Comments on: Amazonian http://electrolicious.com/2004/05/amazonian Daily affirmations of a word mercenary Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:55:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ariel http://electrolicious.com/2004/05/amazonian#comment-4338 Ariel Fri, 21 May 2004 17:12:48 +0000 #comment-4338 Christine, I used/tested <i>most</i> of the Lawn&Patio and Kitchen/Housewares stuff. I'd sit in a sample warehouse and try things out. Keep in mind that I really can't "try out" say, a food processor, in a warehouse. I didn't have any food. I couldn't really "try out" a lawn mower because, well, there wasn't any grass. But I could at least kick it and touch it and stuff. With consumer electronics, there were only a handful of times (4? 5?) that I even SAW the product. The rest of the times I was just writing the description from specs online. And no: I don't get to keep any of the items. Christine, I used/tested most of the Lawn&Patio and Kitchen/Housewares stuff. I’d sit in a sample warehouse and try things out. Keep in mind that I really can’t “try out” say, a food processor, in a warehouse. I didn’t have any food. I couldn’t really “try out” a lawn mower because, well, there wasn’t any grass. But I could at least kick it and touch it and stuff. With consumer electronics, there were only a handful of times (4? 5?) that I even SAW the product. The rest of the times I was just writing the description from specs online. And no: I don’t get to keep any of the items.

]]> By: christine http://electrolicious.com/2004/05/amazonian#comment-4337 christine Fri, 21 May 2004 16:54:40 +0000 #comment-4337 Do you personally use/test each of the items that you review? Are you able to keep any of the items? Just wondering. Do you personally use/test each of the items that you review? Are you able to keep any of the items? Just wondering.

]]> By: Cinnamon http://electrolicious.com/2004/05/amazonian#comment-4336 Cinnamon Fri, 21 May 2004 09:16:59 +0000 #comment-4336 When I worked in Product Information for Williams-Sonoma, I used to have to edit copy that said (on a hand-painted bowl from Tuscany), "This bowl is perfect for ice cream OR soup!" -- which always stuck in my craw. It's a bowl. Whether it's hand-painted or mass-produced in Shanghai, bowls are pretty much self-explanatory in terms of use. I don't think a copyblock letting you know you could use it for "soup OR ice cream" would actually expand the uses beyond what you'd already considered prior to purchasing, nor would it compel a purchase where none existed before. "Really, not just a single use? But TWO uses?" I always wanted to read the blueline and have it say, "Handpainted bowl from Italy. Perfect for fingernail clippings or swill." I have to say that after reading your copyblocks, I have a whole new respect for the craft. Good on you, Ariel! Where were you in 1992 when I was having to read copy about coir rugs for Pottery Barn ("never needs cleaning! Durable, natural fibers."). When I worked in Product Information for Williams-Sonoma, I used to have to edit copy that said (on a hand-painted bowl from Tuscany), “This bowl is perfect for ice cream OR soup!” — which always stuck in my craw. It’s a bowl. Whether it’s hand-painted or mass-produced in Shanghai, bowls are pretty much self-explanatory in terms of use. I don’t think a copyblock letting you know you could use it for “soup OR ice cream” would actually expand the uses beyond what you’d already considered prior to purchasing, nor would it compel a purchase where none existed before. “Really, not just a single use? But TWO uses?”

I always wanted to read the blueline and have it say, “Handpainted bowl from Italy. Perfect for fingernail clippings or swill.”

I have to say that after reading your copyblocks, I have a whole new respect for the craft. Good on you, Ariel! Where were you in 1992 when I was having to read copy about coir rugs for Pottery Barn (”never needs cleaning! Durable, natural fibers.”).

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