Review Guidelines

Please read the following guidelines before beginning your review. The idea of these guidelines is not to point out the obvious (although at times it might seem that way!), but rather to try to get all the reviews to follow a similar format, so that readers can easily compare and contrast the prams that have been reviewed.

Before writing a review.

The main thing is to have used the pram both inside on smooth surfaces, and outside on both smooth and rough ground. It also helps if you have had some experience folding and unfolding the pram in real life situations, such as putting it into the boot after shopping, but if, for example, you don't have a boot, then some unfolding practice on the loungeroom floor is fine!

Finding a voice -being objective, but not clinical!

One of the biggest challenges when writing a review is to be objective. The idea is to describe a pram using your thoughts and not your feelings. This means neither gushing about how much you love a pram, nor being overly negative about a pram that you hate. Of course if your tone is too clinical, then your experience having used many prams is lost, and the review can be dull to read. Finding a balance will make for the most interesting and useful reviews.

Criticising the pram

The whole idea of the review is to point out the good and the bad points of a pram. When criticising a feature of a pram, it needs to be done respectfully, and kept specific to the topic being discussed. A pram, for example, may be simply awful to push, and a complete pain to fold, and you may hate using it. Go ahead and write about the steering issues when discussing manoeuvrability, and by all means mention the difficult fold in the relevant section. Be sure, however, to discuss the pram's redeeming features too, such as an enormous basket, or large and comfortable seat. This way readers can judge for themselves whether they think a pram is worth buying despite its problems.

Information to include in the review

Here is a list of features that should be discussed in the review. Please do not restrict your review to these points. If you have other relevant points then please include them too.

Introduction

  • This is a general paragraph that introduces the reader to the review. It might mention how long the pram has been on the market, whether it has replaced an earlier model, whether it is a unique design, or a competitor to other similar models. It might also provide a brief outline of what will be discussed in the review.

Seat design and function

  • Is the seat reversible?
  • How does the seat recline?
  • How upright does the seat sit?
  • Is the footrest adjustable?
  • What are the measurements of the seat (width, by depth by height).

Child safety harness

  • How easily does it fasten/unfasten?
  • How many shoulder slots are there?

Hood or canopy

  • How much protection does it provide?
  • Does it make a noise when used?
  • Does it have a viewing window?

Handle design and function

  • Is the handle reversible?
  • If so, how does the mechanism work?
  • What is the grip like?
  • What is the measurement of the handle at its highest and lowest position?

Storage

  • How large is the storage basket
  • How accessible is the storage basket when the sit is reclined/upright?
  • Are there any other storage pockets etc on the pram

Wheel brakes

  • How do they work?
  • How easily do they engage/disengage?

Fold mechanism

  • Briefly describe how to fold/unfold the pram
  • How intuitive is the fold?
  • How quick/easy is the fold?
  • How compactly does the pram fold?

Wheels

  • What are they made of?
  • How well do they perform inside/outside?
  • Do they have a quick release button?
  • Can the front wheels be fixed?

Manoeuvrability

  • How well does the pram push inside?
  • Is the steering one handed?
  • How well does the pram push outside -on smooth and rough ground?
  • How easily does the pram handle in a crowded shop(or similar)?

Size

  • Width by length when unfolded
  • Width by length by height when folded
  • Weight with wheels, basket and hood on (carry it onto the scales and deduct your weight!)

Accessories

  • What accessories come with the pram?
  • Are they any good?
  • Briefly what other accessories are available?

Toddler seat (if relevant)

  • How does it attach?
  • Does the pram fold with it on?
  • Does the baby underneath have sufficient room to sit up?
  • What is the weight limit?

Conclusion

  • Briefly list the pros and cons of the pram
  • Finally include a paragraph that summarises the review. This is a chance to give your opinion on how well the pram performs overall.

Rating the pram

To come up with an overall five star rating of a pram, give each of the following points a rating out of five (half scores are fine), and then divide the score by 10. At present, only the final score out of 5 gets published, but please provide me with all ten scores, as in the future I may publish them all.
  • Seat design and function
  • Child safety harness
  • Hood or canopy
  • Handle design and function
  • Storage
  • Wheel brakes
  • Fold mechanism
  • Wheels
  • Manoeuvrability
  • Accessories

Tips for photographing the pram for review.

