Why You Shouldn’t Bother Writing for Review Stream

41 Responses to “Why You Shouldn’t Bother Writing for Review Stream”

• Michael Degenhardt
  October 30th, 2008 at 8:12 am

  I never heard of Review Stream, but now that I have I’m sure to stay away from it. Thank you for the sound advice and facts of the matter. Michael

• Lucas Dié
  October 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am

  oh deary me no not bitter, but soundly angry

  I knew you would stick to it, go show them.

  And your writing is definitely more than average; obviously just too good for them …

• Paula Mitchell Bentley
  October 30th, 2008 at 11:59 am

  Oh thanks Lucas, I’m blushing!!!

  I’ll keep it posted on here as to when I actually get paid. I am nothing if not stubborn.

  I’ve written a bunch more reviews and I’m trying to boost up my self esteem for the surely shortly to arrive rejections.

• thestickman
  October 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

  wow… that sounds dicey practice, eh? Myself, I love the whole concept of ‘royalties’ here at Triond. Not being a ‘professional writer’, I like the idea that first off, I CAN and WILL get published, and that my payment, albeit small, will be for the lack of any better term, perpetual.
  I might only earn 50-cents or a dollar per month, but will earn that maybe every month, month after month for the same content (assuming that it remains in the general search patterns.) Add to that more stories and reviews with similar results… I start seeing something substantial. A few dozen such stories working for me the same way, month after month… Hmm… that would be nice!

  -thestickman

• Ancient Aspie
  October 30th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

  I’ve heard so many complaints about Review Stream that I’d advise anyone to avoid it like the plague if they’re serious about their writing. You were very lucky to get paid 2.00 that many times. From what I’ve heard, most reviews only get the bulk rate. A $5.00 payout is okay if there’s a real chance of getting there. I started recently with today.com, a blogging site with a 50.00, pay out, but you get 1.00 a day base pay, plus two cents per thousand for page views. They review posts pretty regularly, and the money can build up fast, especially if you have two blogs. Check my profile for the link to my review.

• Richie Montalbo
  October 31st, 2008 at 1:06 am

  I have joined Review Stream maybe two months ago. I always check the bulk rate box. And for my 12 reviews, I was paid 0.40 each.

  But as you have said, I am not going to give up. If I would, then they have earned 4.80 off me.

• John McDonnell
  October 31st, 2008 at 11:19 am

  Thanks, Paula, for this article. Sounds like I should avoid Review Stream. No matter, there are lots of great writing sites on the Web.

• Nissa Annakindt
  November 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 am

  Yes, it sounds like I can make more elsewhere with my work. And with other writing sites I’ve worked with, my stuff can continue to earn.

• Karen Wellsley
  November 3rd, 2008 at 12:57 am

  Oh don’t waste your time with Reveiw Stream. If you do manage to write well enough for their so called criteria, they start giving you problems the minute you’ve made pay out. And God forbid you email them to ask them anything because they are rude! I was told this by a friend of mine but I had to go learn it on my own. I work far too hard at my writing to be treated like that. The only way they are going to stop doing this to unsuspecting people is if more people such as yourself come out publically and warn people to not waste their time. Review stream is a scam and while you might be happy at first, you won’t be within a matter of weeks. They don’t want you to make money.

• CB Orrosco
  November 11th, 2008 at 2:22 am

  Good article, Paula. Well written and extremely informative. For a someone who’s searching for a good site to write for in the Web, that’s more than an eye opener. Thanks for sharing your experience with Review Stream and continue giving candid review of other writing “income streams.”

• Oliver Bowie Phillips
  November 11th, 2008 at 4:18 am

  Sounds like someone should have read the fine print before wasting their time?

• ReviewStream.com
  November 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

  reviewstream.com/reviews/?p=50948

  This is one of the reviews written by Paula Mitchell Bentley.
  Who wants to buy it for $2 ?

  thestickman – do you want ?

  Ancient Aspie – probably you want ?

  Just inform us and we’ll be more than happy to sell it to you for $2.

  We think, that the reviews written by Paula Mitchell Bentley are mostly low quality, written with the $$$ in mind only, little helpful for the readers.
  Paula Mitchell Bentley was informed before the submission, that low quality review could be paid at a bulk rate and AGREED with that ! Why did she agree if she believed her review value more ?

  And yes, we’re on the readers side. We care about the useful information, not about the persons with $$$ in mind only.

• Justice Maker
  November 12th, 2008 at 8:02 am

  Hello..my friends..

  I have read all comments ..from Paula, from review stream.com and from the others…well..It’s hot here..calm down..calm down..

  I have checked paula’s review in reviewstream.com..hhmmmm..
  My conclusion is review from Paula, that’s not too bad and not too good….my honest opinion is Paula’s review like standart review..do not be angry with me, my dear Paula..! I am not lie..

