[box] ” I remember placing my first order and then getting a newsletter about how Eden was starting a reviewer program in 2007. I thought it would be a great opportunity to try toys I wouldn’t previously considered. I was one of the FIRSTS, a pioneer of sorts. I can totally brag about that. I believe my first review was published September 26, 2007!” ~Sleeping Dreamer [/box]
EdenFantasys began its review program way back in the winter of 2007 with just a handful of reviewers. No one, at that time, could even imagine that the program would grow into the amazing resource it is today — or that less than 5 years later, we’d be celebrating 50,000 contributor reviews!
I have personally been with EdenFantasys since November 2007, as an affiliate and reviewer, and since May 2009 as an employee. I’ve been through a lot of changes with Eden and I’ve seen things grow at a sometimes staggering rate!
When I stop to think bout the review program, I’m amazed with how much I’ve learned about my own body, and my ability to communicate with others about it. I’ve learned how to share important information—and hopefully I’ve helped out some readers along the way! ~Antipova
Did you know that when the review program first started you got accepted by sending in a writing sample? Oh, the agony of waiting for a response! It sometimes took weeks or a month to hear back! And then you had no idea what product you would get. You had the opportunity to fill out a checklist of products you favored and materials you didn’t like or couldn’t use but, other than that, each shipment was a total surprise.
As for my sex life, as soon as my partners find out that this is what I (used to) do, they get excited. In their world, it means I know what I’m doing in bed. I know how to please myself, whether that translates to pleasing my partner is another question entirely. Knowing that I write reviews also makes the guys comfortable in talking about sex and asking questions – they know that their questions will be welcomes. For me, it means that I am not at all shy about asking for what I want. ~ToyQuest
Things have come a long, long way since our modest beginnings. We now have multiple review programs including the Descriptive Review program, the Offsite Review program, Ambassador and Sponsored Posts programs. We have regular reviews and manufacturer sponsored reviews and buy out reviews and blog reviews. We have video reviews and video blogs! We have a Mentor program to help people learn to become Advanced Reviewers or a voting in process for those who feel they don’t need to be mentored. We have Eden Tasks, which is a team of regular contributors who help edit reviews from newcomers. We have review program workshops, extensive forums and clubs run by and for the community. We even have our own Classifieds!
But it’s not just EdenFantasys and the team who work here who have made all these amazing changes and milestones possible. It’s you! It’s the Community. It’s each and every one of you who have ever done a review in exchange for a product or on something you purchased yourself. Each and every one of you who has helped us describe new items — or taken the time to write follow up reviews a few months after reviewing products, so we know how things have held up. Each and every one of you who participates every day or once a year.
[box] ” I began reviewing because when I was starting out sexually with my boyfriend, I was SUPER shy and there was NO way I was gonna ask questions in some brick and mortar store. Then I began shopping around online and a lot of retailers had NO reviews, or very poorly written ones. So, I began writing reviews cause I didn’t want people to be in the same boat as I was.” ~Illusional “
“ BUT having said all that, this place still rocks! I have gotten many cool toys, met some very cool people and I love this place. Thanks, EF, for letting me be a part of all this. ~Destri
I think my favorite part is helping people make their decisions with a product because the reviews are from REAL people rather than the company saying “Buy this product because of XYZ! it’ll blow your mind!” My least favorite part is getting started on a review, I always have like severe mental block. However, once I’ve got going, there’s no stopping me! ” ~Vanille [/box]
We’re celebrating 50,000 reviews because of YOU!
We hope you’ve enjoyed the week long celebration, the double points and the amazing party last Thursday. We have definitely enjoyed reading about your experiences with EdenFantasys and the review program since you started, new or old reviewer alike. These are the questions we asked you and scattered through this post are some of your responses:
- What got you involved in reviewing to begin with?
- What got you to keep reviewing?
- Who was your favorite reviewer when you started reviewing? Has that person changed?
- What was the best review that you’ve written? How about your worst?
- How has being a reviewer here affected your sex life? How about your life in general?
- What’s been your favorite part of the review program so far? What parts are you not as fond of?
[box]As for my experience here… I’m surprised to say that I’ve been a member for 2 years now, and it took me a month to decide I wanted to create a blog to review toys and test out the affiliate program as well, which I do not regret. At first my reviews would take hours… I’d have to dedicate a full day or so to complete a review, and I’m really happy when I can write a review in one or two hours.
