Here is a idea to improve channels that review products

Communities Blog
1

This is kind of a rough idea that might need smoothing and I don't think this is used anywhere but if it is feel free to correct me. But instead of having a big channel like Tek Syndicate bothering vendors to send them products we can use some kind of crowd funding system to get the products for the channel to review. First a small popular product list is made by the channel and then we can all vote on the product. Once a product wins then users can pledge a amount towards the item. Once it reaches the point where the channel can purchase it, they order it, create a review then hold some kind of drawing for one us pledging users to win it. I am sorry if there are any errors. I am in high school I usually half ass papers or hire other kids to do them for me.

But I think it would be funny because channels can also review really dumb items without wasting any of their money. Tell what you think I am curious on what kind of walls we would run into doing this. 

 

2

The idea itself isn't bad, but I think the problem is that big youtube channels need a strong relationship to big vendors like Corsair. For example Asus, Intel and Corsair funded the highLANder trip, which was pretty expensive I think.

But of course this would make sense for products that teksyndicate can't get from the vendors (for reasons) and they could manage it like a kickstarter campaign. Starting with not so expensive things, to see if it works.

3

There's no need, companies want to send out these items so that they can be reviewed and make some noise.

4

In most cases you are right.

But there are some "special" items which teksyndicate don't get. For example when they introduced Pistols PC they were hinting AMD to send them a FX 9590 for testing and reviewing (because Pistol had a 8350 back then), but because AMD didn't send them the CPU Pistol bought it in the end (for testing and for herself).

6

lets now waste our money.

7

you may do better by putting things on a list and having people cast a vote by donations. This way, you see where the interest is while having the cash to buy said items. 

8

I foresee areas that would need discussion ...

  1. What would the minimum donation be per gizmo to be purchased for review?
  2. What if gizmo #1 received 10 times the amount of donations that were required to purchase & review it?  Would those excess donations be used to purchase gizmo #2 and possibly gizmo #3 on the list of most wanted gizmo reviews?
  3. And if so... would the people that donated into this excess amount for gizmo 1 be eligible for give away of gizmo #2 /#3 that were completely (or partially) paid for by donations for gizmo #1?
  4. Or should the excesses just go to Tek support?

Additionally ... would this question be better suited for placement in "general discussion, ideas for the Tek" rather the posted as a "Blog"? 

 

 

9

Well, you know, Patreon could do that. Its a way for Content Creators like those on YouTube to let their contributers offer them money for content, livestreams and more.

The only problem is that Patreon may be a way for TekSyndicate to create content and buy stuff, but their time is still valuable. An experienced and skilled programmer can ear a six figure salary a year (over 100,000$ US dollars), easily. So while Patreon might be a way for us to help them pay for products, that doesn't take into account the time they're setting aside (that they could be working) to script, shoot, edit, realize a mistake and re-shoot and/or correct said mistake, re-edit, upload, and hope neither the compression fudged something up, nor the recording itself wasn't harmed (because of hardware damage, overheating, lack of storage or low battery), or that the upload stream didn't get corrupted mid-upload, or some other error.

So with that in mind, note that the documentary that TekSyndicate wants to make costs 60,000$. We haven't even reached 1,500$ of that yet. So would Patreon help? Yes, if Logan, Pistol, Qain, Wendell and that-other-guy-that-just-got-hired-whose-name-I-can't-remember-for-pounds-of-bacon (sorry person I'm referring to) could spend dozens of hours a week (which they could be working and earning more money that way to) for the Tek for what probably wouldn't even be minimum wage. 1,500$ / (12 hours a week x 4.2 weeks a month x five people) = ~5.95$/h

That's a full dollar an hour less than minimum wage for their time, and we haven't even got to their cost of living, recording equipment, shooting videos because they have them before they're released (so the videos can come out on the product's release date), purchasing the hardware, or even paying for shipping. The fact that Linus can afford staff even with the funding from his forum members and help from sponsors like Intel, Corsair, ASUS and others is nothing short of a small miracle!

So while this idea is nice, you'd need a whole lot more money coming from Patreon. Although maybe Patreon might be a way that TekSyndicate could give back to the community. Maybe a Patreon giveaway, and offer LiveStreams that are exclusive for Patreon contributors? Perhaps also move TekSupport into being the same thing as the Patreon thing, so that way all Patreon contributors get no ads on the forum and some nice stuff.

(Maybe also add a few other things. Like paying for international shipping, although if the winner is from overseas than the next product to be reviewed and then shipped to some other lucky winner might be delayed because of shipping costs depending on the product. And that also includes taxes, like Brazil's ridiculous 100% imported goods tax.)

10

Yes, would be nice if a mod could move this to "general discussion, ideas for the Tek".

11

Interesting idea, I like the sound of it, yeah the concerns that were bought up are shared with me, but I think purchasing items may give a less biased review???

12

I think this could be a good idea. Maybe not for items from companies that like Tek Syndicate such as Asus or Adata but instead for smaller companies that just don't send out review products like 3dconnexion or CHAIR REVIEWS (that would be hilarious.) Maybe even products that are years old but still relevant in gaming like anything from Razer pretty much.