I haven’t embarked on a blogging rant for a while. The primary reason is because I’ve realised that the beauty blogging scene locally is markedly different from that I’ve seen in other countries. There is a lot of “me-ism” here as I call it, so I’ve decided to let sleeping dogs lie, let everyone do their thing and I’ll just do mine. I’m happier this way and I don’t get told off for preaching. Apparently, ethics rub people the wrong way.
Anyway, I remarked on Tine’s blog that I feel like I’m being treated by some people as a “loose cannon” because I refuse to be controlled and that makes me unpredictable. That’s how I like it, but it upsets people so contrary to what many people believe, I don’t work with many brands anymore. Most drop you like a hot potato on reading a less than favourable review about them and PR people come and go so relationships change over time. But you know what, it’s not about me today. I recently received an offer that incensed me so much, I just had to let loose about it.
This isn’t about beauty so you may leave now if it doesn’t interest you 🙂 But because I needed a picture, here’s a gratuitous photo of one of my recent purchases. It’s the Dior Eye Reviver eyeshadow palette and the My Lady Dior blush in 007 at the back. Both are available only at the sole Dior beauty boutique at Sunway Pyramid for a limited time, if you’re interested. (Disclaimer: This post is not about Dior but the items were too pretty not to show you 🙂 )
Well, basically I was approached by a PR firm, let’s call them Y who said they were representing a brand. Let’s call it Brand X. Brand X has a new product that they want to launch in a month’s time, at an allegedly ‘glam’ event.
So, Brand X has offered 10 bloggers a chance to try the product ahead of time and be paid. Let’s say for the sake of argument, that the amount is RM300 (approx US$82) per person. So far so good. They’ve actually broached the subject of payment.
However, because they are offering a payment, suddenly the hoops and juggling clubs appear for you to jump through. You are required to write a post about receiving the product, provide before/after photos and publish your review on a particular date. That raised my hackles a little but I wasn’t quite pissed yet.
It was what came next. That it was also compulsory to participate in some random contest where you, yes you the blogger, must dress up, take your photos of yourself dolled up to the nines (I don’t see how that’s relevant to having good skin but there you go), allow your photos to be used by Brand X for promotion and then came the crunch. You, yes you blogger, you will be judged by people who you have never met on the condition of your skin and how it’s improved since you were using Brand X’s product, all so you stand a chance to win products, and a coveted award no one has heard of before this.
W.T.F.
W.T.F!!!
Firstly, it’s ridiculous to impose all these conditions and compel us to participate in an activity that I feel to be condescending and demeaning and demoralizing for a mere token sum of RM300. Hell, if that second “activity” had not arisen, I wouldn’t have embarked on this rant because as ridiculous as it is, it isn’t uncommon. I don’t know who suggested that stupid contest, but whoever did deserves a swift kick up their behind. Brand X is a big company. If they want people to get that involved in a time consuming blogging activity, RM300 isn’t cutting it, folks. RM3000 would be a more reasonable compensation. I wouldn’t do it for RM30,000 but hey, that’s me. I know most people would.
Secondly, these people know nothing about you. They don’t know who you are, how old you are, what the condition of your skin is, or your lifestyle and you are not being judged among your peers. You could be a cynical, stressed out 40 year old, like me, pitted next to a baby faced 20 year old fresh out of diapers. You could have taken it seriously, written a thesis about your experience with the product, and be trumped by a pretty sweet young thing with skin like that of a baby’s bottom who wrote 50 words and included 50 photographs of herself, well photoshopped.
You are a random group of people thrown together because you are bloggers and therefore willing to jump through flaming hoops for a little treat at the end. “There’s a good boy! Here’s a treat!” Hey, you are not being given a year’s supply of product. You are given 1 month’s supply… and a paltry “compensation”, probably for you to go buy your glam dress and colour your hair as they pointedly suggest. Bollocks to all that.
Thirdly, where does it say that because I’m a blogger I’m willing to submit myself to be judged by people who I don’t know and don’t give 2 sen for, to judge ME on the condition of MY skin? If I choose to blog about my skin condition, that is my choice and within my control. I don’t asked to be judged. If people judge, that’s their business. I did not ask for it. But by making it compulsory, Brand X is forcing YOU to consent to be judged on your skin, by people who aren’t experts or even dermatologists.
