Free Product Samples Policy

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:37 am

Howdy,

In the last few months, I've received sporradic free product sample requests which I replied to individually. However, it is getting out of hand so I am going to post policy this way once to all who have asked and reference it when I get new requests.

In the beginning, there was CPAPtalk, and it was good. It was a place where you could go to get honest answers about CPAP usage. In this spirit, we sent new product samples out to respected and active members of the CPAPtalk community and published their reviews. This met a need CPAP shoppers had and made those receiving the free stuff happy. We only had a limited number of samples to give out for each product and I'm sorry to anyone whose feelings have been hurt by not getting offered free stuff.

As you all know from recent posts, our relations with some CPAP brands can be strained at times. No company likes to see products they have worked hard on unfairly smeared. No customer wants to see "canned" reviews that do not represent the true quality of the product. A balance must be struck that ensures all products are reviewed fairly and honestly.

We are in the process of creating that system on CPAP.com. Seven days after you order your product from cpap.com, you will be emailed asking for a user review. When you click the link in the email, you will be taken to a place you can write your review. We will publish all reviews, negative or positive, whose spirit is to explain the true experience you had with the product. We will not publish ratings without comment - you have to explain why you gave the rating you gave. While we are still in beta, you can check the user review system for popular products now to see clearly how our policies are creating honest reviews.

I'm a free market guy. I think the a free exchange of products and ideas leads to a fair system that is better for everyone. CPAP.com is a living monument to this philosophy in terms of products. With this user review system, we are expanding that to include a free marketplace of ideas as well.

Where does this leave "pillar of the community" CPAPtalk reviews? I'm not sure yet. I've been very pleased with the initial response to our CPAP.com user review system and I expect it to be even better once we work out some email kinks. I'm going to watch it closely and decide but it could be going away.

In the meantime, here are a few things I have decided.

#1 We have some free products out for review right now and we will publish them in a CPAPtalk style format if they predate the launch of CPAP.com's user review system.

#2 We reserve the right to select who we wish for product reviews. A lot of emails and PMs to me and my father will not get you free samples. To lobby for free product, be an active and respected member of CPAPtalk. Have 2000+ posts. Be someone whose advice people seek out. Write a book on CPAP that lifts our spirit. When I've given out free products, I think "wow, they've done all that for CPAPtalk, the least I can do is give them a mask sample".

Johnny

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:02 am

As usual, Excellent, Fair. and Forward thinking! Jim

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:07 am

Do ya have to be a good dancer too?

Chuck

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:31 am

This sounds totally resonable. I can't speak for everyone but I can see your dilema and support your efforts.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 am

Excellent, Johnny!

You've tackled a difficult area, and it sounds like you've come up with an approach which is likely to be of immense value to potential customers and ultimately to your business as well. Thank you for having a long-term vision.

Regards,,
Bill

John Galt · Post by **John Galt** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 am

As a relative newcomer to this forum, and as a newcomer to the use of cpap equipment, but also as a person with considerable management experience, I heartily support your comments. Input from customers is critical, but it needs to be honest and balanced. Your proposal makes a lot of sense and it will add value to this forum.

Thank you for the service that you provide.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:44 am

The prior, prior post was mine.

Regards,
Bill

cpapjack · Post by **cpapjack** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:51 pm

Well said johnnygoodman!!

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:09 pm

Great Policy and approach. You serve your customers very well. Now my only fear is spammers may reach 2,000 + posts before the rest of us Hate the idea of them getting all that porn and free masks too

(Just kidding you do the best you can with that problem too)

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:26 pm

so does this mean your not going to send me that new M series Remstar Auto to try?

mousetater · Post by **mousetater** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:50 pm

Your plan sounds reasonable to me. I noticed star ratings on some of the products on cpap.com when I was looking at masks yesterday. Kind of "amazon.com-ish". I find amazon ratings useful, and expect they will be the same here.

Sleepy-in-AL · Post by **Sleepy-in-AL** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:05 pm

How about an "If you have to ask, don't bother" policy. I would hope that people wouldn't be expecting or asking for free samples. If you were contacted and asked to review a product, great. If I'm ever asked to accept a product sample to review, I'd be flattered. But I certainly don't and won't expect it or think its some sort of favortism because somebody else was.

In regards to the review system, I believe that there is value in both styles of review. I know it takes more work and has its problems but there is a difference between the quick and dirty reviews that tend to go with the ratings system on cpap.com and the in-depth review that most of the cpaptalk style reviews give.

Thanks for all your efforts. This forum has been a life saver for most who come here and it is truly appreciated.

communilink · Post by **communilink** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:32 pm

bravo. Just the fact that you share "free" samples is great. Your house, your rules. I know I woud not have even taken my sleep study if I had not found this forum and gotten informed before I did it.

Don

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:38 pm

Well, I guess that leaves me out...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:49 pm

Sleepy-in-AL wrote:How about an "If you have to ask, don't bother" policy. I would hope that people wouldn't be expecting or asking for free samples. If you were contacted and asked to review a product, great. If I'm ever asked to accept a product sample to review, I'd be flattered. But I certainly don't and won't expect it or think its some sort of favortism because somebody else was.

I agree and I'm sure thats how most of us feel. I can't believe anyone would be whining about not getting free stuff but I'm with you. If you have to ask, don't bother.

Mask

Additional Comments: cpap pressure: 12

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure MinE 11 MaxI 17.5

Free Product Samples Policy

Free Product Samples Policy

Qualifications