New Products and the Joy of Reviewing

I would like to share with you some new products while at the same time encouraging those of you who would like to receive free products in the mail. For some time I have been a customer of Amazon.com and have reviewed some of the products I purchased. Over time, I started receiving requests from companies that sell on Amazon to give honest reviews concerning samples they would send me. I said yes to some and no to many more. If I won't use the products myself or find them to be grand gifts for others, I won't waste my time or their money receiving their products. Below are some samples I received from EcoJeannie.com:

This is a great shopping bag made from at least 95% recycled plastic that is woven. It is sturdy and roomy, colorful and very cute. The handles are a canvas type material and are firmly sewn on. Great way to use up plastic otherwise thrown away. The bag measures about 15 inches across and 16 inches deep. I can see myself using it a lot when our new Aldi store opens up.

Dryer balls are something I don't think I'll ever tire of. These are great. They are reusable and are handmade using 100% wool from New Zealand. They are chemical free which makes them not only great for my sensitive skin but also gentle on the clothes dryer. In the past, I used dryer sheets. Little did I know that the chemical on them plugged up the lint trap which, in turn, caused my dryer to burn up. Now I only use liquid softener in the washer or dryer balls in the dryer. Other times I just like to hang the clothes on the line and let them soak up the sun. The label on the package says that the balls will last up to 1,000 loads of laundry.

This is a huge juicer/squeezer! I find it to be heavy and very well made. When I say heavy, I mean to say that is constructed of quality stainless steel, not flimsy aluminum or steel that makes you wonder if it is really steel. It works great and juices lemons/limes completely. As large as it is, I bet I could juice oranges in it too. There is a hanging ring on the top to make it easier to store for those who like to hang their stuff. This is an item that I feel would make a great shower gift.

The zester/grater that I received is certainly different than others I have used. This one slices. It also is heavier than the usual zester, the handle easy to grip as well. I probably won't use this tool as often as I will the other ones, but it is easy to store in the back of my silverware drawer so no problem there. As with the other EcoJeannie products, this is a heavy duty product that is made to last.

This is a garlic press that is different from others I have seen or used. It is a flat press and, once again, heavy and made of quality steel. It is super easy to use in spite of the weight. Place the garlic cloves inside and squeeze once.The rounded holes are great and the garlic squeezes right out of them. The press is very easy to clean. I love it and will keep this for my own use.

If you desire to be an Amazon reviewer who also receives these sorts of offers, you should keep some important points in mind:

If you agree to review a product, do so and in a reasonable amount of time after receiving it. Give your HONEST opinion and don't lie about it in order to receive more offers. If it deserves one star and a poor review, give it that, but you might want to check with the company first to see if there is something they can do to make the experience better. For instance, sometimes a product will arrive broken. Other times you might just not understand how to properly use the product. In instances like these, you should contact the company and try to get the problem fixed before instantly writing a poor review. You also want to be sure to actually try the products without pretending to do so. Take pictures or video as companies love having these added to reviews. And make your e-mail address public on your Amazon reviewer page so companies can have a way to reach you with offers. NEVER accept bribes or payment for reviews. A free product is fine if it is the product you are reviewing. Don't accept money for reviews or coupons for other products, as this is considered a bribe and professional payment for favorable reviews. And one of the most important things to remember is to add a disclaimer to each review like the one I am including in this post below:

*I received these products in exchange for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.*

Product Review: EC Technology® Multi-functional Car Jump Starter and Portable External Battery Charger

When I was asked to review the new Multi-functional Car Jump Starter and Portable External Battery Charger by EC Technology®, I was thrilled. Last summer, I was out shopping when my car died in the grocery store parking lot. I could not get the battery to turn over - just that dreaded "click". Nobody seemed interested in helping me, so I called my son who headed over in his police cruiser to jump start the battery. I could have done the job myself if I had carried a handy little kit like the one above.

The whole thing in its padded case measures roughly 3 1/2" x 8 1/2" x 2". The battery pack itself is small - 0.6" x 0.3" x 0.1". It is solid and charges by plugging into any standard outlet. It comes complete with jumper cables, car charger, USB cable, and main charger.

The battery charger itself is multi-functional in that it is also a flashlight (powerful LED) that has a blinking setting and a red glow setting that would be very useful if you find yourself stranded at night and need to get someone's attention for help. You can plug cell phones and tablets into it for charging while on a trip or otherwise. 

According to the specifications by the manufacturer, you should be able to charge your battery up to 20 times on a single charge. That's pretty good for a small charger like this one.

The best thing about the kit? It works!

I absolutely love this jump starter kit by EC Technology®. I am going to keep it in the back of my van in one of those cubby holes there so it won't get kicked out of the vehicle by accident. As padded as the case is, I am not worried that it will get bumped and broken. The whole thing is small enough to fit in the glove box, but I have too much junk in there to fit another slip of paper!

