Let me ask you this Stuey (and I assume you buy the tools now with your own money out of need or curiosity):
When you buy an expensive tool, isn't there a part of you that wants it to be good?
My point is, it's almost impossible to be 100% objective. I applaud you for trying and having more journalistic integrity than most major news networks.
I think as long as you disclose the potential conflict of interest and actually recognize it, you're doing about as much as can be expected.
Really, the only conflict I see is not wanting to give bad reviews because you will get "cut off." But it's HF, not Snap On! Would the threat of being cut off from free HF tools that cost barely more than free be that big of a conflict?
Sometimes I buy tools, sometimes I receive samples. If I'm sent a sample of something I
need, I go out and buy a copy for personal use. This actually happened recently.
And yes, if purchase an expensive tool I expect it to be downright perfect. Features aside, I expect for perfect materials, build and finish quality. That's why I refuse to buy any Gearwrench pliers anymore - several years apart and the Danaher-made Double-X pliers are still embarrassingly sloppy for "professional" tools. Meanwhile my $6 Stanleys are still perfect. They're simply featured, but satisfyingly made.
I don't worry about being cut-off since I don't need anything from anyone. If I need something, I buy it. If I get cut-off or blacklisted, there are plenty of friendly tool bloggers who will share info and images with me that I can also link to. Some PR people might hate me a little bit, but product managers are usually happy for any feedback, even if it's negative.
I chatted with Kobalt/Lowes about how crappy I thought their Muti-Drive Wrench was, and Stanley/Dewalt people about crappy I thought their Bostitch adjustable wrench was. We discussed it civilly and then moved on.
My obligation is to readers and visitors, not any brand, PR agency or marketing dept.
So, it's OK if DeWalt sends you a free tool (made in China). But several members here think you're a paid shill for HF if they send you a tool?
WTF is with people here? Why can't a guy who writes a tool review blog review a tool without people acting like dicks?
This place would be so much better if the foaming at the mouth, anti-HF at any cost ranters were gone. EVERYBODY KNOWS that they make cheap tools. EVERYBODY KNOWS that they don't compete with Snap-On (or whatever brand of truck tools you fantasize about).
Let. It. Go.
It makes you look stupid.
Stuey - review what you want. If people like your blog, they'll read it.
Thanks for coming to my defense! I saw Woody's comments as poking fun at HF rather than myself, and didn't take offense. In any case, I'm open to feedback of all kind.
Stuey, my take on it would be if they send you new tools from their R n D for your feedback, that those tools would be of a higher quality then the mass production versions that would end up on the shelf.
And, if they send you current production then I would assume they would be at least checked over if not cherry-picked because they are looking for the positive feedback that your established website would give.
If you are interested in reviewing their tools what about offering them an aternative solution that would be a more honest and unbiased review, like if they want you to review a 1/2 pro line ratchet then have them send you an REGULAR hf gift card in the approx. amount of the ratchet's out the door price. Then you can then go to a store of your choice and not only purchase the tool off the shelf (and not be out any cash of your own), but you can start your review at the store by comparing the quality of the ones on the shelf instead of only receiving one sample.
Sort of like this senario;
HF asked me to review their $18.00 pro line 1/2 in ratchet, so they sent me a $20 hf gift card and I went to X HF store to purchase one myself. Out of the 10 ratchets on the shelf the quaility looked "pretty consistant" or "all over the place" etc. and do your review from that point which would be more inline with anyones real world experience.
First, you wouldn't be out any cash, and this way would also void all the "they send him cherry-picked tools" arguments as well. If you get to keep the tools or return them is something you could work out with them.
That is a good idea, but can be difficult to implement. I also inspect every sample I receive to see if it's been handled before, and in most cases they appear untouched.
Most of the time what I receive is sent direct from a fulfillment warehouse with little possibility of someone testing, tampering with or hand-picking a sample.
Right now there's only one major house brand that arranges for in-store pickup of samples. That's pretty much impossible for anyone else to do since I deal with brands a lot of the time. I prefer to deal with brands over retailers since retailers might object to my posting to better prices elsewhere. I don't like there being strings attached in any way whatsoever since that can potentially complicate my ability to stay honest and neutral.
I think a tool review site needs to address HF tools. HF and ther tools are part of nearly every tool users' experience.
Readers need to see someone comparing HF to Fein multi-tools, hear trusted feedback on HF pliers and scredrivers, etc. You can't really be honest about tools and pretend HF doesn't exist, especially since there really aren't any major power tools available from the US anymore.
If your aim is to provde useful, unbiased information to tool users, you need to deal with HF tools. If your aim to have a little personal fun dealing only with high end tools and the most brand obsessive 5% of tool users, ignore HF. If you want to include mid-level tools, I think you'll have to include some HF items.
Good luck figuring it out, Stuey, I'll stay tuned to see how you decide to approach it.
Unfortunately, you're absolutely right. Right now I don't have the time to be as cross-spectrum as I would like to be. With limited time I find myself having to turn down review samples as it is. But at one point I'm going to need to start featuring more HF tools. Maybe I'll head down to the local store with $100 and see what I can walk away with, with the plan to roll out reviews over the span of a month or so.
One other hesitation is that I cannot tell how much of a demand there is for HF previews or reviews. With limited time I try to focus on tools that attract the most interest. A lot of the people that patronize HF might not be the type to search for tool reviews online. From what I've seen, beginners and more casual tool users rarely search for tool reviews online, except for certain tools that are advertised on TV.
