say mac... you got a light???? ill share this joint with ya!no time like the present
well,
for me.
1. I mention my magazine, sometimes send some of my articles, also mention you blog on very popular sites( heck RIU has 300,000 registed members).
2. Tell them what other companies have donated to you tests already
3. Be polite and nice try and make them laugh.
4. I have about the same luck with emails and phonecalls btw... sooo for me its faster to email companies that to call
5.. I generallytest/review something over a longer period of time, generally I mention if they want they can RMA the package and I will return it to them when i am done with testing, Not once has a company been like " OK yes mail it back when you are done" everytime they are like don't worry about it just keep it.
I think this adds to my credibility the fact that I am offering to return said product when done with testing(obviously this don't apply to nutrients and such)
6. tell them you will let them know what you like about their product and what you like about the competitors products as well....Companies pay folks to do this in house, the fact that you are doing it for free somewhat off sets the cost of them sending you a promotional item
REMEMBER, they can write these things off as a tax write off, plus the actual cost of a product is always marked up, they may send you a 1,500.00 tv but it might only cost 300.00 to make it..
7. have confidence that YOU have something to offer them, In the grand scheme of things... Ez clone sent me a free cloner and they are donating a free cloner to the contest, in return I gave them some great feedback that I am sure they will implement on future models... that feedback could prove to be super valuable to them in the long run. So yah they hooked it up with a couple free cloners, but I hooked them up just as much with some great feedback/research/developmental ideas...
Plus now everyone thinks ezclone is cool as fuck especially after dj just got hooked up too.
This was mutually beneficial to ezclone and myself..