Do "Experts" get dibs on new toys?

This is actually a project we have underway to provide more accurate and thorough descriptions of all new toys. There are a number of community members involved in it, and we add more regularly.

That's ironic--I contacted the Reviews Administrator not too long ago about the questionable quality of some of the older product descriptions (typos, bad grammar, truly terrible advice on how to use a product). This seems like a wonderful solution. If you don't mind my asking, how to you choose which community members to add to the "special project" squad?

Nope, no 'dibs'. We don't get to see the products before we get them, they're just assigned.

Grizli,
I've been curious about the reviewers involved in that program for awhile as well. I think it would be an interesting discussion. I know that a lot of people would probably jump at it, but I don't think it actually should be open to everyone. I'm personally not interested. (Haven't been invited either- so that works for me!) Do you want to start a separate post on it?

The side issue on this seems to be the products themselves. The lower priced toys could certainly be released and reviewed under the regular review program and then pulled if they show negative results. Is the program only related to newer more unusual or creative toys like the Bandito? Things like a new vibrator or dildo in a different size, color or material seem like pretty well known designs and styles. Are you including those in the program as well?

Thank you, Devilbluedress.

You raised very important questions about the product themselves. The program participation issue is a separate one and I think it is better discussed in the separate thread.

The manufacturing of the sex toys seems to proliferate. We see more new companies entering the market and more variety produced by the established brands. (Interesting note: while writing previous sentence I realized that I don't know any example of the manufacturer leaving the sex toy market). However, the new additions are not always the right ones. We see innovative designs (SaSi would be the good a good example), classic designs manufactured with new, safe materials and additional little features, however, the majority of the new additions are *same old stuff* with minimal visible changes.

The review program in the first place was established to help people navigate in the great variety of products. For example, Eden carries about 11,000 SKUs. It is probably the biggest selection online, but let me assure you – it is far from what is being offered by manufacturers.
Now, we are taking the review program to the next level – we want the community help us select the best products out there. It is not necessarily the most expensive products. We have to find, and I believe we can find, affordable, quality toys in all categories.

The selection process have multiple steps:
- we conduct preliminary research (shows, magazines, internet, contacts) and make a test purchases of the products we feel would be great to carry.
- when product is in the office, we use inside expertise to decide if we want to proceed with it on the website;
- if we select it, we send it to the reviewer for the test drive.
- If the product earns enough collective backings (from our product specialists and reviewer), we put it up on the website and offer for sale.

The process is lengthy and quite complex from logistical point of view, but it is how we operate now.

I'm going to take this to a new thread... I have some questions and I think a lot of people would be interested in this one.

Huh, cool =] I do like that this means that the descriptions will be honest, down-to-earth descriptions instead of just "advert fluff". But what will happen to old descriptions? Will they be updated according to the reviews that they have accumulated over the months/years that they have already been on the site?

Since the descriptions project seems to be part of a "should we sell this or not?" process, I doubt old toy descriptions will be updated.

I think that's true, but the description program does not automatically go to the highest ranking reviewers. I still have no idea how people end up in.

It may just be because they write quality reviews. I was asked to join, and at the risk of sounding really stuck-up, I think I write a fairly thorough review.

lol, you're not stuck up!

I have to agree with Bulma. I've found hundreds of things that have been on the site for as long as 3 years and haven't been reviewed.

Personally, I haven't gotten anything through the program that is brand new and unheard of; most of it has been pretty traditional things. Also, none of it has been "super-expensive," so it's not like we're getting heaps of brand new, exclusive, one-of-a-kind, $100+ toys. Even when I request assignments outside of the descriptions program, I tend to pick things that are commonplace and just haven't been reviewed yet.

I think the more experienced, more prolific reviewers get most of the "original," flashy stuff because they ARE experienced. I know that EF trusts an expensive, top-of-the-line toy with writers like Bulma and Epiphora more than they would with me, and to be honest, that's fine by me. EF is not a sex toy charity (not saying you're saying that, Carrie Ann, just a point I thought I'd bring up, since it comes up in discussion sometimes), so WHAT I get doesn't matter to me. I love writing and wouldn't mind becoming a sex columnist, so I honestly think of the descriptions program as a job, and it's my job to give a fair review on products, regardless of how much they cost.

Humorously, that's actually what my friends and I call it, too. When I'm sent new things or buy something with my own money, I tell my friends I have to go to the mail room and "pick up work." =P

lol. You think that *I'm* known for keeping my mouth shut?

I hear what you are saying, and understand a lot of it.

Ditto.

But, as some people have done I decided to branch out into books. And who knows, maybe DVDs some day, too. That should sate the beast within for a while.

I agree with that. I'm not even sure if they still have me on the Description Review program or not - I haven't gotten an assignment in a couple of months.