Please Read: RoadTest Program Change #2

These changes need to be made or we may lose our sponsors. If I were to be away at the time of announcement for a few weeks I wouldn't apply. None of the changes are out of line and the reply time is appropriate. Being awarded a road test is a contract, there are rules we need to follow.

Dale W

Hendrik,

From what I can tell, the 1-month enrollment, 1-week selection and 60-day roadtest was the ideal goal for the timeline. But it was theory, not reality. I have to order the parts and then I have to ship them. Sometimes the suppliers don't get back to me for weeks. It's not like a triggering a circuit to cause it to turn on an off. I interact with people with a varying set of priorities. I would like to change to notion that 1mo/1wk/60days is the standard. I really think the enrollment period should be long enough to find people who really want to test the product and do it well and want to write about it. I also think that the 60-day roadtest period is too long for some products and not long enough for other products. But given the changes occurring, I'm going to stick with the established timeline.

I am wondering if you are misunderstanding what I have put forth in #2 when you say "even though we are techies this doesn't mean we should be slaves of our phones and computers." Slaves? Really? Isn't that a stretch or are you using hyperbole to make your point. Look at this scenario:

I am ready to ship out the roadtest parts. And I privately message that I am sending them out. and I get no response by the RoadTester. I contact him after a few days. Should I send them out? What would you do? Likewise, I sent my additional questions to a roadtester and he has not responded in two weeks. And then I see he hasn't logged on since January. (I also saw that this one was a university student. So I wondered if he had graduated?) Do I keep waiting for him? Or do I move onto other applicants who are responsive and have placed the element14 Community as a regular part of their life so they check in at least once a week?

As far as being in contact during vacation time. Well, I am taking a few days off this week and next. I have notified people that need to know about my availability. I think most people do that. So, if you are on summer vacation and I can't get in touch with you, what should I do?

I decided I will stick with the 1-week time period for now. I will attempt to notify Roadtesters through more than 1 channel. If this doesn't solve the problem, I'll have to modify it. Now, it's back to work for me.

Cheers.

Randall

PS I have noticed that you have been a great RoadTester. I appreciate your efforts.

Even now its not clear for all road tests when the final selection will be. For most its about one week after the submissions close, so you know that you will need to be able to respond during that time. But for some there is no defined date, so its difficult to know beforehand. Also, plans sometimes change. When you apply for a test right at the start, there is one month left until the final submission. That is plenty of time for employers to send you on a road trip, lose your phone or whatever.

And even though we are techies this doesn't mean we should be slaves of our phones and computers. Its quite relaxing to sometimes turn them off. During this years summer vacation there won't be internet for our son, and so no internet for me. We parents should be role models, at least sometimes...

Hi Randy,

I like the change.

Just keep in mind that no changes need to be permanent.

I think it is a good idea to start with the changes, emphasize communication and see what happens.

As you gain experience with the process, you might see where you can ease off or increase your range of control.

Bottom line is that you need to keep your suppliers happy.  Getting them return on their investment will keep the toys coming and the community thriving.

DAB

I think a week is enough, for a selected reviewer to respond.

If you're not going to be arround at the time the submissions close then perhaps dont apply in the first place and let someone else have a chance.

If you really are keen, perhaps because it is an expensive test equipment, send an email to the review owner and tell them you're away and when you will be back to answer.

To be honest how many of us techies these days dont have some access to email, even when on a multi week holiday. If you're that keen, find a way!

Accommodations could be made in some situations im sure. That's the whole point here, communications and clarity of intent.

In the application, ask for alternate contact point be it email/phone(SMS message)/????.

I do agree that mail isn't a community mechanism, but sometimes that information isn't necessarily needed for others; I tend to send an email when the product is received, and also if a delay is expected for whatever reason.

We are a forum though. I'd like to be able to follow along with discussions here on the community. Mail isn't a community communication mechanism.

I would like to add something here. One person already started to talk about it, but I can't remember who he/she is, and I can't seem to find it. To say that I'm sleepy is an understatement. Need caffeine...

I've done some professional testing in my past, and I had terrible problems with one company, who did everything on a community forum/site. Something called Jive, apparently I had a hard time getting messages; they did indeed arrive in my email box, but as someone who lives with filters, you can miss things. An important message is sometimes lost in a flood of x likes this, y found this helpful and z added a comment. When I convinced them to switch to email for communication (but the forum for the end result), it made things much easier. Emails from the tech guys never wend unmissed, and if I was on a quick trip, it is always easier to send an email saying that I'm unavailable and will answer when I get to a hotel or something. It's an email app, click, write and send. Logging onto a forum with a mobile phone is sometimes a lot harder (so much I just normally gave in, and told myself I'll do this later. And didn't.

It made my life much easier, but I do understand that it can make things difficult for the company infront of me. Some people are already buried deep in email, a few emails from me might actually make things harder for them. In that case we talk, and we find solutions (weekly Skype meetings, for example, but I fully understand that this is not going to be an option for Randall, with the amount of people he talks to, he'll never find time to eat/sleep again).

I signed up for the Roadtest program, the rules were clear at the time. They have changed slightly, but are perfectly logical, and I'm still signing on today. However, it would make things easier for me to use emails, and not forums

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.