For all of the specs concerning amps and volts and all of that other fun stuff, check out the product page at Amazon.com. I think you'll find, as I did, that this is a pretty nice product to have in your vehicle at all times.

*I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion is my own.*

Product Review: Wireless Charger and Bluetooth Speaker

I was given the opportunity to review a couple of products from EC Technology this week. The first one is a Bluetooth speaker.

This is an interesting product for me. I am used to listening to music on my large stereo, so getting used to a speaker that doesn't need wiring and on top of that, can be carried around, is new to me. I had to have my teenage son help me figure out how to use it. Once that was done, however, it wasn't so difficult to figure out. I do think that, for such a small item, it is a bit heavy for me to wear clipped to my belt. I can see myself using it if it sits on my desk or on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. It does what it's supposed to and the sound is pretty good. It would make a nice gift for someone, however, and I just might put it back in the box and save it for such a purpose.

The other product is a wireless charger for my Nokia phone.

This wireless charger from EC Technology is a good one to have when going on vacation and you might not have access to an electrical outlet. I can plug it into my laptop or, ironically, my portable battery charger, and then be able to charge my phone. It charges my phone as quickly as my old charger. I like the ultra slim design because it can fit into my purse easily. The only problem I have found might be that I had to position my phone just right on the charger in order for it to get to work. However, I have that same dilemma with my old charger, so I'm used to it. It isn't enough of a bother to cause me to not use it. Unlike the speaker, I will be keeping this product for myself. In fact, I have it charging my phone as I type.

*I received the products above in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.*

Product Review - Professional Optical Gaming Mouse by EC Technology®

I am not a big gamer, but I live in a house full of guys who are, ahem, addicted. Once I gave this mouse a quick go-over, I handed it over to my husband who used it to play his favorite strategy game. I asked him for some things that he liked or did not like about it. He gave me some pros but he could not come up with one thing he did not like.

It fits my husband's hand nicely; the contour is perfect for comfort and ease of clicking nonstop. It glides smoothly across the mouse pad, which is something I'd like just for surfing the web. The lights are great, and you can change the color. Jeff prefers the standard red. There are six programmable buttons. We never got them all programmed, but the capability is there. The function I like the best - and you might think it's silly, especially since there are other, more high-tech, qualities about the mouse - is that the cord is a braided one that ensures we won't have to worry about a short. There is nothing worse than a mouse that keeps shorting out on you right when you're in the middle of a hot game or something even more important.

The bottom line is that this is a serious mouse for a serious computer user. If you're into gaming, you'll find that the ability to reach 4000DPI is just another great perk. I have a feeling that both of us will be playing with this mouse, learning to use it's multiple functions, and just enjoying something that feels so good in our hands, for some time.

*I received this product in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion is my own.*

Product Review: EC Technology® 7-color Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard

 

 This week I had the privilege of using the new bluetooth, backlit keyboard by EC Technology®. Being new to bluetooth technology, I learned a few things along the way. I tested the keyboard using my Kindle Fire to watch a video by one of my favorite preachers, J. D. Farag. After learning that I had to change my bluetooth settings on the Kindle, I was up and running. 

Everything worked wonderfully and the ability to change the colors of the back-lighting was fun. What I love about the keyboard, however, is that it is fully functional and not some cheap toy. Granted, it is smaller than my laptop keyboard - the keys are closer together than those on the laptop - but that doesn't matter. I have small fingers. With the ability to use some of my favorite document applications on the Kindle, I am now able to type documents faster when using it. That's a plus for those older folks who didn't grow up with the electronics of today. No more hunting and pecking with one finger. I don't know about you, but I don't text with my thumbs; I grew up learning to type on a typewriter and was typing at 75 wpm in college. Keyboards are where it's at. And another benefit? It's quiet! I work in a library and sometimes I get really tired of hearing the click-click of people using the computers.

Another benefit of this keyboard is that it is, as I stated earlier in my review, bluetooth enabled. That means no messy cords to get in the way while using it. I really love this keyboard and look forward to using it for some time to come. 

*I received a product to review in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Product Review - iPhone 6 Shakeproof Transformer Protective Cover

Sometimes you need to have a little extra protection for items that you use a lot - like a cell phone. I tested this one from EC Technology this week and really like it. It has a gel case that you slip your iPhone into, and then slip into a hard case. The case has a swivel clip that is sturdy and durable. I will use it a lot when I go hiking this spring (in search of the morel mushrooms that usually grow so well here). The other side of the case has a "kickstand" that is easily used for watching videos when the phone sets on its side. I found the kickstand a little hard to pull out and I thought it would break - I held my breath - but it did not. It's sturdier than it appears.

At any rate, I like the iPhone 6 Shakeproof Transformer Protective Cover with the holster and kickstand. I still like a thin, slim case but will still get use out of this hard one as well - because for a hard case, it's not overly bulky.

*I received an iPhone 6 Shakeproof Transformer Protective Cover in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.*