Silk Road forums

Discussion => Silk Road discussion => Topic started by: JakkTheKipper on August 01, 2013, 09:49 am

Title: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: JakkTheKipper on August 01, 2013, 09:49 am
I am looking to buy from a new domestic vendor as they have seem to have exactly what I need. They gave out shitloads of free samples of all their merchandise but the vast majority of the people given samples have yet to write a review here or on their vendor page and the majority seem to have had their samples for 6 days and more. I saw one that received their sample 13 days ago and there is still zilch on the forum or the vendor page.

I find it very rude to keep the sample for so long when others would have gladly peeled open the packaging and necked it before they even sat back down to finish watching Jeremy Kyle.

It's very unhelpful to both the vendor and the customer are left in limbo waiting for the feedback.

Am I just being a grumpy cunt because I can't make my order for another couple of hours or does this annoy anybody else?
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: psychedelicmind on August 01, 2013, 10:43 am
I think it is shitty when people put their hands up for samples and then don't review them. If you are going to ask for a sample, you should make sure to only claim it if you can review it in good time. If I took a sample, i'd make sure to review it the weekend after I got it, at the latest ;)
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: MendoHashMan on August 01, 2013, 11:43 am
There are a lot of people on SR and everywhere that hear the word "free" and they jump on it, no matter what it is! Offer someone a free kick in the teeth and "free" is probably all they hear! I had free samples of my mylar bags and jars so people could see what it looked like before buying bulk but not a single sample led to a sale, they were all just junkies looking for free stuff! That is why I don't give any samples on any items anymore! Assholes abuse the system and screw it up for the serious people!
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: shopper1888 on August 01, 2013, 11:48 am
I am looking to buy from a new domestic vendor as they have seem to have exactly what I need. They gave out shitloads of free samples of all their merchandise but the vast majority of the people given samples have yet to write a review here or on their vendor page and the majority seem to have had their samples for 6 days and more. I saw one that received their sample 13 days ago and there is still zilch on the forum or the vendor page.

I find it very rude to keep the sample for so long when others would have gladly peeled open the packaging and necked it before they even sat back down to finish watching Jeremy Kyle.

It's very unhelpful to both the vendor and the customer are left in limbo waiting for the feedback.

Am I just being a grumpy cunt because I can't make my order for another couple of hours or does this annoy anybody else?


No, you are correct.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: brusselsprout on August 01, 2013, 01:17 pm
If you can't review it within a few days, don't take the sample. Cannabis reviews should be very prompt, stronger things may take a bit longer due to finding a good night to do it, but even then it should be quick.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: Turkey for Breakfast on August 01, 2013, 01:38 pm
I find it very rude to keep the sample for so long when others would have gladly peeled open the packaging and necked it before they even sat back down to finish watching Jeremy Kyle.

Everyone's situation is different. Some people do not have the ability to get high at their leisure and need to set aside time to do so. I have never once seen a free sample offer where the vendor have a time table for when the review was due. I agree that the review should be given in a reasonable amount of time, and should always be given no matter what the circumstance. There is likely a discernible ratio for the number of samples given out to the number of reviews the vendor actually gets. I do my best to review as soon as I can and give great and honest reviews, but your arbitrary 6 day window is sometimes just not workable for me. If a vendor specifically asked for a review within a time frame  which I could not provide I would not ask.

I am not typing in opposition to your statement exactly, but I wanted to add to the conversation.

Regards,
T4B
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: Turkey for Breakfast on August 01, 2013, 01:41 pm
Allow me to elaborate a bit. Review of stealth, weight, appearance, and communication should be done immediately. Quality should be updated as soon as possible and within any time frame outlined by the generous vendor.

It is important to remember most free samples are typically offered by new vendors and the people receiving the samples are taking a risk by putting their addresses in the hands of an unproven member of our community.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: BlackIris on August 01, 2013, 04:20 pm
Everyone's situation is different. Some people do not have the ability to get high at their leisure and need to set aside time to do so.

Then simply don't apply for a sample, easy enough. If you want to be a reviewer of a sample you have a responsibility on your hand. If your "situation" is one that you cannot review the sample as soon as you get it (or at max in 48 hours) then don't apply for a sample.

Every time I got a sample I wrote a review immediately and before applying I knew I could do it; if I couldn't I would not have asked the sample. The problem is that people when they hear "sample" hear instead "free drugs", and they take it with this mindset, instead you are like actually *working* for the vendor in that time frame and you took a responsibility on yourself. A sample is not a free drug offer, it is like a exchange when you get product for your time and opinion, so you better give that time and opinion in return.