This process of “judging” isn’t scientific. You aren’t asked to go in for before/after photos taken by experts under constant conditions, nor do machines measure the quality of your skin. You take the damn photos yourself and if you win, it’s not money that you win. It’s not an all expenses paid trip to Europe with shopping money thrown in. It’s products that the company manufactures, which costs nothing to them. Oh and a “coveted” award which I’d never heard of before this so it can’t be very coveted can it?
Oh and what if you don’t win? Oh, then it sucks to be you doesn’t it? Having to parade yourself up and down, subject yourself to the scrutiny of people who care nothing for you and who aren’t qualified to talk about the condition of your skin. Only to be told “Oh you’re not good enough”
So what’s my rant? Is it about the paltry compensation? Or is it about the company being so out of touch with things that they expect that bloggers will do anything for a freebie, a small sum of money and a chance to be paraded on stage? Or is it about the PR company who actually thought that this idea would fly.
It’s all of the above. This is what makes blogging such a sucky thing for me. It is presumptuous brands who come up with hare-brained schemes like this, and PR companies who feed this presumption that all bloggers are young and hungry for fame and freebies and a “coveted award”. This offer is insulting to someone who commands 10,000 pageviews a day and it is just as insulting to someone who commands 10 pageviews a day because it tells me that there is no respect shown to the blogger at all, in this whole exercise.
Brands recognise that bloggers can be of great help to them in getting the word out and influential bloggers can sell out a product. Yet this latest exercise by Brand X and PR firm Y shows just how little they appreciate the effort, influence and time put in by the bloggers. Brand X stands to earn hundreds of thousands from the sale of this new product and all they are willing to invest in the bloggers that they are using to push their product sales, is a total sum of RM3000 for 10 bloggers. In fact, they promise you 2 month’s supply of product but won’t even let you have the 2nd month until AFTER the whole exercise is completed.
All together now. W.T.F!!!
I’m just getting this off my chest because if I didn’t, I’d explode 😛 I know there are 9 other people out there who have received the same offer. Perhaps they don’t feel as WTF-y as I do about this. Time will tell. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take the offer up, but I’m saying that you should weigh your time, effort and influence and think hard about whether all you’re worth is RM300, some product and some stupid cattle parade where some unqualified people will decide if you are worth giving a prize to.
You think about it. But I can tell you that you and I are worth a hell lot more than that, and we deserve and are entitled to some respect. As long as we roll over and let these companies trample all over us, we can forget about getting any respect at all. The next time, they won’t even bother to offer you the RM300. You’d just do it for the free product won’t you? After all, you’re JUST a blogger.
And this, my friends, is one of those things that makes me sick about this whole blogging business. The lack of respect and those who allow this lack of respect to perpetuate. Bloggers aren’t just pretty faces on the web. We should never be just that.
My path has diverted and I’ve chosen to blaze my own blogging path away from all this crap. I’m not saying that I’m against accepting compensation, but that compensation must be commensurate with our efforts, time and influence that the brands seek to make use of. And no matter how I look at it, RM300 is nothing but an insult. A friend I talked this over with had just this to say after reading the email (Read this in your best Manglish accent) “They think their RM300 is very big issit?!”
And you know what? That pretty much sums it up.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest 🙂
Paris B
Evan Chang says
WTF!! Seriously WTF!! I had this happened to me also sooooo many times, like I was approached from a PR firm representing a certain brand that required me to blog about it for 8 times for just one single freaking product that they sent me.
WTF!!! I mean come on! I may be a blogger but I’m not a cheap ass non standard floozy that will do anything for free products!
Totally understand where you’re coming from Paris! Companies shouldn’t look down upon us blogger and just do whatever they like!
I support you!
Paris B says
Blog 8 times for 1 product?! Are they bonkers?! I hope you said no. These days I just offer to return products I’m not interested in. It relieves the pressure and tells people to eff off 😀
Siew Cheng says
i’m a silent reader of your blog & I must say that I love your blog bcoz u stay so true to what you believe in & not being influenced by all the PR gimmicks & incentives. i’m not a person who put on makeup all the time but when i need guidance, i refer to your blog.
