Tester

[JCole]

Question do you think when you enter the chance to be a tester you have a chance at actually being picked? I will say I don’t believe I will ever be picked, I enter just for the **** of it. But never expect to be picked. What are your thoughts.

[Northern Monkey]

I have been picked as a tester but can clearly see that you haven’t read the thread “How to be a tester” and until you do and follow the guidance then you won’t get picked. Read it and follow it then there’s a much better chance of being picked

[JCole]

Actually I have read it. 

[JCole]

Also lucky you!

[Northern Monkey]

@JCole Well if you’ve read it you haven’t followed it. You don’t have a profile pic which is one of the requirements of being a tester

[JCole]

My pic is a C

[cnosil]

34 minutes ago, JCole said:

Actually I have read it. 

 

5 minutes ago, JCole said:

My pic is a C

Looks like the default avatar that is displayed if you have no picture; I'd suggest changing it.    Also 4 of you 6 posts have been in this topic.  You should start getting more involved on the forum.....post in the good morning thread,   post a WITB with photos,   review your equipment,  talk about what equipment you are thinking about.    If you have read the How to be a tester thread you know that being engaged on the forum is necessary to be picked; it isn't a random draw.    Going back to your first post,  you are correct that you probably won't be picked based on the profile picture and forum activity.   

[JCole]

That confirms it, thank you. It not being random tells me all I need to know

[BallsLeon]

Like with most things, you get out what you put in.

Easiest way to get picked for a test is to get involved in the forum.

[Northern Monkey]

14 minutes ago, JCole said:

That confirms it, thank you. It not being random tells me all I need to know

It is random but you have to show that you are involved with the forum. The mods need to know that you will be involved in the testing and post regularly with regard to the test. If you don’t post regularly on the forum normally then they can only assume that you won’t post on the test and are merely applying to get free stuff

[cnosil]

19 minutes ago, JCole said:

That confirms it, thank you. It not being random tells me all I need to know

If you read the How to be a Tester thread like indicated you would have seen this post where @GolfSpy_APH specifically says it isn't random.   What that thread and what we have indicated in our responses is that you need to be actively engaged on the forum to be selected.   There have been numerous people selected with less than 50 posts so it isn't based on how long or how many posts you have made.   There were numerous people selected for Bridgestone balls with a handful of posts.   What you post tells me is you really don't want to be involved and you just want free stuff.....which is the primary reason the selections aren't random.   

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

11 minutes ago, Northern Monkey said:

It is random but you have to show that you are involved with the forum. The mods need to know that you will be involved in the testing and post regularly with regard to the test. If you don’t post regularly on the forum normally then they can only assume that you won’t post on the test and are merely applying to get free stuff

Definitely not random. We spend a good few hours each week as staff going through the short lists and applications to find the testers for each opportunity. You are right about being involved and getting engaged!

28 minutes ago, JCole said:

That confirms it, thank you. It not being random tells me all I need to know

Hey! First welcome to the forum. Always a good thing to have newer members asking questions. 

Most above have already stated the general things and glad you had a chance to read the How To Be A Tester Guide - took me hours to write that and get all the details in - so you know the basics. There was also a section there about why it isn't random and why we pick testers for each. 

We have the whole staff (8 of us) go through the names and put notes on who we like for each test, who has tested what before and for those that have tested prior look at their grades and notes on previous performance (which helps dictate what type of review they will get in the future). We always try to work at least one new member into each opportunity (50% of testers this season have been new). 

We come to a mutual agreement from the whole group to avoid an bias towards certain members etc. That said we won't ever do random selection. Just not how it works and we are pretty clear about that. My own opinion is random selections are for contests and giveaways, which member testing is definitely not. It is a ton of fun, but also a crap ton of work and our expectations are sky high for all our testers.

The other part is because the forum staff generally are the ones procuring these opportunities it is important for us to make sure we get the most reliable people people for these reviews. We have sold companies on providing these products (for free) to our community with the expectation of several things. Good, honest and thorough reviews, active thread participation, newsletter inclusion and socials inclusion, proper final reviews that are on time and a member recap article among other things. This is all part of the deal when they agree to provide products for us and we want to make sure we hold up our end of the bargain. For us to do random selections means we get random results. 

What we look and ask for from all that want to be testers is pretty basic. Doesn't take much to do and as you have read and a little effort and time then you can essentially guarantee a selection. 

