A Giveaway Tip

In the history of my little blog here, I've only done two giveaways.  By now, I was hoping to have done more but I'm not really sure of how to get my foot in the door (If you have tips, please share!!! =) )  Despite that, I have entered in a TON of giveaways and I've been lucky enough to win quite a few items.  Usually, once I send my address in, I get my items within the week.  I even got Fuzzibunz diapers the next day..I don't know how that was possible!!

However, there are still some items that I won and never received.  For example, there are two items in particular, a bottle and a dog leash, that I've been waiting for for over three months!!  I emailed both blog owners a couple of times in the time period and both said they'd fix it but, still, no items.  It doesn't really bother me that much since I don't really need the items so much anymore.  The bottle was a 4 ounce bottle and Leo pretty much eats nothing less than 6 ounces at a time and the dog leash seemed like it may have been too small/weak for using on my beastly animals...but I could have given them both as gifts to friends. What really bothers me about it is that the retailer/company agreed to do a giveaway and the item should be sent out.  If you don't want to giveaway an item, then why agree to do a giveaway in the first place?  I'm not really sure whether or not the blog is to blame (I don't think it is but who knows) or if it's the company's fault!

Another issue is that the item should be as described.  If I enter a giveaway for one brand of diaper, I don't want to receive a different brand.  If it's a custom item, I should be able to actually customize it.  I've personally had experience with a giveaway where the item was not made to order and then the retailer claimed that the winner should pay return shipping since "she received the item for free anyway."  I don't view that as proper business practices and I don't think it sheds good light on you as a person.