is a great comment  This being said you know I have zero dollars from it

Your integrity remains sterling. 

I like it when I see my products in a video, but I don't want anyone to have a reason to even wonder if it's a fair review, so I have not given away any product. Even if the reviewer in question is scrupulously honest, it still kind of *feels* like paying for consideration.

Paradoxically, it doesn't really bother me if I know someone else has done it. Because I'm consistent like that.

Ive only done a couple videos and I have a blog and I have recieved PMs about shilling etc....Why would I do a nice review on a product I don't like?? It doesn't help me in any way and it sure doesn't help an artisan improve a product.

Thanks for bringing this up TSE.