  The main problem with reviewstream.com is their payout for every member.. $50..high payout..not like in CIAO.com..
  come on..who can guaranteed to get that amount without banned account ? example like our account almost reach $50 and without warning email, reviewstream.com have banned the account..like fraud click in Adsense..
  You can imagine..How tired to write each review every day, 3-6 hours a day..and get rejected..rejected again..and at least..get banned ..without warning email first..see the rule..you will be say like that..Do I true?
  Come on..reviewstream’s editor..do no to be cruel..Please respect our work..We are same..looking money from internet..you get money from PPC advertising or other and we get money from your revenue..
  I do not know what is meaning “And yes, we’re on the readers side. We care about the useful information, not about the persons with $$$ in mind only” sound like arrogant word..
  Can you imagine if there are no one send you..the review any more..?? every netter give you bad opinion in every forum or blog’s comment..
  Be fair..and just..Please..give us warning email if we break your strict’s rules…so we do not waste our time..and do not be arrogant..!!!

• James
  November 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am

  Um, let me get this straight, ReviewStream is complaining about Paula’s writing and when they write that badly? It seems a bit much!

  As for the review, it is honest and informative. What else did you want for $2? It tells me that PayU2Blog is trustworthy and worth writing for, but has sporadic low volume. If you want New York Times quality writing, pay your writers enough to make it worth while.

  It certainly looks like Paula is not the only one upset by ReviewStream. I have to admit I took a quick look and walked away. It seems unreasonably hard to get paid and my guess is that they will now try to make sure that she does not get paid somehow.

• joystick7
  November 13th, 2008 at 10:57 pm

  Thank you very much for alerting us!! Do let us know the payment status please from them if you dont mind.

• hotswedishgirl
  November 14th, 2008 at 11:00 am

  This is a great article! Review Stream is awful!

  I tried submitting about 10 different reviews on completely different subjects and every time after hitting the submit button it would take me to a new page which stated that “my review is not valuable and they are not interested”

  I was confused as to how they could instantly know my reviews are not “valuable” so I emailed them asking what makes a review valuable and this is the response I got:

  “As you’re informed, we think that your review is not valuable and don’t want to buy it. You can try to make it valuable and submit again or try to sell it elsewhere. We don’t see any reason to share our know-how with you.”

  rigggght. How rude.

• Paula Mitchell Bentley
  November 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

  It’s unbelievable to me how unprofessional they are. They have totally crossed the line to creepy by tracking me down here and commenting on this article even though they don’t know my name!

• webber
  November 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

  Paula, it seems you don’t want to hear different opinions.
  Why did you delete mine ?

  Ok, I can repeat.
  Your review is a crap and be lucky somebody under the sun paid you at least cents for it.

• James
  November 18th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

  Hmm, let me see, really rude and poor English. Webber, are you perhaps Review Stream? The poor language really sounds like them.

  Regardless, she probably deleted you because you are pretty rude.

• Justice Maker
  November 19th, 2008 at 12:27 am

  HHmm..poor webber..

  Watch your tongue..my friend..

  Different opinion is OK..but..be polite..
  Be careful..

• webber
  November 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm

  James, no doubts everybody who doesn’t agree with Paula works for reviestream )

  Justice Maker, I believe, that better to be honest, than polite.

• webber
  November 19th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

  One more thing James, probably my language sounds poor for you (btw your language sounds poor for me), but I don’t ask somebody to pay me for my language.
  And better for Paula to understand, that her articles are poor written. The earlier she understands this, the earlier she can be paid more.

• Paula Mitchell Bentley
  November 19th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

  Thanks for your opinions webber. I’m glad you have the time to visit my article several times a day to share them. However, I think we get your point. I think what you meant to say is that my articles are poorLY written. Not poor written. Thanks for sharing. I let you have your say and now I’d say you’re about done. If you’d like to continue to bicker with James or Justice Maker, please do it somewhere else. If you think that I write so poorly, stop visiting my articles. Thanks for sharing all your opinions and words with me though.

• webber
  November 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am

  Yes Paula, I’m visiting your article several times a day and not only yours. I’m studying web2.0 and have to.
  And more I’m studying web2.0, more I’m shocked by so-called writers as you’re.
  There are no questions when people are writing crap on forums, boards, etc. They don’t want to be paid for this crap.
  But lately, everybody who lost the job or just don’t want to have one, decided that he/she is a writer. And not simply a writer, but a good writer – the writer who should be paid a decent payment.

  You wrote :
  “I’ve always thought I was an okay to mid level good writer.”
  “that are screwing us writers out of our time and words”

  Paula, try to figure out – you’re not a writer. Writers are writing books, novels, daily columns, articles at least. Writers DON’T WRITE REVIEWS ON WEB. Especially reviews like ReviewStream.com shows us.

