Yes you’re spot on. Inexperience with what is actually a good vibrator/dildo/butt plug plus excitement of having something shiny and new equals overhyped products. I think the quick turnaround on tester item reviews as well means you don’t always get to test something’s durability. Had a couple of items break on me after a submitted review but before they really should have gone to sex toy heaven.
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I think the ‘new to sex toy’ ones have their place too, it’s just I’m no longer their target audience. I remember reading through a long review right at the start and I thought, ‘blimey, there’s a lot more to this than I thought’ 
But the shorter ones made it all sound simple and accessible.
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Well there’s quality and there’s quantity. An experienced review doesn’t need to be long or detailed it is just more accurate or critical.
I quite like reviews that are split into sections e.g. material, feel, fit or pros and cons. Easier to pick through.
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So true. I recall reviewing my first rabbit quite favourably. At the time, it was the first toy I could orgasm with so it was the best thing ever to me. But as I got more experienced with toys, I realised that it wasn’t as good as I thought initially. I have way better rabbits now and I can achieve an orgasm with almost anything these days. Some things you can only learn by experience or comparison to others.
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You know how some websites have a “show me reviews that mention ____” function. That would be a brilliant feature. Filter reviews that talk about a certain word.
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More easily searchable reviews would be great. Tags would be fantastic, but I’d settle for star rating.
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These were the original questions (though add in any you fancy, and leave out any you don’t 
)
What does everyone look for when you’re reading reviews?
As I mentioned above, faults, extra info, a reference point, real-world viewpoint
Which bits do you consider waffle and which real gems?
Waffle - The delivery.
Gems - extra tips
Do you trust reviews from a certain reviewer more than others?
I do have certain ones I look out for as I feel our tastes are similar. (and ones whose tastes I’ve got a good gauge of and can judge from that where I’d likely land. If that makes sense? )
What items do you prefer reviewing?
I like gadgety toys, but I find lingerie easier (I think it’s more quantifiable?)
What do you think is important to include when you’re writing them?
Things that haven’t been mentioned yet
How long is a good review length?
This is a tricky one. It depends on the item. 1000 words on a chemise might be a bit much, but on an app-toy with lots of features? (I may be biased as I have done this )
Is anyone aiming to win review of the month?
Initially, but not now.
Do you feel that you have to review everything you buy?
Not at all. I review things if I’ve got something to add to the conversation
How long do you use a toy/outfit/etc out for before you review?
I try and use the testers for as long as the deadline (and my schedule) allow. Some things are easier than others (eg glass dildos versus the Gyr8tor) so it’s not a strict rule, but I do like to put things through their paces.
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Like a review not too long and to the point otherwise I skip it due to boredom…
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I’m much the same. I often wonder if I’d read my own reviews if I hadn’t written them. Though I do double back to the longer/wafflier ones if I’m seriously considering a toy and I’m still on the fence.
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What does everyone look for when you’re reading reviews?
- Actually it seems like a little thing but good structure, spelling and grammar go a long way!
Which bits do you consider waffle and which real gems?
-
Waffle- packaging, discreet delivery, got this item for review, overly graphic descriptions of using a sex toy.
-
Gems- lingerie reviews that mention your size and the fit of the garment. Anything that weighs up the pros and cons of an item.
Do you trust reviews from a certain reviewer more than others?
- No actually, I’m pretty unfussed about who writes them
What items do you prefer reviewing?
- I love reviewing lingerie more than anything else. It’s so much easier because it’s all FACTS, this is how X looks and feels on. I feel toy reviews are much more subjective.
What do you think is important to include when you’re writing them?
- Just be honest and include details that you’d have wanted to know before purchasing.
How long is a good review length?
- 100% depends on the product. I will only read an essay if formatted nicely though.
Is anyone aiming to win review of the month?(congratulations Jezebella, by the way)
- It’s a good incentive. I’ve never won it but then don’t review incredibly frequently. I don’t review for that purpose, mainly do it to put myself in better runnings to be picked for the next round of tester items.
Do you feel that you have to review everything you buy?
- Nope. I’d say I do about 75% of what I buy really. If I don’t have anything novel or interesting to say I’ll leave it.
How long do you use a toy/outfit/etc out for before you review?
- I like to give toys a couple of goes before review, especially if they fail because there could have been a lack of liftoff for many reasons. Lingerie I will put on and wear for a few hours to see how it feels and looks with extended wear.
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Being able to sort the reviews by star rating would be extremely helpful. Like both @VanillaWithSprinkles and @Mint-Monster have mentioned the aspects of a negative review can often be extremely helpful but ideally also if they explain why they think something didn’t work for them.
For me personally, I like a bit of information about the packaging. Not the, “It came discretely in a brown box” but the specific toy or lingerie packaging. Often the toy packaging is displayed in the picture but for lingerie this is very rare. I’m normally buying lingerie for myself and don’t overly care what the packaging is but if I was purchasing a gift a nice box would be important.
