*Thoughts and Tips for Product Testers. Read.

[GhostfaceKillah]

In recent months, this board has blown up in terms of users testing new products provided by supplement companies. While we have already debated the upside (more reviews, impressions on products before release date, great opportunities for knowledgeable and hard working board members) and downside (constant bickering and whining, increased commercialism/pimping) to this influx, there are other issues at hand that I feel need to be addressed.

1. If you are chosen to be a product reviewer, it is your responsibility to the forum and to the providing company to keep up with your log. Some products lend themselves to regular updates more than others, but just because the day-to-day effects may be small doesn't mean that you shouldn't at least post impressions twice a week.

2. Eliminate variables. How are we to know how a product is working if you simultaneously up your caloric intake, change your training style, add a few days of rec basketball a week, and stack it with the brand new Product XYZ you have been dying to use. Hold off on any new supplementation, diet changes, or exercise changes until after your trial is complete.

3. Along the same lines, if you already have products lined up to review, don't go out of your way to get more. While the prospect of "freebies" is enticing, especially for those strapped for cash, keep in mind that: 1) there are other deserving individuals out there who have yet to get a product to test, 2) you should only test one product at a time, and 3) it is not fair to the community or the providing company if you have to wait 4+ weeks to legitimately review the product.

4. Keep your reviews as objective as possible. There is always the urge to pimp a product because you believe the hype or because you want to "thank" the providing company by making their product out to be the next creatine. Go into it as if you bought the product yourself and never read all of the inflated claims that came with it. Biased reviews do nothing for the community.

I am sure there are other points to be made. If you think of any, feel free to add them. Hopefully this thread will stay bumped for at least a few days so people will have the chance to read it before it drifts into obscurity with 30000 N-Large and Cell-Tech threads.

[buddha]

great post GFK

[kj2833]

5. I think this may be more a ph thing than anything. If you see a log taking place, this is not the place to ask them about their complete nutritional breakdown. posting calories and/or g's of protein, carbs, fat is totally acceptable. It is not a thread on how to eat. This information is available if you go and look. It ruins the threads for those of us that have to scroll through 4 pages of "i ate pb and jelly for lunch" you get the picture.

[dito]

^

[Ginobili]

Great thread GFK.

[waffles9]

this is all common sense. i really hope the people who review products on this board know these things

[kj2833]

it is common sense, but props on titling the thread "tips for product testers" Hopefully they will think its tips on how to get free stuff. If they do the posts will soon hit 100,000 and immediatly crash the server.

[Beast]

Good stuff buddy.

[jhov]

Nice post bro!
peace
J

[chris587]

Good post.

[Fletch]

nice post GFK.

Add another point

5. Everyone should make a point to read my Sytenhance Feedback on the Avant Forum (and this one) for an idea of how a trial should be done.

- Fletch "I've been coverted from a skeptic to a beliver"

[GhostfaceKillah]

Originally posted by Fletch
nice post GFK.

Add another point

5. Everyone should make a point to read my Sytenhance Feedback on the Avant Forum (and this one) for an idea of how a trial should be done.

- Fletch "I've been coverted from a skeptic to a believer"

Thanks. And yes, I definitely agree on point 5.

[sawastea]

Nicely put GFK...

To reiterate:

* Keep up with your log, at least twice a week
* Eliminate changes while on your current diet/regimen. Don't fit in more supplements while doing a review for company XYZ. Keep it as plain as possible. Of course, diet is important, but adding more supplements to the mix can really alter the performance as well as a great fluctuation of calories
* Please don't let others influence you while you're doing a review. Be as candor as possible. Everyone can benefit greatly from a genuine and honest review/log

[Zachattack43]

also might want to mention; "beware of the placebo effect" which is why before/after measurements are important

[thaprototype]

also please dont stack a new product with 5 other supplements ur just startin also
for example : your trying out soem new creatine , dont stack it with no2 , m1t, and diablo ......, just take the new product alone

[GhostfaceKillah]

Originally posted by thaprototype
also please dont stack a new product with 5 other supplements ur just startin also
for example : your trying out soem new creatine , dont stack it with no2 , m1t, and diablo ......, just take the new product alone

See point number 2.

[sawastea]

This deserves a HUGE bump






Guys, no one is benefiting from a half ass review. Please be candid, regardless if it is good or bad

[pu12en12g]

Originally posted by zachattack43
before/after measurements are important

I agree. This is huge.