My reason was that I was jealous to see that people could get really cool toys in exchange for their opinion – it seemed like a perfect trade. not only that, but I really appreciate all the things I learned from this site and from reviewing, and being able to give advice that people will actually consider when it comes to new toys. ~Kynky Kytty[/box]
[box]Blogs is what brought me here and I am thrilled that I did. The community has evolved so much in the last year. It is so awesome how such a diverse group of people can come here and all be amazing friends. I think my fav review I have done was for the Eleven. Such a stunning toy. The review program is an awesome one and always makes me smile. ~Jobthingy[/box]
[box] My husband was browsing through his Maxim and cam across and ad for Eden displaying Jopen toys, I decided to check out the site. I had already been ordering from Adam and Eve, but when I came here and saw what all there was, I stayed. Now I have been here since July 2011. I am still fairly new, but have manged to become great at it and love to do it.
[box]My first review was published Nov. 8, 2008 and at that time it could take up to two weeks for a review to get published!
When I first joined the Eden Community you still had to submit a review and ask to be promoted by a staff member. The marketing position was about to undergo a significant change and I was promoted by InthePink, (Victoria) herself.
I got into reviewing because I love to share experiences and also like to write. I was nervous and scared but determined to explore this new area for myself.
There were no points and the request guidelines were in flux as Victoria took firm control and made the playing field much more even.
I kept on reviewing because instead of critical nastiness I was met with a firm guiding hand about safety and my reviews were so enthusiastic they were kinda endearing…not very good but sorta cute. ~Airen Wolf[/box]
We cannot thank you and pat you all on the back enough. This truly isn’t an Eden accomplishment, it’s a Community accomplishment. So many of you do reviews on products you buy yourselves — you ARE the customers! Or you try new products, even when they seem weird, to help us determine if those products are something we should carry in our store. You go the extra mile to create videos and post images with your reviews, to answer questions from our shoppers and to be as informative as you possibly can be. We appreciate that, far more than we can express.
And we hope you all realize that our experience with the review program, our ups and downs and growth and changes, have been made better by the input of all of you!
I feel like I belong here, I feel like I can help spread the word as well so I frequently talk about this site to friends, family, anyone who will listen. I’ve been able to introduce things into our sex life that I otherwise never could’ve or might not have thought of, so it’s done that for my sex life! I also love how open I can be about opinions and what’s going on, even with my body, and not feel insecure or ashamed! Here, everyone is just so darn nice! ~Peggi
[box] I found Eden Fantasys one day in the summer of of 2009. I had had my first child, became a stay at home mom, and for the first time didn’t have my own money to buy sex toys. I hated not working and hated not being able to buy “frivolous” things like sex toys.
An online search lead me to EF, where I was delighted to see so much information on the toys and reviews by REAL people who told you whether it was great or if it was crap and not worth your money. Then I saw on the home page “Free sex Toys”. I was astounded! I signed up immediately and had so much fun writing my first review. ~Maiden [/box]
[box]Thank you Eden for all you’ve done for me. The community is awesome and I’ve connected with some folks who’ve helped me believe in myself even more. The feedback on my reviews is so appreciated and I think I’m becoming a better reviewer thanks to all of your help and comments. ~Hot N’ Sexy Texas Mama
Most importantly, I think, is that reviewing products for Eden has allowed me to let go of some of the hang-ups that were holding me back in my relationship and my life in general. Day by day, I was growing more and more conservative in my views and ideas because I was surrounded by conservative people who would allow for nothing jovial, sexual in nature, or un-PC to be uttered in their presence. Eden gave me the launch pad to bring all of that back into my life and be proud of it. ~Stormy
Before Eden my website was mostly about swinging, now my readers get to hear about how I have incorporated toys into my life. I can go the Eden website anytime night or day and find people to chat with, articles that interest me, forums to find opinions, polls to take… whatever! I can go to the manufacturer link and see more about the companies that make the toys I love. I have also met a whole bunch of other bloggers, like me, who write about sex and toys. ~BlueKaren[/box]
We can’t include every story you guys posted about the review program but we’ve done our best to include a bunch. Please head over the the forum to check out the rest. Or to contribute your own story!
And if you’re not part of the Eden Community yet? Join us! We just keep growing!
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