Apart a lack of respect to the vendor it is also a lack of respect towards the community as a whole.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: BlackIris on August 01, 2013, 04:26 pm
It is important to remember most free samples are typically offered by new vendors and the people receiving the samples are taking a risk by putting their addresses in the hands of an unproven member of our community.

Usually established reviewers use "dummy" addresses for samples (especially for new vendors) or anyway an address they can either afford to lose, just for this risk.
I think that if you want to become a reviewer this is a thing you must take in consideration and if you cannot have something like that, then, again, don't apply for a sample.

I repeat what I said before: all the problems arise because when most of the people hear "sample" they immediately think "free drugs" when it couldn't be farther from the truth.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: brusselsprout on August 01, 2013, 04:27 pm
BlackIris perfectly sums up what I was trying to convey.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: Turkey for Breakfast on August 01, 2013, 04:57 pm
all the problems arise because when most of the people hear "sample" they immediately think "free drugs" when it couldn't be farther from the truth.

I don't disagree with you here, but calling for arbitrary deadlines here on this thread, such as 48 hours or 6 days etc, is just that. If a vendor is trying to build a name and get some reviews for their product why not outright say in the OP that they would like the full review by some deadline?

If you think about it, the people who have the most experience in many cases are the ones a vendor would want providing the reviews.. Many of those people have been in the game for many years and are at an age which they likely have other responsibilities and cannot always subject themselves to a tight time frame. I am not saying a reviewer should drag it out for exorbitant lengths of time, but allowing a reasonable time frame for a seasoned user should not be cause for criticism.

Reviewing new vendors in the community should not be restricted to buyers who have nothing else going on in their lives..
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: brusselsprout on August 01, 2013, 05:15 pm
all the problems arise because when most of the people hear "sample" they immediately think "free drugs" when it couldn't be farther from the truth.

I don't disagree with you here, but calling for arbitrary deadlines here on this thread, such as 48 hours or 6 days etc, is just that. If a vendor is trying to build a name and get some reviews for their product why not outright say in the OP that they would like the full review by some deadline?

If you think about it, the people who have the most experience in many cases are the ones a vendor would want providing the reviews.. Many of those people have been in the game for many years and are at an age which they likely have other responsibilities and cannot always subject themselves to a tight time frame. I am not saying a reviewer should drag it out for exorbitant lengths of time, but allowing a reasonable time frame for a seasoned user should not be cause for criticism.

Reviewing new vendors in the community should not be restricted to buyers who have nothing else going on in their lives..
Hey that's fine if the potential reviewer gives the new vendor a heads up that it won't be an instant review, that's cool, obviously.

The problem is that a lot of reviewers give the impression they'll provide feedback asap and then simply don't bother. They sure as fuck pop up in the next sample offer thread though!
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: Turkey for Breakfast on August 01, 2013, 05:27 pm
I certainly do not intend to be the defender of dishonest people who do not even bother to follow through on their commitments. Fuck those people.

I am trying to expand the conversation because I have had some delayed quality reviews on samples because of real life obligations that prevent me from partaking as freely as I would like to. I was never trying to be dishonest to the vendor in any way and always updated with the quality review as soon as I could. When the product arrived I always reviewed packaging, appearance, communication, speed of delivery etc immediately.. Which is plenty to get a new vendor going in the community honestly. If the product is arriving and packaged properly, odds are the vendor isn't shipping garbage. Reviews of that nature should be good enough at least starting out to get business underway. I have yet to find a vendor who provided samples and was not putting their best foot forward to establish their credentials.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: postrex on August 01, 2013, 06:44 pm
It really depending on what the product is.  People have lives, and many drugs are not simply a daily activity to most.  I would personally say within about a week and a half would be a reasonable guideline for most substances.  Cannabis would be a bit different - with most qualified individuals smoking daily - so, maybe a few days by the time you smoke it ~3 times and properly consider the taste and effect.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: BlackIris on August 01, 2013, 08:44 pm
If a vendor is trying to build a name and get some reviews for their product why not outright say in the OP that they would like the full review by some deadline?

Simply because there's no need of it. You agreed on reviewing a sample so it is YOUR duty to stand by a deadline, not the duty of the vendor to ask for one. If you cannot either don't accept the sample or inform the vendor about it so s/he can make an informed decision.

If you think about it, the people who have the most experience in many cases are the ones a vendor would want providing the reviews.. Many of those people have been in the game for many years and are at an age which they likely have other responsibilities and cannot always subject themselves to a tight time frame.