[Jonboy]

When looking for testers do you have an age range? Or is handicap or just a combination of several things. I noticed you don't ask how long the they have been playing. 

[cnosil]

1 minute ago, Jonboy said:

When looking for testers do you have an age range? Or is handicap or just a combination of several things. I noticed you don't ask how long the they have been playing. 

The forum staff wants anyone to be able to test anything no matter how long they have been playing golf.   However, the OEMs occasionally have geo restrictions or specific handicap ranges or other specific criteria they want put in place for the testers.   

[EasyPutter]

2 hours ago, JCole said:

Question do you think when you enter the chance to be a tester you have a chance at actually being picked? I will say I don’t believe I will ever be picked, I enter just for the **** of it. But never expect to be picked. What are your thoughts.

What I know as fact: if you read and understand what is written in this thread:

I have no doubt that you will be chosen as a tester with all the testing that is going on this year.  Just get yourself in a position to be one of the preferred forum members to be chosen.

Testing is not just getting free equipment because you can get it.  We do have people with low post counts who get chosen for testing and on occasion someone will receive the whateveritis and we never hear from them again.  That behavior hurts the community and shows that disreputable "anonymous" people will volunteer to be a tester who then renege on their responsibility and violate the trust placed on them taking what was given, making their action theft of the product.

I have been chosen for 5 tests, completed all requirements that were expected of being a tester for all 5 products, and with the need for testers this year can expect to be chosen again.  I have a photo on my profile, I post regularly and respond to others that proves involvement in the forum community, and by writing as much as I do, it is well understood what kind of test review will be provided when the testing of the product is complete.  

So quick comparison:  how does your presence in the forum compare to mine?  Or to others who have been chosen to test more than once?  

Try this: Follow the guidelines and see what happens, I'm looking forward to seeing the posts you make and recommend looking at The Good Morning Thread which is perhaps the most popular thread now on the Forum. Here's a link to the just posted latest message there:

 Great question and thanks for the opportunity to respond.  We are as diverse a community as any but you will find the forum participants are the kind of people you would want to associate with because we keep it real without getting rude or obnoxious.

[GolfSpy_APH]

24 minutes ago, Jonboy said:

When looking for testers do you have an age range? Or is handicap or just a combination of several things. I noticed you don't ask how long the they have been playing. 

Last year we had testers from age 13 to in their 80s.

In the end it's a combination of a lot and changes test to test. Handicap is usually a good or ish indicator of how long someone has been playing.

[JoeCool]

Can someone give me a definition of a profile photo?

Recently when I joined I tried to familiarize myself with the site as much as possible and to follow the basic requirements. One of them being posting a profile photo. 
 

For me it meant a picture of myself because I don’t see the point of showing a picture of my dog or of a monkey found on the internet and I see no difference in uploading a picture of the letter C resembling the automatic showing for someone who doesn’t upload a profile photo. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

2 minutes ago, JoeCool said:

Can someone give me a definition of a profile photo?

Recently when I joined I tried to familiarize myself with the site as much as possible and to follow the basic requirements. One of them being posting a profile photo. 
 

For me it meant a picture of myself because I don’t see the point of showing a picture of my dog or of a monkey found on the internet and I see no difference in uploading a picture of the letter C resembling the automatic showing for someone who doesn’t upload a profile photo. 

Definition is a non stock photo that is given when an account is created.

That's the basic of what we look for. Can be of whatever a user wants and related to. Whether that is of them, their golf bag, pet or whatever else. A profile photo helps show a bit of personality. It also for staff shows that a user has the ability to upload photos which is critical to reviews without us having to go through all their posts to see if they have done such.

[Northern Monkey]

27 minutes ago, JoeCool said:

Can someone give me a definition of a profile photo?

Recently when I joined I tried to familiarize myself with the site as much as possible and to follow the basic requirements. One of them being posting a profile photo. 
 

For me it meant a picture of myself because I don’t see the point of showing a picture of my dog or of a monkey found on the internet and I see no difference in uploading a picture of the letter C resembling the automatic showing for someone who doesn’t upload a profile photo. 

What’s wrong with a picture of a monkey?   

In all seriousness I work in law enforcement and due to some of the work I get involved in it doesn’t make sense to have a picture of me as my profile picture

 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

4 hours ago, JCole said:

Question do you think when you enter the chance to be a tester you have a chance at actually being picked? I will say I don’t believe I will ever be picked, I enter just for the **** of it. But never expect to be picked. What are your thoughts.

