Adam Pash (of Lifehacker) forwarded us an email exchange between himself and someone claiming to have purchased a review of their product on Consumerist's sister-site, Lifehacker. As you've probably guessed, neither Lifehacker, nor Consumerist's editorial content is for sale, so it was a bit confusing for Adam when the following email popped up in his inbox:
Hello,Adam wrote back informing Sara that Lifehacker's editorial content wasn't for sale. She wrote back with a link to Lifehacker's profile on ReviewMe, a happy Web 2.0-looking "marketplace of web authors" who will give you "site traffic, viral buzz, and invaluable feedback."
We recently purchased a software review on your site through www.reviewme.com. If you can let me know who will be performing the review,
I'll get that person set up with a download copy of PCmover right away. I'll also send along a Reviewer's Guide, and will be happy to send box shots, screenshots, etc as needed.
Thanks! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Sara Cooke
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Laplink Software
Lifehacker had never heard of this website, and their profile has since been pulled down.
]]> It seems, though, that the good ship Lifehacker might not be the only blog ReviewMe is "representing"...As of this posting, reviews on BoingBoing and Makezine are both listed as being available for purchase.
For a measly $500.00, any marketer can purchase a review on BoingBoing? Not likely, although if it's true, someone should tell the RIAA.
Bloggers, make sure ReviewMe isn't taking money from unsuspecting companies in your good name. ReviewMe claims they are a part of MediaWhiz, and they also have a MySpace for their cute Web 2.0 logo. Hmm, to friend or not to friend? Cory? Xeni? Mark? Can we toss this one over to you?
UPDATE: Xeni Jardin from BoingBoing writes:
"BoingBoing has never accepted payment for editorial content. We have not and will not ever accept cash or any other form of renumeration for a product review, or any other kind of post which was not clearly identified as an advertisement."
UPDATE: We gave Xeni the contact info for MediaWhiz, ReviewMe's "Parent Company." She tried (to no avail, sadly) to speak to someone who could explain the fraudulent listings on ReviewMe. After being referred to a broken voice mail, she called back...and got another voice mail. MediaWhiz had stopped answering the phone. Xeni describes the whole experience as "dicey." We'd have to agree, especially since she didn't identify herself or state her reason for calling.
If your blog is being misrepresented on ReviewMe, and would like to speak to some dicey person's voice mail about it, here's the best contact info we have for MediaWhiz:
MediaWhiz Holdings, LLC.
75 Broad Street, 23rd Floor,
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 646.442.0074
In addition, Makezine has gotten back to us and they also do not accept payment for reviews or any other editorial content. —MEGHANN MARCO
]]>check it out:
http://www.sumolabs.com/blog/reviewing-reviewme-com-paid-b...
]]>I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
]]>That being said, I am sure that it costs you way more than $500 to bribe the big blogs. For $30,000, I believe you could get your review on the bigger blogs, but $500 is a joke.
]]>Advertisers cannot be charged for reviews that were not completed on the blog they purchased a review from so the advertiser was pre approved but never charged. It was a mistake on our end for allowing this loophole and again sorry about that. We are fixing it now. If you need any help please email us at support (at) reviewme.com thx! Patrick
]]>This site is basically just a middle man, trying to insert itself into a marketplace that doesn't exist yet. I suppose you have to credit them for thinking up of that market, but it does appear to be very scammish to me.
Arguably, this site is making use of the blogs' names in a manner that would falsely suggest a connection to the company. The more widely-read bloggers should try to get it shut down for their use of their name, not only for the purpose of protecting the public and people like our friend Sara, but for protecting their reputation. I'd say the kind of connection ReviewMe is trying to make impugns the good reputation and "street cred" for providing good, objective reviews.
]]>My review was approved, but I never got the money.
If they ask you to take your top off, get the money first.
--Annette Atkins, in Drop Dead Gorgeous
]]>Hope Sara didn't pay upfront.
]]>that's right, time to start a review-whoring website for some quick cash.
I'll be right back.
1
Browse our marketplace of reviewers to find web sites that are relevant to your target audience. Reviews start at $40.00 and are a one-time fee per review.
2
Create a free account, define the products or services that you would like to get reviewed, then purchase some reviews.
3
Your order is sent to the reviewers and they will choose to take on the review or not.
4
You receive notification when each review is completed and published to the reviewer's web site.
No promise on getting it posted, however.
If so, its actually quite brilliant...scammy, but clever.
]]>
something smells VERY fishy
By the way, Laplink Software is the best software around!
(That'll be $500, please.)
]]>