I have been involved with several magazines over the years as a subscriber, editor and have written many reviews of new product. In 'the good old days' magazines would run a 'What's New?' section as well as 'Product Reviews'. The 'What's new?' pages gave us somewhere to mention something we were not going to review. Reviews were just that, I would not just describe an item, it would be tested. Some magazines even ran a points system. From time to time, we would get the same piece of equipment reviewed by more than one person and compare the results. Manufactures would plead with us to review their latest products for better or worse.
This was all before the internet when the only real way of getting your product out there was by paying for specialist magazine advertising. It was expensive but it worked for both the suppler and the magazine. The main difference was we were not beholden to advertisers, they had to advertise or be forgotten about. Today that is not the case.
I gave up buying magazines on a regular basis a while ago as the information was of no practical use, especially the reviews. I did buy this weeks AT and saw the review to which you refer. I though much the same as you; what is the point of that? Why did the reviewer not test the rod properly?
Again, in the old days, the office would be stacked to the rafters with boxes of product looking for a place in the magazine. I can remember the marketing people ringing us up (no e-mail in those days) and asking why we had not mentioned the latest XYZ product. If we said it was because we were not aware of it, a box full would turn up the next day by special delivery.
I think our reviews were fair and detailed. Product would get mentioned, reviewed and then if it was any good, be featured in a practical article. If the product was rubbish we were not afraid to say so and more often than not, the supplier would want to see what they could do to rectify the situation. Today the magazine 'reviews' are just lip-service to the manufacturer/supplier usually to encourage them to retain their advertising commitment.
The easiest way to find out is a product is any good is the search the internet, but you have to be careful as some posters/bloggers promise good reviews just to obtain free product. There are also people out there who are paid to write nice things about product - they call it marketing!
I have written to odd review on the net but, these days, I will only review something I have bought with my own 'hard-earned'. That way I can be totally honest about my opinion. For example, see my review (
HERE) of the ZT-Pro I wrote a year or so ago. I like the machine but I have said what I think with no outside influence as to my opinion, and that is it really, it is only an opinion, but it should be unbiased and truthful while still being fair. If I, or somebody else writes a review under these circumstances it should be more reliable as there is nothing to be gained one way or the other by the reviewer.
Sorry for waffling on, but it is a pet-hate of mine.
Ralph.