I may have mentioned once or twice my feelings on how important sizing information is to me in lingerie reviews 
. This is the most critical thing but I would also like to know a bit about the quality of the material, it’s feel, stretch and durability.
With toys, if they vibrate, I want to know whether they buzz or rumble (though I admit this is rather a matter of opinion thing on the part of the reviewer). I want to know what works dimension wise and what doesn’t for the individual and also, as @Smultron highlighted above, any ideas for different ways to use something. Those reviews can be quite inspiring.
I think reviews from both newbies and veterans can be helpful but I do agree that as you progress your expectations increase. Some of my early purchases have a higher rating that I would give them now but I think it’s usually pretty easy to tell from a review how experienced people are. I am still pretty new to anal so probably have a different take on things to more experienced people and couples though I would state this in any reviews and explain what I wanted from the product.
ETA …as I failed to correctly answer all questions and just went with those most important to me…
No, I don’t review all my purchases. If there are very few reviews I would post one, otherwise, if I truly love something or strongly dislike it for a particular reason I would post a review but if I don’t think I’ve got something to add often I wouldn’t. I think it is easier to write reviews for products I like.
I must say I agree very strongly with all @VanillaWithSprinkles neatly surmised statements and have to also agree that good sentence structure, lay out and grammar probably does influence me. I believe what’s written in the review more.
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For me, I agree with pretty much all of what you’ve both said. In fact, I might have to edit some of those into mine later…
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I just did, I’m such a grammar pedant that a poorly written review could contain invaluable information but I’d have probably dismissed it by the second typo.
Out of curiosity, went back and re-read all the posts in this thread and could only see @Mint-Monster mentioning it as well as myself. What are people’s takes on reviews that read like erotica?
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Not a fan… but mainly because they usually (admittedly with a few exceptions) contain very little actually useful information!
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No, we completely agree with the bit in the How to Write… guide about it:
Other shoppers don’t want to know the ins and outs of your anatomy when it comes to a sex toy review, so try to keep it out of the realms of a biology class or a porno flick.
Personally I find it’s not relevant to me, and I generally just skip it if some has snuck in.
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I still stand with my opinion. When they start to resemble an erotic novel, it seems to be more about them trying to shock/arouse the reader than about the opinion of the toy.
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I don’t mind a bit of playful description to capture the imagination but as you say @Peitho as long as it’s not at the expense of relevant information.
I always like to hear some creative input or detail from the reviewer’s experience / relationship, how they used something and what it felt like.
I also sometimes wish you could find more explicit videos tagged with specific sex toys / models / brands as there’s nothing like a live demonstration!
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- What does everyone look for when you’re reading reviews?
I like well written reviews with a reasonable level of spelling that are descriptive but not over the top and cover most of the specifics .
- Which bits do you consider waffle and which real gems?
I’m not bothered about what the packaging looks like but most importantly I want to know how an item performed, details like noise levels are important and if the item is lingerie then in my opinion it’s vital to know what the sizing is like . I find it really helpful to know what size is being reviewed and the size of the reviewer too otherwise how will I have any idea whether that particular item with fit me? The main gem that I look for is cup size information on lingerie , for instance, someone comments that the cup comes up small ( and gives their size) then that can be make or break for me in a decision to purchase.
- Do you trust reviews from a certain reviewer more than others?
Not really, I tend to take as I find.
- What items do you prefer reviewing?
I think lingerie tends to be easier to review than toys, although I enjoy reviewing both.
- What do you think is important to include when you’re writing them?
I think being detailed and adding things such as the strength of vibrations, ease of use as regards various controls and in the case of lingerie the sizing .
- How long is a good review length?
That’s a hard one! Not so long that I feel like I’m reading a novel but not half a dozen sentences either! Obviously it’s dependant on the item, a pair of stockings probably isn’t going to warrant as long a review as a wand for instance.
- Is anyone aiming to win review of the month?
Absolutely not, I don’t even think about it when I write a review on anything.
- Do you feel that you have to review everything you buy?
Not at all.
- How long do you use a toy/outfit/etc out for before you review?
I’d say with toys I’d use at least twice, maybe three times just to make sure I’ve covered all the bases . With lingerie I’ll try it on, maybe leave it on all day to see how it feels comfort wise and maybe wear it during sex to test how it performs under different circumstances.
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I feel I should add that even though the people on this topic so far have expressed a preference for certain things it doesn’t mean that other people won’t like different things. I think we can all agree that everybody is different, and should be free to read (and write) whatever they fancy. Just because I skip a review here and there doesn’t mean that everybody will.
People read (and write) reviews for many different reasons, and what one person enjoys reading may not be the same for the next person, and vice versa.
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