  YOU’RE NOT A WRITER, Paula !!!
  Be honest at least with yourself.

  And when you’ll figure this out, it will be easy for you to became a real writer.

  Good luck )

• webber
  November 20th, 2008 at 3:08 am

  And when you’ll figure this out, it will be easy for you to becOme a real writer.

  Sorry )

• Paula Mitchell Bentley
  November 20th, 2008 at 8:06 am

  You seem to have a lot invested in criticizing and belittling a stranger. I’m going to say this again. I get it. You think I suck. Thanks for sharing.

• webber
  November 20th, 2008 at 1:19 pm

  P.S. Paula, I’m realy glad you can “use the language correctly”.

  Paula can use her NATIVE language correctly – WOW !!! Everybody is impressed ))

  For me english is a third language and I don’t try to earn selling writings on english.

• webber
  November 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

  I would say “review stream bosses” are mostly yours. You’re working with them ) And it seems they are not happy with your job done. And it seems this is the reason of your angriness.

  And instead of making your writings better, you’re trying to say that “review stream bosses” are bad. They don’t see how good writer you’re )))

  Paula, why did you repeatedly offer your writings to “review stream bosses” if you’re not agree with there prices ?
  Who force you to do that ?

• Paula Mitchell Bentley
  November 20th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

  I’m going to say this again: “You seem to have a lot invested in criticizing and belittling a stranger. I’m going to say this again. I get it. You think I suck. Thanks for sharing.”

  You know, everytime you open this article, read it, and comment it that I make money? Thanks!

• webber
  November 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  Paula, I’m glad to add some cents to your account.

  And also I hope you understood, that it’s the easiest, but not the best way to blame others for your own weakness.

  Try to find the problem in yourself and you’ll succeed.
  (copyright not mine))

• blindluck
  November 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am

  I hate those sites that mislead you about how and when you get paid. I just found a site called ComparedBy.Us that pays you up to $2.00 for a review ($1.00 for the review and an extra buck if it is the first). They do have a minimum $20 payout and they pay directly to your Paypal account. I haven’t gotten to $20 yet but I’ll let you know if I have any problems!

• TechFreddie
  November 30th, 2008 at 4:54 am

  You guys will NEVER get paid in Reviewstream. That site is a total scam. They simply get the money from the advertising impressions from the ads they show on their webpages. THEY DON’T GIVE A SH*T ABOUT WHAT YOU WRITE! Come to think of it, who gives a crap about someone’s review about his own dog Booger? Try to read a couple of reviews posted there. They are such low quality reviews (not you Paula) you know from the start that they are just trying to write as many reviews as possible hoping to get their bulk rate earnings to 50 bucks and get it over with.

  THE TRUTH: When your earnings are approaching 50 bucks for the much awaited payout, more and more of your reviews will get REJECTED!!!! They will never want you to reach the payout! Some of those suckers who did get the payout, are just the lucky souls that these Reviewstream scammers let go for them to spread the word that the scam really pays! But for the rest …. good lack to you guys!

• jazzsue58
  December 6th, 2008 at 7:55 am

  TechFred – never were truer words spoken. Thanks for putting it in a nutshell.
  I tripped across this page when I was googling for my own review on RS. I write exclusively for DooYoo now, mainly for the fun of it although at 0.50 minimum payout I’m edging ever closer to my $50 (probably not in time for Christmas though, natch) I love DooYoo for its honesty, friendship and the fact they email you on everything – with a personal response to any queries you may have. For ‘real’ writing gigs, I go to my account at Elance, or submit to Suite101. I’m studying for a diploma in journalism and need all the practice I can get, both on and offline. I guess that means I, like Paula and everyone else who has contributed to this discussion (maybe not those with the odd habit of forward slashing every apostrophe though, unless their name is Paddy Doyle) can consider myself a genuine freelance copywriter.
  Here’s the link to my own views on the subject, based on firsthand experience. It pretty much backs up everything Freddie has put (PS Paula, hope you don’t mind, I posted a link back to this page – lots more readers for you!)

  http://members.dooyoo.co.uk/internet-sites/reviewstream-com/1165361/comments/

• Sarah
  December 15th, 2008 at 7:59 am

  I recommend Epinions. They pay 10 dollars for every 10 reviews you write, and I have been paid by them. Since their payout limit is only 10 dollars, it is easy to reach. If your reviews are rated “very helpful” by a majority of voters (they have people on staff to do this if no one else votes) you get an extra dollar for the review. Reviews are judged fairly- it is very hard to get rated “very helpful” but good writing will be rewarded. My first few reviews were only rated “helpul” but now that I’ve gotten better most of my reviews make the “most helpful” rating- though it’s hard, I’ve found them tough but fair. The only bad part is they only pay you in multiples of 10, and each month the ten count starts over, so you must write at minimum ten a month to be paid for that month. This can be frustrating. However, they are an honest company. And no, I don’t get a bonus by referring you.