I'm in that category too, and it is for this that if I cannot review a sample in a fast manner I will simply not ask for it. What you say would have a point if the reviewers were only 1 or 2 so they cannot certainly test everything and in a fast manner, but since at this point there are a lot of reviewers (and very good at it) you can simply pass if you know you will not have enough time to do that in a certain timeframe.

I know, it's good to receive a sample, but I repeat, it's not "free drugs" and you are, I'm sorry to say that - and don't take it as a personal accusation, please -  abiding to that mentality here. Everyone likes to have a freebye if s/he can and if you can either help the community with it and a vendor it's either better, but, again, this is NOT what a sample is about, I'm sorry. Your aren't doing a favor to the vendor posting a review, a sample is like a contract you have with a vendor that sends you product for a review, it is like being paid to do a job. If you accept the contract then you must abide to it, you cannot do it at your leisure, because the vendor is PAYING you. Do you understand this, do you? It is not a freebye, it is not a favor, it is a paid job to which you agreed to before hand.

Suppose you get a job to do a painting and you accept it: if you do, you cannot then say "oh, I have a family and a job, I cannot do it now, I will wait next week". Good luck on having work after that. You accepted the job, so you accepted on making the paint. The excuse "I don't have time now" have no place just because you should have known before accepting the paint that you had the trouble and so either decided to work something out to get the time or not accept the job to start with.

I am not saying a reviewer should drag it out for exorbitant lengths of time, but allowing a reasonable time frame for a seasoned user should not be cause for criticism.

An user, seasoned or not, is not FORCED to accept a sample, it is done willingly. If you accept you must also accept the inherent rules of the thing, that should be giving the review as soon as possible. If you cannot then simply don't accept the sample, it's that easy. When you will have the time at the next occasion you will. Yes, you will probably miss a product you may like, but, again, a sample is NOT "free drugs".
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: BlackIris on August 01, 2013, 08:51 pm
It really depending on what the product is.  People have lives, and many drugs are not simply a daily activity to most.

You know the type of drug you will receive with the sample, it is not that it is a random pick. If you have the time to test that particular substance in a timely manner then accept the sample, if you cannot let have someone that can do it instead.

I personally passed many LSD or shroom reviews just for this, I didn't had the time given their effect. Why should I accept the sample only to wait a week to test it if I knew already that I couldn't test it immediately or at most the day after? The only reason to do something like that would be, again, to have a freebye (as in, for example, not wanting to miss a product you like and so you prefer to take the sample anyway). That's the reality of the situation, isn't it?
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: Turkey for Breakfast on August 01, 2013, 09:08 pm
The only reason to do something like that would be, again, to have a freebye (as in, for example, not wanting to miss a product you like and so you prefer to take the sample anyway). That's the reality of the situation, isn't it?

It is spelled 'freebie' and no. Accepting a sample and not being able to review on the quality within 48 hours, but reviewing  on every other aspect of the transaction immediately is not as treacherous as you are describing. The review of stealth, communication, appearance, weight, etc is plenty to offer immediately and get a new vendor off to make initial sales and accomplish his goals with sending out samples.
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: brusselsprout on August 01, 2013, 09:21 pm
The only reason to do something like that would be, again, to have a freebye (as in, for example, not wanting to miss a product you like and so you prefer to take the sample anyway). That's the reality of the situation, isn't it?

It is spelled 'freebie' and no. Accepting a sample and not being able to review on the quality within 48 hours, but reviewing  on every other aspect of the transaction immediately is not as treacherous as you are describing. The review of stealth, communication, appearance, weight, etc is plenty to offer immediately and get a new vendor off to make initial sales and accomplish his goals with sending out samples.
Yeah, or you can leave it for somebody who doesn't have those time constraints. Who is going to buy powder based on looks alone?
Title: Re: How long is long enough to test a free sample?
Post by: zxydwx3 on August 02, 2013, 04:37 am
I can see both sides of this one, but on balance, I think BlackIris has made some good points. I've only accepted 1 free sample from a vendor, and I made clear that I'd prefer to pay since I wasn't going to be able to properly review the product right away. He sent it anyway, so I indulged when I could and posted a review once I had done so.

I just wouldn't feel comfortable accepting a sample when I either 1) couldn't test it and report back in a timely manner, or 2) wasn't very familiar with the product and wouldn't be able to make an informed review.

To answer the OP's question, I'd say 72 hours to test and write a review should be the goal, unless you've made clear to the vendor ahead of time that you aren't in a position to do so.