Paris B says
Thank you for the encouragement, Siew Cheng 🙂 I’m glad you’ve found the blog useful and helpful and that makes me happier than any silly pageant contest! 😀
plue says
the pr company is run by dimwits is it? and to think big company would actually approved of such campaign. total fiasco. though i don’t blame both brand and pr agency 100% for such a campaign, as the local blogging scene is pretty much being painted as “all bloggers want freebies and will do whatever it takes to get it”. i maybe wrong as i’m not active in blogging but to hear such a thing happen, sigh i guess these companies and pr agencies need to do their research better on the bloggers they intend to work with before launching silly campaigns.
well for now it looks like it’s their big loss now!
Paris B says
I think so Plue. That they even had the gall to propose this really surprised me! But as you have said, I too think we have ourselves to blame. Not use per se, but our local bloggers in general who’d do anything for a freebie. I think they’ve been “trained” that way because of how certain blog agencies/communities work and tell them what to do to get ahead. Oh well, to each their own. I just hope that no one takes up this ridiculous offer!
Aggie says
Hah! I was approached by a brand a couple of years ago, but without the pageantry. Agency G wanted me to review+host giveaway of Brand E’s products for a fee of RM200. I agreed at first just to give it a shot, but had to back out before the campaign started because work just got too insane. Agency G begged me to stay on, so I reluctantly agreed. And yes, suddenly all of these hoops appeared for me to jump through. Drafts for my review and social media postings to be submitted beforehand? So that’s how brands buy good reviews. I felt insulted. Luckily, I didn’t have any problems with the products so I didn’t have to lie in my reviews.
The final straw when when nobody sent out the prizes to my giveaway’s winners! My barrage of emails were never replied, so I had to send out apology emails to the readers telling them what happened and to spend their money on other brands. I don’t care about the RM200 payment (never received a single cent) but don’t anyone dare to try to fool my readers! Sent the agency one final, nasty email berating their lack of professionalism and severed ties with them. Funny enough, a couple of weeks after they approached another lifestyle blogger with 10k followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter each, who I guess did receive payment for the same campaign and had prizes sent out to their winners. She and a handful of other bloggers later had “managed by Agency G” on their social media profiles too.
I too, only work with very few brands now. They allow me 100% editorial freedom on my reviews and insist that I be brutally honest, which shows how much they respect my work and it’s reciprocal (*ahem*hmissmei is the first who comes to mind). If only more PR/marketing teams understand this. It’s all about quality > quantity. More teams are weeding out “freebie hunter” bloggers now, so that’s a good sign.
Whenever new teams approach me with a new campaign, I tell them outright my own T&Cs: no drafts to be submitted; no sugar-coated reviews etc. If they don’t like it, then they are free to find other bloggers who will be only too happy to copy+paste press releases for a fee.
Oh and about Agency G? Their sneaky tricks were recently exposed by Singaporean blogger X so they’re in deep trouble now haha.
Jenn Wan says
Aahhhhh, I know I know Agency G’
Paris B says
Hey Aggie, gosh that was such an awful experience you had! And they did not send out the products? How bloody unprofessional and unethical! But knowing which they are, I’m not surprised. I was once asked if I was part of their network and I’d never ever heard of them before LOL! But I’ve given up working with these networks. All they want is you and your stats so they can inflate their rates to the brands/companies. As a blogger, we get paid peanuts, if we get paid at all. But the thing about going independant is that you then don’t get paid at all LOL!
Jessying says
I received the same email. I said WTF also.. mata terbelik.. read twice, what dress in red, red wig/red hair… whats all this nonsense lah. How is that going to show the product is working? I dont mind writing a proper review on the product… but monkey show no way!
I dont know how is this by PR campaign going to help their client brand.
Paris B says
LOL I’m now very curious if a) It’s still going to go ahead and b) who’s doing it?! 😀 Will be keeping an eye out 😉
Carolyn says
I totally agree on “It is presumptuous brands who come up with hare-brained schemes like this, and PR companies who feed this presumption that all bloggers are young and hungry for fame and freebies and a “coveted award”. ” I know I am young but I am not hungry for freebies or a small token. I do put in hard work in preparing for my post and it takes a hell lot of time. People tend to think that blogging is so easy and bloggers get free stuff all the time, that is such a wrong perception! There may be bloggers who don’t need much efforts because they have a pretty face, but for others who strive to give their best? It’s so unfair to categorize all bloggers into one. I also think younger bloggers should be taught not to settle for unreasonable compensation or to be used for free. They do not have much experience, thus they willing to do anything for the PRs.