Welcome to the MGS family.

I can see that you are pretty new here.

Being picked is not the luck of the draw or favoritism, it takes participation in the forum.

More than anything testing opportunities are given to members who can reliability deliver an unbiased feedback and honest review, by just applying for a testing opportunity, you are not giving the mods any information on how passionate you might be, nor if you will follow through with a good review.

A lot of people come here to seek information and recommendations for everything from golf clubs, apparel technology and many more topics.

More important than any testing here, it is the community, the people who you connect virtually and end up becoming friends, some you end up meeting in real life too.

Now you need to remember, the mods will use a lot of data to help narrow down the list of potential testers, participation being one of the driving metrics.

If you just give it a try and keep participating, sooner than later you will seriously be considered for some testing.

On the meantime enjoy the forum and have fun.

[JCole]

1. That confirms it, thank you. It not being random tells me all I need to know

[JCole]

So when I posted this I thought I would get mostly yes I do believe I will be a tester or no I don’t think so answers.  Some of you were very passionate in your answers lol. And Northern Monkey I could tell you were law enforcement from your first post

[Northern Monkey]

5 minutes ago, JCole said:

So when I posted this I thought I would get mostly yes I do believe I will be a tester or no I don’t think so answers.  Some of you were very passionate in your answers lol. And Northern Monkey I could tell you were law enforcement from your first post

Well spotted I have no problem with people knowing I’m law enforcement and don’t hide it, I just don’t put too many pictures of myself out on the internet. 
Welcome to the forum though and I’m sure if you stick around you’ll find it’s a great place to be. Should you decide to get involved and keep posting then you’ll end up getting a testing opportunity if that’s what you want.

[cnosil]

5 minutes ago, JCole said:

So when I posted this I thought I would get mostly yes I do believe I will be a tester or no I don’t think so answers. 

I like to think yes but I have no expectations.   I apply to test products I am interested using and that I think I can provide a good review.  

[Michael.Sandoval33]

25 minutes ago, JCole said:

So when I posted this I thought I would get mostly yes I do believe I will be a tester or no I don’t think so answers.  Some of you were very passionate in your answers lol. And Northern Monkey I could tell you were law enforcement from your first post

Just for reference, I had only been a part of the forum for around a month-month and a half when I was selected. I had become active in the community and posted an unofficial review, mainly because I wanted to be involved and if I was chosen, great, but it was honestly not an expectation that soon into becoming a member. Overall, I love being a member here on the forums and regardless if I had been chosen, I would still be just as involved. 

Hope that helps a bit. 

[JoeCool]

39 minutes ago, Northern Monkey said:

What’s wrong with a picture of a monkey?   

In all seriousness I work in law enforcement and due to some of the work I get involved in it doesn’t make sense to have a picture of me as my profile picture

 

Absolutely nothing with a picture of a monkey or a cow or anything you want.

And I understand your situation in law enforcement. But that’s not the point!

Uploading a profile photo is seemingly very important because it’s one of the first requirements to be chosen as a tester. So why is it so important that I put the picture of a monkey (or anything else other that a picture of myself ) as my "profile photo"?

I’m not saying people shouldn’t do it, I’m only asking for a logical answer as to why it is so important for getting chosen as a tester. What does it say to the 8 admins to see the picture of an animal as a "profile  photo"?

[cnosil]

1 minute ago, JoeCool said:

I’m not saying people shouldn’t do it, I’m only asking for a logical answer as to why it is so important for getting chosen as a tester. What does it say to the 8 admins to see the picture of an animal as a "profile  photo"?

The forum moderator answered this for you a couple of posts up.   It shows that you have  the ability to upload a photo and eliminates the need for them to search your posts to see it any of them have photos.  

[Northern Monkey]

@JCole If you look at @GolfSpy_APH post above he explains this. It is mainly because it shows you have the ability to post pictures, which is important during testing reviews

[JoeCool]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Definition is a non stock photo that is given when an account is created.

That's the basic of what we look for. Can be of whatever a user wants and related to. Whether that is of them, their golf bag, pet or whatever else. A profile photo helps show a bit of personality. It also for staff shows that a user has the ability to upload photos which is critical to reviews without us having to go through all their posts to see if they have done such.

Thank you ! I appreciate it. I understand your point. 

[Northern Monkey]

@cnosil Think you beat me to it by around 2 seconds