Before and after stats for the big 3 as well:

- 1RM Squat
- 1RM Deadlift
- 1RM Bench

[meathead198]

http://forum.avantlabs.com/?act=ST&f=2&t=25&

[MrWiggles]

i think all variables should be elimanaed thoughout the test (supplements), to me this is just common sense but i still happens over annd over. i dont know if the testers are retarted, because throwing in other varible makes it no longer a valid est. am i crazy. i mean how can you claim results from one product at this point? i also think these testers should include before and after pic (this should be standard, none of this i may borrow my friends) so we can see what hapening and they wont be inclined to write down obvious bs.

[MrWiggles]

number 2 covers my gripe.

[sawastea]

Originally posted by MrWiggles
number 2 covers my gripe.

Besides the basics, I agree

By basics, I'm referring to multi-vitamins, EFA's, whey, food, et cetera...

The addition of AAS/PH/Thermos/etc should NOT be included.

Wiggles, I am aware of the thread in question you are talking about

[MrWiggles]

i just want to see an honest review. lol. instead they start using the scape goat that i hate this company or that company, instead of confessing that they are full of it. otoh some reviews are very good. also some people you can just trust to do an honest review without a camera. unfortunately we cant seperate the good from the bad. good thread btw. im off today so ill be checking it a lot.

[MrWiggles]

Originally posted by sawastea


Wiggles, I am aware of the thread in question you are talking about

oh, it happened more than once, and when i said something immediately i was the jerk. not the tester lying, but me for pointing it out. am i asking to much for honest reveiws without being labelled a trouble maker? because causing trouble here isnt my intention.

[GhostfaceKillah]

Glad this made it back to the top. It has some good advice, even for me:

Originally posted by GhostfaceKillah

3. Along the same lines, if you already have products lined up to review, don't go out of your way to get more. While the prospect of "freebies" is enticing, especially for those strapped for cash, keep in mind that: 1) there are other deserving individuals out there who have yet to get a product to test, 2) you should only test one product at a time, and 3) it is not fair to the community or the providing company if you have to wait 4+ weeks to legitimately review the product.

I realize that recently I have violated my own rule concerning overlapping testing, and I confess. However, as explained in another thread, briefly overlapping the product I am currently reviewing with a product I will be reviewing in a week's time (LipoBurn - localized/topical fatloss agent and NO-Xplode - pre-workout creatine+NO+stimulants) should not be a problem. CEX + NO-Xplode or any fatloss product + LipoBurn I could see issues with. I most certainly took this into consideration before looking into NO-Xplode usage. Note that all other variables are being held constant (training, diet, basic supplements), and as I have yet to receive NO-Xplode, there is still the chance that there will be no overlapping whatsoever.

In nearly any other situation, overlapping products is a bad idea; thes products are in such different realms of the supplement world, however, that I believe their effects on my body should be independent.

Still, for everyone out there who wants a chance to take shots at me, though, it looks like this is a valid opportunity.

[dito]

Originally posted by sawastea
Wiggles, I am aware of the thread in question you are talking about

It's all your fault.

[sawastea]

Originally posted by dito
It's all your fault.

If memory serves me right, I gave my priviledges to PROVERBS

Originally posted by GhostfaceKillah
Still, for everyone out there who wants a chance to take shots at me, though, it looks like this is a valid opportunity

Your reviews are perfectly fine. You're always upfront with everything and your logs are very solid. I've bought several products solely based on your reviews and I fully concur with what was said. You're my boy Blue

[MrWiggles]

Originally posted by GhostfaceKillah

your reviews are always good and honest.

[MrWiggles]

Originally posted by dito
It's all your fault.

i know. roflmao. oh im taking lipoburn and other fat burners and some androgens. those reviews crack me up. then i always get a hostile response, like it was my fault.

[youngvet1]

Originally posted by GhostfaceKillah
Glad this made it back to the top. It has some good advice, even for me:



I realize that recently I have violated my own rule concerning overlapping testing, and I confess. However, as explained in another thread, briefly overlapping the product I am currently reviewing with a product I will be reviewing in a week's time (LipoBurn - localized/topical fatloss agent and NO-Xplode - pre-workout creatine+NO+stimulants) should not be a problem. CEX + NO-Xplode or any fatloss product + LipoBurn I could see issues with. I most certainly took this into consideration before looking into NO-Xplode usage. Note that all other variables are being held constant (training, diet, basic supplements), and as I have yet to receive NO-Xplode, there is still the chance that there will be no overlapping whatsoever.

In nearly any other situation, overlapping products is a bad idea; thes products are in such different realms of the supplement world, however, that I believe their effects on my body should be independent.

Still, for everyone out there who wants a chance to take shots at me, though, it looks like this is a valid opportunity.

Your lucky I was just about to call u on this

No worrys good luck with the testing.