Times have changed.
It used to be I could depend on publishers and manufacturers
to supply a steady stream of product for review.
Not so anymore.
Oh sure, I still get a trickle of review items, mostly
books, but reliable sources of review material are steadily declining.
The reasons are many; the proliferation of online review
sites, YouTube, cost-cutting, huge audience numbers-the list is quite
extensive.
Still, you would think after providing a service for over 25
years I would get a little more respect and preference.
Times certainly are changing.
It’s no longer about providing a good, honest and consistent
service-it’s all about the money, flash-in-the-pan instant recognition and
playing to the masses.
Reviewing collectible and pop culture items is a specialized
filed. Not everyone collects and those
that do so are very picky about the items they purchase. They are also very consistent and faithful in
their purchases.
I cater to the collector.
That person who looks for the best deal, the most interesting items and
the most ‘collectible’.
That’s why my review sites are so important.
My reviews cater to the collector-the persistent, reliable
and sometimes fickle collector.
True collectors aren’t interested in flash and sparkle; they
are interested in good products: how well they are made and how much bang they
get for their buck.
While it is true that practically anything is available to
collect from around the world, that does not mean that everyone can afford the
price tag.
I think of myself as an educator. I educate collectors in what I consider to be
good products. In turn they take my
advice and recommendation and make their own, informed decisions to purchase or
pass.
I started Collectors’ Corner as a small newsletter; it grew
to several thousand issues.
I then translated it to the Web, added a blog, included Facebook
and for a time attempted to do a YouTube station.
It appears I need to once again expand and for the life of
me I can’t fathom how nor do I have the sources or money to do so.
True, I could pay hard cash to buy advertising, include ads
on my website and blog and even attempt a YouTube channel with ads. But, will those things really help?
I don’t want Collectors’ Corner to become like a thousand
(million) other sites more interested in flash than substance.
Honestly, most YouTube sites never really get into the meat
and bones of any product. Most consist of
'ooohs and aaahs' and ‘isn’t that cool’ mundane statements with very little
analysis of merchandise.
I refuse to do that.
I feel that to do so is a great injustice to the companies that graciously
send me their product to review.
There, I’ve said my piece.
Good or bad I’ll keep trudging along and hope that things change. Wish me luck.