Blog Salad is a beacon of morality. Uh, yeah. Well, whatever, I’m a good guy so I’m coming clean with the FTC before the new rules take effect on November 1! (For those seeking more information about the new regulations, click here for a great post from Wired.com)
Dear Federal Trade Commission,
Hey! Haven’t heard from you in a while. How’s it going?
I heard you’re changing the some of the rules about endorsements, and even though advertisers can still bribe magazines and newspapers for positive product reviews, blogs must now disclose any freebies or payments they’ve received. So, which commissioner got duped by a sketchy blogger?
Well, anyway, I wrote you because I hear you want us bloggers to disclose everything, and since you don’t really know how you’re going to enforce such a ridiculously large task, I thought I’d take some initiative and help out.
So, without further ado, here’s full disclosure of all the freebies and perks I’ve ever received for product reviews:
- 21 May 2005. I wrote about a mysterious pipe in Moab, Utah that people use as a bottling water station. I received three free gallons of water from the pipe before I wrote the blog post.
- 6 June 2006. I wrote about the Hotel La Mansión del Pájaro Serpiente and Comedor Susana in El Remate, Guatemala. At the hotel, we received electricity and hot water at no additional charge. At the restaurant, in exchange for helping the owner’s daughter with her math homework, I received a free refill of my horchata. I was also offered as many ronrones as I could carry in my backpack.
- 10 February 2009. I wrote about the Evenflo Wheelbarrow, a two-wheeled double stroller. I did not receive anything from Evenflo in exchange for my review, however I believe I am the only owner of such a product.
- 13 March 2009. I wrote about four free resources for freelance writers. I received all four free products and services for free.
- April 2009. On April 7, I wrote about market threats to Youtube and reviewed their marketing strategy. On April 17, Youtube announced plans that closely mirrored my suggestions. After the announcement, I was given a considerable amount of validation.
- 23 May 2009. I wrote a review of Helium.com. I have received absolutely nothing of value from them.
- 25 May 2009. I reviewed the Colorado Café, a new coffee shop in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, on their opening day. When I spilled my chai tea all over myself, they brought me a new one, free of charge.
- 10 July 2009. I wrote about Leechblock, the free Firefox add-on that helps curb internet addiction. I received the free product for free, and I’ve been blocked out of my Twitter account more times than I can count.
- 15 September 2009. I wrote about my cat biting me when I tried to break up a fight. I received a nasty infection from the bite before I wrote the blog post.
- 1 October 2009. I wrote a love letter to Evernote, the free web-based note taking service. I received their free product for free, and the remotest chance of getting organized again.
Thanks, Federal Trade Commission! I think that’s everything. And it feels so good to get that stuff off my chest. Just like church! 
Hope you’re having a good week. Talk to you again soon!
Love,
Ron
LOL! And I mean really out loud, a raucous belly laugh. Thanks for posting the link on FLX.
Ron–Great post. It looks like we bloggers are really raking in the perks. Glad you fessed up though, especially about the validation. Better take it to the bank quick. ~Kat
HAHA!
You’re so funny – love the way you look at life! (I laughed out loud, btw.)
Great stuff… that should show them! haha! Hilarious! I love the validation one!
Hilarious, Ron! Thanks for the much needed laugh.
Hilarious! Well done. I’m thrilled you fessed up.
Thanks, everyone… *blush*
Ha! Well, make sure to let us know when the FTC sends you a reply.
I’m totally with you. One of the stories I read about this ruling had a quote from someone in the gov’t who seemed to really think that print reporters return all of the gifts they ever receive — or auction them off to charity. The ONLY outlets I know that do this are Consumer Reports and most newspapers. I’ve worked for a magazine and served as a product tester for other print outlets. I can tell you that:
* I not only went to Israel for free (on the country’s tourism department dollar), I also had my personal driver and tour guide, all so I could write one story about a race there.
* I got enough free shoes for a review I did 4 years ago that my husband and I still haven’t worn all of them. And I gave many of them to charity, too.
* I once did a sports watch review and got enough watches to give one to everyone on staff and every member of my family.
* I once got something like $1000 in free apparel from Nike.
THAT was all for magazines. OH, and the ad reps often asked me to write about certain companies and products, just so they could land those accounts.
For my blog? Let’s see. I think I’ve had review copies of two different books sent to me. And some sort of spray that I was supposed to use down there to get myself in the mood (never wrote about it because it didn’t do anything for me). Trying to think. That might be it. I know, it’s a tragedy that I got those free books, and even worse that I earned 55 cents from the one person who clicked on my affiliate link and bought one of them off amazon (to date amazon hasn’t paid me). Yes, we definitely need to get the government to police this. Otherwise consumers just won’t know where to put their money.
Alisa: That was an awesome summary of your experience in both worlds—thank you! If you have any size 11 shoes I’ll happily take them off your hands. Oooh, on second thought, since I learned all this through my blog I’d probably be forced to report it to the FTC, so nevermind the hassle.
LOL! Very amusing, Ron. I can’t wait to see how they enforce this.