What do reviewers do with hardware after they're done testing?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Anand, Toms, HardOCP, etc. do they just request for new hardware to be shipped to them? Do they have to leave a deposit (for smaller startups with no recognition or reputation yet)?
Do they have to send the review units back?

What about for cars? MT, C&D, R&T, etc.
Long term reviews that last for 1+ years, who covers the depreciation?

What about other pricey gadgets, like home theater equipment, cameras, etc.?

 

[Wyndru]

When I worked at a small internet pc sales comany, we would get testing equipment, but were required to return it.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

When I worked at a small internet pc sales comany, we would get testing equipment, but were required to return it.

So if I wanted to start up a site that reviewed hardware, how do I go about requesting hardware?
How long do you get to keep it? Do I have have to pay up front, and have it refunded when it gets returned?

 

[olds]

They abuse the hell out of it.
Give it to their moderators.
It doesn't work.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What about for cars? MT, C&D, R&T, etc.

After test driving a $90,000 sports car for an afternoon they just let them keep it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Anand, Toms, HardOCP, etc. do they just request for new hardware to be shipped to them? Do they have to leave a deposit (for smaller startups with no recognition or reputation yet)?
Do they have to send the review units back?

What about for cars? MT, C&D, R&T, etc.
Long term reviews that last for 1+ years, who covers the depreciation?

What about other pricey gadgets, like home theater equipment, cameras, etc.?

I think with cars sometimes the manufacturer will loan out cars for testing/review. The long term tests I'm pretty sure they lease from the manufacturer. When you see reviews of ultra expensive cars usually those are loaned from collectors or done at special events by the manufacturer to groups of journalists or those they have special relationships with.

Not sure how it works for computer hardware reviewers but I'd guess that the more respected you become in your field the easier it is to get access to the coolest/latest stuff.

Ultimately it all comes down to relationships and who you know.

 

[ArJuN]

I know Engadget always refer to pulling out their test hardware, so it seems like they hold on to it. In the recent software update JooJoo post, they talked about pulling their test unit out and updating it.

 

[Wyndru]

So if I wanted to start up a site that reviewed hardware, how do I go about requesting hardware?
How long do you get to keep it? Do I have have to pay up front, and have it refunded when it gets returned?

For a review site, I'm not really sure. If you are selling their products, I believe my boss just requested to have them send new products for testing before we agreed to stock them.

[EDIT] IIRC, I think techdata agrees to loaner units for this purpose too.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It depends on the arrangements. Sometimes it's given, other times it's loaned. Almost always it's on a "not to be resold" basis. Meaning, they can't give it away or sell it for quick cash. But they can keep it around and hammer on it.

 

[SKORPI0]

I believe high traffic sites (AnandTech, Toms, HardOCP, MaximumPC) has the option of keeping the items with the agreement that it cannot be resold and is part of the review payment if not requested to be returned. With computer stuff eventually becoming obsolete, reviews on upgraded products can be expected. Of course the end user also gives their critique on the pros/cons of a product they bought like in Amazon and Newegg to name a few.

 

[deadlyapp]

I ran a small review site for about a year, not long enough to get in with the big manufacturers, but we had several companies that would just send us shit to review and what we did with it afterward was up to us.

For the large websites I'm sure there are different arrangements.

 

[hans030390]

I ran a small review site for about a year, not long enough to get in with the big manufacturers, but we had several companies that would just send us shit to review and what we did with it afterward was up to us.

For the large websites I'm sure there are different arrangements.

My friend is starting up a website and is interested in having some connections for tech/gear review. How did you manage to go about getting this connections for stuff?

 

[Train]

IIRC, was it Tom's that raffled them off for charity?

 

[OCGuy]

Some of the products would be ES, so I am guessing they would not be able to be sold/transferred?