Useful info or crass commercialism?
Update: reader feedback on this topic ranges from puzzlement (“How could this be construed as anything other than helpful information?”) to robust support for providing information about rebate, buying info and the like (“I would not have been aware of the Canon rebates had you not brought it to my attention”). I don’t intend to change my approach of Service as to what I think is useful to most of my audience. Thank you to all my readers for feedback of all kinds.
Reader Doug Dolde writes in reference to my blog entry below:
I'm sure you'll tell me to mind my own business, but this crass commercialism is bringing your site down IMHO.
I’m always interested in feedback, all of its a positive thing, it’s all part of the pulse.
I've just been covering the Canon 200mm f/2L IS, and the $500/$1000 rebate seems more than a little relevant to my readers who have written inquiring about it, especially since many of my readers are prone to making buying decisions based on my research. I've also recently covered the 16-35mm f/2.8L II, same idea and it also has a rebate.
I”m not always aware of rebates myself, and I consider it a service to make my readers aware of them, because who wouldn’t want to time a purchase to not be one day late for a hefty rebate?
I’ve written on unrelated topics too, like sardines and Lyme disease. Funny thing is that I often get more encouraging emails on such things than on the photo topics! Life has more than one dimension, so I make some effort to keep things interesting, and I have no plans to stop doing that.
Maybe the issue for Doug is my referral to B&H Photo, a vendor I’ve used with satisfaction for 12 years? You can buy anywhere you like, but I can’t work for free, and when you do buy at B&H, you do help me do what I do at no cost to yourself, thank you. Subscribing is even better.
Doug might have missed the fact that the only reason readers have been treated to free reviews of a dozen or so binoculars is because B&H Photo supplied loaners for review. Ditto for various cameras and lenses I would have had difficulty obtaining or affording in a timely manner. I hope my readers support that kind of everyone-wins contribution from a reliable vendor I’ve used myself for 12 years or so. Appreciation is a High State.