Paris B says
Apologies if I came across as scathing towards the younger bloggers, Carolyn. It wasn’t my intention, but more to make a point because my exposure to these “young” (age and/or experience) bloggers have been less than impressive thus far as I find that they do feel the need to impress and conform instead of being individuals. It saddens me because I would rather have a strong, vibrant, supportive blogging community of individuals with principles and ethics, rather than a community of identical style blogs. I have tried talking to some of these younger bloggers but what I’ve found is that they’d rather do it their way, for minimal or no compensation or for the chance to attend an event or be given a freebie. They deem me talking through my hat, because the perception is that I’ve already got the connections (which isn’t true. As I’ve mentioned I hardly work with PR or brands anymore because of my principles) so with the exuberance of youth, they’d rather not listen and do it their own way and please the PRs instead of standing up to them. I’d like to think people will wise up after a while but until then, we’ll be inundated with what the current blogging scene looks like, sadly. Still, I’m glad you’ve spoken up because it means you’re on the right track – don’t settle for freebies or token sums and remember, always be honest 🙂
Little bits of now says
I’m glad that you are letting this out! Hope you are feeling better now. Thanks for being honest to us. What a shame that the PR lose the possibility of gaining the exposure of the new product.
Paris B says
Thank you 🙂 I’m sure the PR and brand have found many others who are happy to do it for them. Not everyone is as picky as I am, I’ve learned 😉
HapaGirl says
That is absolutely ridiculous! Paris, I\’m so glad that you have more integrity than that. Your blog always, always keeps it real and I think we ALL appreciate you for that! What an insulting offer from the PR firm. Shame on them and their client for green lighting such a despicable pageant. And people wonder why beauty blogs are given a bad name sometimes for their emphasis on superficiality. Let the duck faced selfie zombie hordes claw over each other for the scraps. You\’re way above all of this!
Paris B says
Thank you for the encouragement 🙂 Yes, this whole thing does just fuel the impression that beauty blogging is superficial. I mean, what’s more superficial than a beauty pageant eh?
Unpalleteable says
Wow, I can see why you’re so pissed off. How demeaning to ask people to participate in a ‘good skin contest’ (‘Skin-Off’?!) full stop. As if bloggers are in a beauty contest against each other and will scramble to be thrown peanuts for participating. Raargh!
Good for you for getting this bullshit off your chest. X
Paris B says
Thank you and yes, how do you judge skin, I ask you?! 😛
Rebecca B. Bird says
That sounds… genuinely awful. I don’t know if RM300 is considered “a lot” for a sponsored campaign there or not, but I can’t think of any sum of money that would make me feel comfortable with those conditions. WTF indeed!
Paris B says
Well, RM300 isn’t a lot of money, but it’s not so little to be sneezed at either. But you couldn’t get a good salon hair dye job with RM300 so that may put things in perspective 😀
ayen says
hahaha! 82 bucks? just 82 for parading yourself to some dumb contest? oh man,their cheap-o pageantry must be the same with their cheap-o products! i love reading blogs, im that kind who rushes out to buy something whenever i read a good review online. But with the recent wave of sponsorships and bloggers being paid just to give products a high rating i am utterly disappointed. You can HARDLY find anyone with an honest opinion anymore. Even my longtime favorite blogger who recently reviewed some brand which really DID NOT work out for me gave this NASTY,GROSS of a product a two thumbs up! UGh! the horror!
THank you for being honest Paris! We,your readers appreciate it a LOT!!!!
Paris B says
Thank you for the encouragement Ayen 🙂 I suppose for some bloggers, they’d rather err on the side of keeping in the PR’s good graces so they are kept in the loop. It would matter for those who do it full time, I think. They have to find ways to pay the bills after all. So, those of us who don’t have a bigger leeway being independant. But I did lament recently too how hard it is to find a non-sponsored/product sponsored review these days that isn’t gushing. While I’m just as guilty of putting up product sponsored reviews, I try not to gush unless the product is exceptional. But sometimes, you just have to call a spade a spade you know.
