Discontinued Product Reviews

Contributor: Ms. N Ms. N
Since this has happened to me this week, I thought I would put up a poll...

Have you ever gotten a free or buyout assignment only to discover that the product was discontinued before you could write up your review? In such a case, should you publish your review at all? Are you less likely to write a review of a discontinued product if you simply bought the item straight out than if you were given an assignment for the product? What about reading, rating, and commenting on reviews of discontinued items?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
I have never had an assignment (whether free or buyout) to be discontinued before I could write the review, but...
Mr. & Mrs. Peg , eeep , Midway through , Tagmstr , blacklodge , darthkitt3n , Antipova , Kindred , Entropy , sweetiejo , deltalima , geliebt , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Katelyn , HouseWench , Teacookie , LovesAPoet , Girly Juice , hall5885 , lilly555 , viserys4king , chantalgiardina , bayosgirl , Sweet-n-Playful , purpledesert , Sugarfina , Gluesnffr , Rokmai
28
I have had an assignment to be discontinued before I could write the review, and...
Ms. N , Jul!a , karay123 , Beck , OhMy! , P'Gell , Princess-Kayla ♥ , jc123 , VanillaFreeSex , Checkmate , Gunsmoke , js250 , DeliciousSurprise , So Long Ya Doofuses! , ToyBunny , Falsepast , Lady of the Lab , Lowl
18
I believe these items should still be reviewed/visible on the website.
Ms. N , Mr. & Mrs. Peg , GonetoLovehoney , eeep , GONE! , Midway through , Jul!a , OroNomi , Beck , quirkycognomen , Tagmstr , Jake'n'bake , darthkitt3n , P'Gell , Antipova , Kindred , Princess-Kayla ♥ , lalapetitee , jc123 , Checkmate , Gunsmoke , js250 , geliebt , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Teacookie , LovesAPoet , Girly Juice , TdotY , lilly555 , DeliciousSurprise , So Long Ya Doofuses! , ToyBunny , Falsepast , skeeterlynn , Lady of the Lab , roskat , Gluesnffr , Rokmai
38
I don't believe these items should still be reviewed/visible on the website.
Lowl , Sugarfina
2
I am less likely to review a discontinued unassigned item than a discontinued assigned item.
eeep , Antipova , Kindred , Girly Juice , lilly555 , DeliciousSurprise , Sweet-n-Playful , purpledesert , Sugarfina , Gluesnffr
10
I am just as likely to review a discontinued unassigned item as a discontinued assigned item.
Jul!a , Beck , blacklodge , Princess-Kayla ♥ , lalapetitee , Checkmate , deltalima , geliebt , HouseWench , LovesAPoet , hall5885 , viserys4king , chantalgiardina , ToyBunny , Falsepast , skeeterlynn , mistressg
17
I am less likely to read, rate, and/or comment on reviews of discontinued items.
Ms. N , Gunsmoke , deltalima , DeliciousSurprise , Trysexual , ToyBunny , Sweet-n-Playful , Lady of the Lab , Sugarfina , Gluesnffr
10
I am equally likely to read, rate, and/or comment on reviews of discontinued items.
eeep , GONE! , karay123 , OroNomi , Jon S , Beck , OhMy! , blacklodge , Antipova , Kindred , lalapetitee , Checkmate , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Katelyn , Teacookie , LovesAPoet , hall5885 , chantalgiardina , bayosgirl , Falsepast , skeeterlynn , mistressg
22
Other (of course)
Silverdrop , Ghost , VanillaFreeSex , Nazaress , Sally Forth , Willow Wand , PassionateLover2 , Modern^Spank^Anthem , atryonix
9
Total votes: 154 (66 voters)
Poll is closed
12/28/2011
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Contributor: Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
Products will often show up as "discontinued" while they're waiting to stock them if they're something new.
12/28/2011
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
It would be better if Eden marked upcoming items as 'not in stock' rather than 'discontinued'. That way someone who was interested in an upcoming item could put an alert or wishlist it, rather than going "Oh darn. There went my chance to buy that." without realizing it's about to be stocked.
12/28/2011
Contributor: Mr. & Mrs. Peg Mr. & Mrs. Peg
I think people use Eden both as a resource and as a store. By seeing a review of a discontinued product, they may realize why it has been discontinued through reading the review and therefore not waste their money elsewhere. They may be more likely to buy something a EF and that is better for everyone.
12/28/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
As someone who is -fairly- new to toys, I actually do look through reviews for discontinued items. A lot of these items are available elsewhere! I've found some really great toys this way.
12/29/2011
Contributor: eeep eeep
I read and rate reviews of products I find interesting, whether or not they are discontinued. Often it lets you know why it may have been discontinued, or you can learn what was so great about it. This can sometimes help you look for an available toy to fill the niche.
12/29/2011
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I think they're still useful because someone might end up going and buying the toy elsewhere.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Midway through Midway through
I would still want to publish a review. I'd also still want to read the review of someone else published, it gives me insight as to why the item was discontinued, or if the review is fabulous I might go out of my way to get the product.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
As long as it's still available for purchase elsewhere and not being discontinued by the manufacturer, I see nothing wrong with writing the review on it. I have written reviews on things we're no longer carrying because they can still be bought elsewhere, and I just say to Google for them.
12/29/2011
Contributor: karay123 karay123
Quote:
Originally posted by Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
Products will often show up as "discontinued" while they're waiting to stock them if they're something new.
This is what I thought...
12/29/2011
Contributor: spiceboy spiceboy
Even if the product was discontinued by the manufacturer I like get a sense of what they've offered in the past and how they may have evolved with their product quality and designs. If you go directly to a manufacturer page you should see the product and its reviews, but I do wish discontinued (or even out of stock or sold out) items were clearly labeled in search results and around the site.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
I'd say, if it was an assignment, then obviously write the review since it may be the 'is about to be stocked' thing.