• Armywriter
  January 5th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

  Well thank you for this article. I was thinking of writing for them and then searched through Triond using the explore option to see what other Triond writers thought. Sure enough I found, finally, a decent and honest review.

  Perfect enough to validate your argument was reviewstream.com’s comment. It was very unprofessional and like you said, rude.

  As for Webber’s comments I would just delete them. They sound to be more of a personal attack on your article rather than a sound critisism of the article itself. This would give you plenty reason to erase the moron from the web and take away his voice. Just a recomendation though.

  Take care and good luck.

• BB
  January 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

  I have been published in print, and I still get rejected by unimportant little reviewstream. Just a few moments ago I was rejected instantly with an extremely unprofessional “your article has no value and we’re not interested in it.” No explanation, no “we’ll review your article and get back to you.” I just thought I’d give them a try one more time. I think most writers can agree that there are better things to do with our time than guess and stress over what will earn us a possible $2. Try http://www.associatedcontent.com. They pay very well for those with SEO experience.

• Levina
  January 22nd, 2009 at 9:17 pm

  I just want to say this first before leaving an opinion: I’m not on ANYBODY’S side. And the truth is I’m just looking into some proof with regards to this reviewstream site but when I read this, I knew that I had to share an opinion.

  First of all, I read all of the comments here in your article. Second, you’re right. Review Stream should not be trusted. Third, I read your article and I think your review of that website was okay, not good but okay. It would do good with a little bit more description of what the site is exactly besides the fact that it pays people to blog however I do share your feelings of disappointment when Review Stream was being absolutely rude to you. I do not agree with that kind of attitude. I am honestly telling you this because some people wouldn’t want to tell it to you straight (They’re busy saying: ‘Oh, that site is not good!’ or ‘Thanks for warning us about it!’). I know I am a perfect stranger and I do not know you very well however I have read your writing and I must say it wasn’t all that impressive. I am really sorry. I am just sharing an honest opinion and for somebody who wants to become a writer, you should learn to accept criticisms from people you know and don’t know because they’ve read your work.

  I do want to assure you, of course, that your grammar has no problems whatsoever. It was perfect but grammar isn’t the only thing that’s important in writing, I’m sure you know that. I saw you arguing with Webber. I do agree that what he said was uncalled for and below the belt, it was a direct insult. But he was being “brutally” honest with you, though you may not like it how he said it, please expect that when you want to be a writer you’ll receive a lot more than that from others. To become a writer, failing is also achieved to become truly successful and accepting criticisms and opinions might hurt you and make you angry but you should happily accept them as an opportunity to making you hone your skills in writing.

  Again, I am really sorry. But I just want to be honest with you and I do share your sentiments. I do not take that site’s side and I do not take yours either. I just want to share an opinion. I hope I wasn’t being too rude with you. Thanks. God bless.

• willow
  March 22nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm

  reviewstream should be named REVIEWSCAM

  most of my pieces were bought at 2.00 per pop, but upon reaching the 50 bucks payout, those numbscums at reviewstream sent me an email saying they closed my account. reason : i attempted to fraud them by plagiarising one of my reviews. they even mentioned a website , upon looking at the website there wasn’t any review of my product there AT ALL. in fact the website was an advertising website. -_-. really, if i attempted to fraud them i wouldn’t do when when i am close to my payout… it’s seriously a scam.

  don’t ever submit anything to reviewstrea,. complete was of my time

• kk
  April 19th, 2009 at 6:53 am

  You guys are great. I read this article from top to bottom (yep, the comments as well) and I can say just one thing. I am still damn confused.

  Why can’t you go straight and say it loud, “Review Stream is one CHEAP WEBSITE”?

  Anyway, I am glad that I am not going to join it again. I had a bitter past with them too. Well, yeah, they rejected my reviews too.

• blakelewis
  June 6th, 2009 at 1:05 am

  To Paula:

  I have read some of your reviews. No offense but they are not as helpful like some of the reviews on the site. The readers are yearning for your OPINION and your reviews are meager in terms of your point of view not to mention they are short. I have been writing with REVIEW STREAM and I have earned close to 500$. I have my share of frustrations with this website because they don’t have a clear criteria about what reviews will get 2$ and what gets the bulk rate of .40$.

  To Webber:

  Your attack is too personal. Do not embarrass yourself because obviously you are not eloquent. Your english is so poor. Where do you come from?

• Mr Dprince
  July 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm

  I just started recently with Review Stream and had three reviews accepted immediately at bulk rate and then one at the $2.00 rate. Now I have six or seven in a row that are not even considered but simply instantaneously rejected upon pressing the button for submission. I know something is wrong with that, If they need only certain niches then they need to inform us so as not to waste our time and energy.

Leave a Reply