After my recent post about events and tokens, I got to talk to a number of blogger friends about the said topic. So much that I came up with the idea of compiling the worst blogger tokens ever lol… because as much as we discuss it amongst ourselves, I don’t think anyone is willing to actually put it out there. During my early days of blogging, I’ve had my share of time-wasting pursuits. But you learn to discern. If you’re thinking of blogging because of all the attached glamour and perceived free stuff (which are NOT REALLY FREE by the way), think again. It’s really not all that.
So are you ready for a compilation of the worst blogger tokens ever? Just think, you spend time and energy (transportation costs too) to go to a media/blogger event and then you get…
- A White Rock – It’s quite literally a white-colored rock as big as your palm. Wow. I don’t know what entity gave this away but blogger friends have confirmed receiving this as a token.
- Corporate Giveaways – Whether it’s a keychain, baseball cap, tumbler, ballepen, ecobag, T-shirt, notebook, folder, umbrella, planner, mug, or whatever else that has the company or brand logo plastered on it, we file it under corporate giveaways. Gosh, I can just wait for December in our office and all these things would be delivered to me for zero effort.
- Discount Voucher – The other day there was a launch event held in a mall which gave discount vouchers as tokens… and the appliance being launched was around P20,000. Lol. Well, if I really wanted or needed one I guess getting 22% or 23% off ain’t so bad? But what if I don’t? Now there’s the problem.
- Sample Sachets – Woohoo! I get such things delivered to my house by joining groups like the Nestle Club or Everyday Me… again, for nothing lol. Even Facebook Pages hold sign-ups for free samples nowadays!
- Nothing – Yup, this happens too. Of course if the “event” is experiential, like say you are invited to watch/experience a concert, movie, play, amusement park, or go on a free trip, then the experience is what you get from it — that’s not nothing. Nothing is when you attend a launch or press con and you’re expected to post about it but you go home with nothing. A raffle entry or a chance to win something in exchange for attendance or posting whatever also counts as NOTHING.
- Plants – Well, some people like plants. I don’t. Even succulents die at my hands. What’s wrong with this is you’re giving attendees more responsibilities aside from posting, now they have to take home and care for a living thing too.
- Expiring Gift Certificates – I’ve actually worked with a PR agency before who was fond of asking people to post in exchange for gift certificates as tokens. The problem was, by the time I got the GCs I had less than a month to use them. They did this repeatedly too. Now it’s not like I live next to the establishment they asked me to post about so… yeah I ended up with a lot of expired GCs.
- Joketime Gift Certificates – Please refer to P500 yema gift certificates for a non-yema event lol. Or P100 GCs. Maybe even P200 GCs. Any amount of GCs that don’t even cover your transportation expenses is a joke.
- UPDATE: Cupcakes – I wasn’t going to include this but after a number of bloggers messaged me about receiving supermarket variety cupcakes not even worth P100 for varying events, it certainly deserves a spot in this list.
- UPDATE: Magazines – A bag full of magazines? Wow, now that they mention it, I do recall some events in my first couple of years of blogging where they gave away magazines. Just surprised there are still entities doing this today when most magazine companies are shutting down.
Of course, it’s not entirely the event organizer’s fault. After all, nobody invites people at gunpoint. No one’s forcing anyone to attend anything! In fact, if I attend an event which I deem a waste of time, I consider it MY FAULT for not exercising due diligence.
Logic dictates that if you have a shitty experience with an entity once, you’ll most likely decline future invites right? Nope, not always the case. People are very forgiving and there will always be those who will say yes no matter what. Then complain afterwards. I don’t get that, I really don’t. You already know going into it that there’s a history of disrespect with regards to your presence’s worth and yet you still go? Given how much time and effort it takes just to get from one place to another these days, it’s time to give event invites more thought.
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This is so true, nobody wants to write their own worst token experience ever kasi takot sa PR agency lalo na kung newbie ka, magagamit ka talaga ng todong todo. Sad but true!
xoxo
MrsMartinez
This – Given how much time and effort it takes just to get from one place to another these days, I think it’s time to give event invites more thought.
