I get a lot of solicitations for reviews. By my count I am getting about 60 requests daily (maybe 40 on Saturday and Sunday). I am positive that there are people out there who get even more than that, but 60 seems like quite a few at any rate – and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Of those 60 requests I try to keep it to 3 or less a day that I actually accept. This is for several reasons:
- I don’t have the time to review more than a few items in a day (because I have a job separate from this reviewing gig).
- I perceive that when I review more than a few items a day (if they are on Amazon) it negatively affects my reviewer rating.
- I don’t need or want the vast majority of things I am offered.
- I don’t have room for a huge amount of clutter.
Not my actual house
But, if you add it up – getting three new things per day adds a lot of tonnage to my house. So what do I do with all this stuff? The answer is, it depends.
Some items like those I get from Vine (or previously from Walmart) I am required to keep for 6 months. After that point, I am free to do with them as I please – toss them, sell them, give them away… whatever. But to sell them or give them away before that point could get me booted from reviewing for them, as it is a violation of their rules.
Items that I get directly from sellers I can do with what I want after I review them. Some of the items I keep because I need or want them. Some items I carefully repackage (if that is even possible) and I sell them (mainly it seems to my co-workers who also are aware of my reviewing gig). Some items I give out to friends and family as gifts. This has been such a blessing to me, because last year I did virtually no Christmas shopping. The time and headache saved by not having to shop was priceless. Is this tacky? Maybe. It could be seen in the same light as “re-gifting”, but I don’t care enough about the perception to stop doing it, and I am planning to do it again next Christmas.
prudent reviewer 