But if it's simply an item that you bought on your own, and it's no longer sold, at least in my case, I'm unlikely to bother reviewing it. I doubt I'll ever catch up on all the items I have that I could review, so discontinued items would be at the bottom of my priority list.

But that's my preference. If you really loved (or hated) a discontinued item and want to rave or rant about it, then there's nothing wrong with that.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Jake'n'bake Jake'n'bake
I haven't gotten an assignment like this, but I did find out that I have something on here that's discontinued. I didn't even know they carried it, but I m ight review it just for the points.
12/29/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Like others have said, when a product is new to Eden and not yet in stock the Product Page may say "discontinued" However, yours may be the first review on that product or one of the first.

I get these regularly and do them, and usually the product shows up in stock in a week or so. (The only one I am still waiting for to show up is a phallic vibe called The Body by JoyDivision. I did a review for one over a year ago, it's fantastic vibrator and we're still not carrying it. We need this vibe, it's amazing!

But, most show up shortly after the first reviews are written when it says "discontinued" Unless it's a really old product that the manufacturer has discontinued, like the Devine Toy Chests (which makes no sense to be because it's a great product.)
12/30/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
I recently did a 'discontinued' new item review (Mer du Rougir candle) and I asked about it. I was told that new items that aren't stocked yet are usually labeled as 'discontinued' until the item is received. Although it's been over a month since I did the review and it's still not stocked. Might just be negotiations. Or the fact that I pointed out their inconsistent spellings and non-identification of their scent and that sent it back to the drawing board. :-/
12/30/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
So most people are answering about the "new looks like discontinued" phenomenon.

I think you were asking about a product that was already active on the site and being sold for a while, and then you were assigned the last one in stock and now it's listed as discontinued.

I have never had this happen to me for an assigned review, but I know you and CherryRedHead88 have (both with Phallix toys).