Getting good still shots of a pram is not particularly easy. Here are a few tips I have myself discovered through trial and error.

Lighting

I have found that the best photos are usually those taken without flash. The pram colours appear more natural, and reflective details on the pram don't flare as they do when exposed to flash. The best source of light is natural light, since spotlights tend to create large shadows unless the light can somehow be diffused. If you cannot find a sufficiently light location inside, then it may be better to take the photos outside.

Backdrop

The trickiest part is finding an appropriate backdrop where there is enough light for good shots. Ideally the pram should be in front of a neutral coloured wall or in front of drawn curtains or blinds. If this isn't possible, or if poor light inside means that the photos taken inside are not clear, then the next best place is probably outside in front of a plain wall, or in the garden/park. Wherever the shots are taken, try to remove background clutter from the photo, like a trike in the yard, or a painting on a wall. If you have trouble finding a suitable place, or if the photos are not turning out well, then please contact me and I will see if I can help.

Which photos to take

I find it useful to have a list of shots required before starting to take photos, because it can be time consuming to have to keep re-configuring the pram to get missed shots. Here is a detailed list of photos to include, although it will not be relevant for all prams (ie those reviewing prams with no recline will not need photos of how the seat adjusts!). The list is not exhaustive either. Please take as many shots as you think are relevant to the review.

Introduction

  • Full front shot (preferably on an angle)
    • use any accessories that came with the pram for this shot.

Seat

  • A side on photo of each of the back rest positions
    • if possible remove the hood for these photos
  • If relevant reverse the seat unit/handle
  • A photo of the backrest adjust mechanism
  • A photo of the seat reverse mechanism
  • A side on photo of each of the footrest positions
  • A photo of how the bumper opens

Harness

  • One shot of the harness, prefereably including the possible harness slots is probably sufficient here, unless it is an unusual buckle such as the Bertini X2 or Buzz/Zapp where a close up of the buckle would be useful.

Hood

  • A shot of the hood fully extended when the seat is both upright and reclined.
  • A shot of any peephole or visor that may be on the hood

Handle

  • A photo of the handle at it tallest and shortest positions
  • A photo of the handle adjust mechanism
  • A photo of the handle reverse mechanism (if relevant)

Storage

  • A photo of the underseat basket
  • A shot from the side and/or back showing access to the basket when the seat is reclined (and upright if access is still limited).
  • A shot of any other storage on the pram, eg. Pockets on seat back etc.

Brakes

  • A shot of the brake pedal/button/lever when engaged and disengaged

Fold

  • A close up photo of the fold button(s)
  • A photo of the steps involved in folding the pram (if relevant)
  • A photo of the pram folded with seat unit facing both forward and back(if relevant)
  • A photo of the frame and bassinet together when folded (if relevant)

Wheels

  • A close up of the front and rear wheels
    • preferably with two wheels in each picture

Accessories

  • A photo of the pram with the accessories that it came with on
    • eg a photo with raincover or footmuff on, or folded in travel bag
  • A photo with any other genuine accessories you might own.

Comparison shots

  • If you have a pram that is similar to the one reviewing, eg if you're reviewing a Mountain Buggy and you also happen to have a Phil & Teds jogger, please feel free to include comparison photos of the two (or more) prams. I have not done this yet, but may include it as a feature in future reviews.

Some final tips for taking photos

  • Put the brake on so that the pram doesn't move between shots
  • Use a tripod, or mark the spot from where you're taking the photos so that they are taken from the same position each time. This makes a series of shots, such as the possible backrest positions, much easier to view.
  • Take some test shots in your chosen location and upload to your computer to check how well they turn out before taking any more. If you are not sure then send me a test photo.

The fine print -conditions of writing a review

I reserve the right to edit reviews to correct spelling, grammar, and/or expression. I also reserve the right to refuse to publish a review and thereby not pay for it if the review clearly does not cover the brief as set out in these guidelines. Once the review has been accepted for publication, and payment for the review has been received, the review is owned by me, and cannot be republished in any form without my express permission. Payment will be for the amount indicated by me via email before an agreement to write a review is reached. Payment will occur within two weeks of a review being accepted for publication.

 
 
 
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