Please Read: RoadTest Program Change #2

Randall,

I think a week and two attempts on your part is sufficient.  You have vendors and your employer to answer to as well as other road test applicants, and the rest of the E14 community.

If I neglected to check my e-mail for a week, or had technical issues that prevented me from checking my messages and as a result, I lost out on a road test, I'd be annoyed and would pout for a few days, but, I would understand that issues on my end shouldn't  hold up a larger process involving multiple stakeholders.

Mark A.

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.

Absolutely yes - communication is the blood artery between peoples.

Best Regards,

Gerald

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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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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