Myself, if it was assigned, I would still put the review up. And I totally agree it would be sad to have to say "Sorry guys, it's wonderful but you can't have it."... but it's still worth putting the review up so people can get a full sense of what to expect from the company, I think.

The closest situation I've had to that is where I knew the Jollies Bandito was discontinued (because the manufacturer ceased operations) but there were still plenty left in stock, so I used my review to say "hey, if this interests you, put it in your cart instead of on your wishlist!"

I have bought other toys with the expectation of reviewing them only to have them be discontinued, but not on free assignment or buyout. I still plan to write a review someday, but they're way closer to the back of my "queue."
12/30/2011
Contributor: Princess-Kayla ♥ Princess-Kayla ♥
I've got several assignments that were discontinued by the time I got the package. I still write the reviews, just because I feel obligated because they were sent to me as an assignment. I don't mind doing it at all. I enjoy reviewing.
12/30/2011
Contributor: lalapetitee lalapetitee
If it not being discontinued by the maker then I would still review it. Lots of ppl buy toys on other sites or in stores based on what they read on Edens.
12/30/2011
Contributor: lalapetitee lalapetitee
Great point about getting a sense of how great the company is even if the product is no longer being made.
12/30/2011
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
It was a free assignment, so I was obligated to do the review. I'll admit that being a blogger it bothered me a bit that I couldn't promote the product/review on my site.

I liked the product though, so I shouldn't complain.
01/18/2012
Contributor: Entropy Entropy
I haven't had that happen yet.
01/18/2012
Contributor: sweetiejo sweetiejo
I haven't had that happen to me yet, but I think i would still go on with the review.
01/19/2012
Contributor: js250 js250
I think it is still important to get the information out there for others to read. It gives them an idea of the company, the quality and performance of the product. If they still want that particular item, they will but it regardless of where it is sold. Edens does function as a full on review site and others use it to research their items prior to purchasing.
01/19/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Ms. N
Since this has happened to me this week, I thought I would put up a poll...

Have you ever gotten a free or buyout assignment only to discover that the product was discontinued before you could write up your review? In such a case, should you ... more
If the product is permanently discontinued, I wouldn't invest much time to read or write a review. Even if I wrote the best review, someone else wouldn't be able to get the product if they wanted.
01/19/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
I have to agree with others. Eden is a treasure trove of product reviews even if the item isn't available on this site! I think it's still useful to put the reviews up anyway.
01/20/2012
Contributor: Nazaress Nazaress
Are you sure the item you received isn't a brand-new item? I sort-of recently reviewed an item that is "discontinued" that is most certainly NOT discontinued. It just hasn't been put into stock yet so it's labeled as discontinued.
01/20/2012
Contributor: Sally Forth Sally Forth
Although I can't understand why anyone would buy from another site (EF seems to consistently have better prices and more reviews), I would happily review a toy I own that isn't carried here or has been discontinued. I wouldn't expect any points, just the satisfaction of a toy well reviewed and a chance for folks shopping for that type of toy to have the opinion of an actual user of said toy. When I'm toy shopping, user reviews (both positive and negative) are huge in my decision making process. Even more so for video reviews, as they give me a chance to see something compared to a human hand and see how something operates/bends/flexes/ looks in lighting other than advertisement lighting/etc.
I have never attempted to review something that is not carried or is discontinued on EF, but if I knew how, I certainly would. I have at least one toy that is well worth a FANTASTIC favorable review, but have never been able to find it on this site.
02/14/2012
Contributor: Willow Wand Willow Wand
If it was an assignment, review it.
02/14/2012
Contributor: Teacookie Teacookie
even is somethign really is discontinued it can stil be foudn in other places plus you never know if thye will remake them.
02/14/2012
Contributor: PassionateLover2 PassionateLover2
Quote:
Originally posted by Willow Wand
If it was an assignment, review it.
While I have not experience this problem, I agree with 'Willow Wand', you get points out of it anyway!
02/14/2012