Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 43 replies
  • Subscribers 2732 subscribers
  • Views 3965 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Please Read: RoadTest Program Change #2

rscasny

Over the past week, many of you have contributed to my discussions regarding the state of the RoadTest program. You have offered your ideas and  voiced your concerns about the program. I am already seeing a positive change. Most of the posted on the main landing page of the RoadTest Review space are new.

 

I want to thank everyone who has posted new reviews. I have to report back this week to a supplier regarding the status of the reviews. I can start sharing positive news.

 

Going Forward

Part of how I see my job as RoadTest Program Manager is to find out why people aren't posting reviews despite the clearly stated terms and conditions that a RoadTester will get a free product in exchange for your feedback on the official element14 review form. Jobs changes, moves, illnesses are generally all acceptable reasons why a RoadTester has not completed a review. But, you need to inform me what is going on.

 

I realize that "things happen." In one situation, I learned that one RoadTester did not complete her/his review because the product was stolen along with the person's laptop, etc. I am working with this individual to get her/him another product. But I also asked her/him if the physical security improved where my supplier's product is stored. (Sounds like an opportunity to do an IoT project on this problem.)

 

The problem of lack of communication has been a problem. For instance, I am ready to ship out products today for the Cleo/Nero RoadTest. One of the winners has failed to contact me despite my sending him messages for more than a week.

 

Another problem is when an applicant uses a different email address than the one used to register on element14. Since I check the finalists' profile in order to "get to know" the person's history within the community, when a different email address is used on the application, I am delayed in selecting applicants, sending to the supplier, etc.

 

Since communication is a two-way street, I realize I have to stay in touch and communicate with you. I feel I have been doing that recently But, of course, there's always room for me to improve.

 

Next Change

Communication is important and it is the focus of the next change to the RoadTest program.

 

Simply stated, if I need to contact you regarding a roadtest for which you have applied and I don't receive a reply within a week, and AFTER 2 times trying, I will set aside your application or winning entry and chose someone else.

 

I surely don't expect you to site at the edge of your seat and reply to me instantaneously. 24 hours would be great, but not always possible, especially for those of you who are frequent business travelers. I feel a week is adequate; however, I'll open this up for discussion. No rule is ironclad (unless you are in the military); but a communication rule has become necessary.

Parents

  • A week is pretty generous. Generally if I don't get a response from someone in 2 - 3 days that I am working with I start sending send emails or looking for them on other channels (Skype, etc.). In truth I do this because I am looking for something from them, not the other way round. If its the otherway round I wait a week or so then attempt again if still no luck I drop them to the bottom of my priority list, I figure they don't want whatever it is I have to get to them.

     

    In this case if someone is a serious road tester they should be able to get back to you in a day or two. A brief I received your email I'm away and will get back to you in x number of days is not asking a lot at all. It's basic courtesy. I also think how they respond (timing and wording) speaks to the seriousness of the road tester. My 2c worth.

     

    Kas

  • in reply to kas.lewis

    Unfortunately, I lost my email for a week due to a rogue spam checker, I missed out on getting my blog nominated for an award. Sometimes a week is not enough.

  • in reply to Workshopshed

    Well, you make a good point. Is one week long enough? What is the appropriate time period to wait before I feel the applicant is no longer contactable? A good question. A week was my first thought. Would there be any other way to contact me? Let me think about this.
    thanks.

     

    Randall

Reply Children
  • in reply to rscasny

    Most of the time a week would be fine and to be honest missing out on something that is free does not cost us anything. As the others have mentioned there are times where people have long holidays, I know some Scandinavians who disappear for a couple of weeks and China seems to shut down for a long time each January.

     

    Saying that, sending an item out to someone who's known not to respond to emails after a week might be a bad idea if you don't know the reason.

     

    There is nearly always someone else who can do a review.

  • in reply to rscasny

    Oh, one of the difficult questions. I think one week should be OK in most cases. First of all, its the applicant who wants to gets its hand on something he can look at, so he should be available for questions and clarifications. One exception I would make are the summer months in Europe - there people are typically going on vacation, and 2 weeks is typical here. So during July / August you could give them a little bit more time when the supplier / manufacturer is fine with that.

    Regarding that: when you manage to stick with the times attached to the road test (and they should be complete for all current road test, which they aren't), then it might be OK to exclude road tester who are not available during the selection period. OTOH - why do you want to do that? Lets for example look at the Keysight oscilloscope road test (I might apply for it): it will be closed on April 7th, and there is no time frame for when the tester will be selected. There will be many applicants, so it might take a month. Who knows? Does this mean that when I plan to have some vacation days in April / early may, I should no apply? You might send a mail April 10th, or May 10th (and we have two weeks of school holidays in April, so its a good vacation time). Its important to have enough time for the road test, but to require applicants to plan to be available during the _wait time_ is quite a restriction in my opinion.

    So please state the time frames for all road tests, and ask in the application form whether there might be any problem with reaching them for the finalists questionnaire.