Peggy says
I read lots of blogs. But if the blog is the kind that just give high praises and get freebies all the time, i start to wonder whether the blogger write just to please the sponsor and not review the product. There are famous blogger and youtubers that now have less ppl watching coz they start to make their own products and only praise their own products.
Paris B says
I always feel that anyone who has their own range of products aren’t in a position to review anything because they’d never be unbiased right? I don’t watch a lot of youtube, but I know they are the biggest thing now, with huge sponsorships. I like critical writing but I don’t know of many who are very critical about the products they talk about, which often makes me wonder if I’m just overly critical LOL!
kuri says
I like how you keep it down to earth! Appreciate the expose. That contest is just a weird idea…
And those Dior products are gorgeous.
Paris B says
Thank you Kuri 🙂 You are right, that contest was super weird LOL! I don’t know how they even came up with it!
Tracy says
First I just want to commend you on your honesty and candor. With so much information out there I find it hard to filter out what’s real and what’s not. That being said I’m glad you didn’t fall for any of that nonsense. Good for you for sticking to your guns and making your decision based on your gut instinct.
Paris B says
Thank you Tracy 🙂 It is hard to figure out what’s what but I’m sure we’ll all get there in the end, depending on our personal levels of tolerance and expectations 🙂
Emma says
I LOVE YOU!!!!!
I love your blog and I have been following it for more than 2 years now. You are really one of the very few bloggers that have great integrity in what you write. Though I don’t love all your recommendations, I believe that it’s mostly due to personal differences, and I have never felt misled or misinformed by you. Your posts are honest and true to the performance of the products, and I never felt like you were exaggerating about anything.
Paris B says
Aww thank you Emma and I thank you for your encouragement and support! <3 I'm glad you don't love all my recommendations. I know it's a weird thing to say, but unless we have the exact same skin, it's impossible to love the same things!
Jenn Wan says
You go girl! I have been a silent reader all these while and loyal, too, cos I trust all your reviews, Paris! Would do a google search on before I buy a product! These PR agencies should know the power of word of mouth and RM300 is indeed rubbish. Should tell them – why not I pay you RM300 to f*off.
There are not many honest reviewers out there – hate those who just mentions about what the product does and takes loads of selfies with plunging necklines or duckfaces. Those aren’t ‘reviews’!
Paris B says
Thank you Jenn 🙂 Oh and you’ve noticed the plunging necklines too eh? I often wonder, if it’s not a bust cream review, why show me the cleavage eh? After all you’re selling this to other women too! LOL!
Junni says
Your blog says it all: Not Just Another Beauty Blog.. 🙂 I hear you!
Paris B says
Thank you Junni 🙂 <3
Siew Cheng says
You are welcome. Keep on blogging 🙂
Paris B says
Thank you 🙂
E Anne says
hi i am a reader from hk, a new one who have been reading your articles almost non stop for a week ! and i anticipate i will keep reading because you are impressive!
i like the way you introduce the products, test them and pros and cons them and sometimes throw in some conparison with silimiar products from different brands. this is very helpful and informative for me to understand a product when just sitting at home !
i like how you are so honest about your personal view and preference. it shows me that you are truly speaking your mind. and that is the basis why i find your opinion worthy. i find you and i share the same preference on creamy dehydrating and pigmented lipsticks ! and because of your recommendations and reviews i have got myself estee lauder lipsticks! i never have estee lauder lipsticks before so it is how influential you are!
your language is really good as well. i think i am learning english when i read your articles! i only read one beauty blog so far and it is yours. the other beauty blogs is with all sugary stellar reviews of everything and with copy and paste language i cannot stand!
i can only imagine how much time and thought you must have put in each articles because they are so high quality consistently. i may take 10 days to write anything similar! sorry you get insulted you certainly don’t deserve it! if the companies really have good products they would really submit them to you for review. you have so much more credibility than any advertisements they can come up with!
i wish you every success in the future!
Paris B says
Hi E Anne, thank you for leaving your comment and for reading and sharing your thoughts. I’m happy to meet new readers all the time, and I hope to see you around the blog again soon! 🙂