-@themommaclub
I got a box of expired diet capsules given as a token for posting more than 75 press releases. Please do note that this was given more than a year late. And that is after more than a hundred follow up messages. Lol! Tapos, siya pa ang galit. Buhay blogger. Kinakawawa ng kapwa blogger/ pr. Ngayon, eto bihirang bihira sa bihira na akong mag blog. Unless, I super love the brand. Ako na gumagastos para ma subukan. At least, walang magagalit kapag nagsabi ako ng tutuo.
I loved reading this mommy rowena gives me a glimpse into the blogging world. Natawa lang ako at napacomment sa white rock. I cannot even imagine. Ayoko ng mga gc talaga example na maghihirap ka pa kakaayos ng pictures mo sa website bago mo makuha ung album then sayo pa ung shipping fee.
A few years ago, I attended an event in Makati. I ended up bringing home a can of formula and toga (It was used as a costume by each attendee.). Commuter ako, Miss Ro. I just brought a small bag kaya imagine-nin mo na lang ang itsura ko sa bus pauwi. After that, I started being meticulous when it comes to events. I just say yes to invites na may matututuhan ako or talagang gusto ko like workshops or book launches o kaya events na mage-enjoy ang kids ko. I seldom attend events at dumating na rin sa point na hindi na ako nai-invite but it’s okay with me. May kapalit ding work ang pag-attend ng events kaya I choose well those who are worth my time and effort.
Siya nga pala, hindi ko kinaya ang puting bato na nabanggit mo, Miss Ro! Akala ko toga at flyers na ang pinakamalala.
Nakakalungkot na ang tingin ng mga PR sa blogger napakababa to give tokens such as ballpen, cap, etc. Eh kaya natin bumili ng ganyang items. Kala nila mapakain na tayo ok na. So sad! Sila nagpapayaman, tayo nagpapakahirap.
wow ganito pala mga ganap ng events ng bloggers, thanks for sharing Ms Rowena Di biro din effort nyo attending, writing about the product or posting. Natawa ako sa rock and succulents na may responsibility pa at home sayang naman din kung mamatay and the yema for the event not related sa yema.
I went to an event where the “token” was a non-woven cloth eco bag with a ton of leaflets inside.
I experienced one getting a small notepad. Honestly, I don’t really mind because they wanted a meet-up/ informal meeting which I was open to it. However, they were an hour late. No notification that they’d be late. I had to call them because they do not even have a reservation at the venue. (So, I thought I was lost) When they arrived, no apologies. Worse, the event was not applicable to me. They were looking for someone who knows how to drive a car.
Since the meet-up is deemed as something to start a “relationship’ with the PR company, now I just get a lot of Press Release for free posting on my inbox.
so sad to hear about this. i seldom attend events and also had my own experience of not so good tokens. i just hope prs and brands realize this.
This is so spot on!
Ang pinaka nakakaloka ko na experience ay yung dinala kami from Manila to Nuvali, whole day event. May transpo from BGC then lunch. Pag uwi ang laman ng loot bag ay puro papel as in flyers ng benta nilang properties. Ang masama nag encourage na dalhin ang buong family. Sa van pauwi ang tahimik naming lahat kasi nga pag silip sa loot bag papel nagpapakiramdaman kung meron man lang naligaw na GC or pera pero waley hahahaha!
there’s also expired food products
Thank you for this article, I am still new to this blogging and I dont want to waste my time in this trivial things. Even in posting PR articles I am also very choosy, because its my own site and I wanted it to be as good as my own articles (and i wanted it SEO friendly articles, i’m a meticulous one) I’m still doing thing slowly. What can you say on PR posting articles?
Sad but this is so true!
Hahaha..this is interesting…i didnt hear about this ,kudos mommy Rowena you’re the only one who talked about this Now i know