You’re busy. Money’s tight. You want the best toy for your buck. 
Being smart, you turn to sources who’ve done the hunting for you. Sometimes that’s friends, mommy bloggers or Best Toy Guides and Top Toy Lists. But here’s a news flash.
Some of those “Best Toys” and “Top Toys” sites on Google are bought and paid for by manufacturers and retailers in disguise.
How did I find out? I get Google Alerts instantly whenever “optical illusion toys” appears anywhere on the world wide web. One Alert mentioned a list of Top Optical Illusion Toys – a list that failed to include any OOZ & OZ product! How could they possibly have overlooked Morph-O-Scopes – optical illusion toys that’ve won more awards than any other toy of any kind, ever?! Looking for a way to contact the anonymous blogger I clicked on the “Disclosure” link tucked into the bottom corner of their webpage. Let me share the scary, enlightening secret I discovered there:
“Disclosure
This blog is created or supported by a company, organization or group of organizations. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, product freebies and other forms of compensation.
The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.
The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
We receive commission from sales made through our site from these companies: Amazon, Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, eBay, and many more. If you are clicking on a link, assume we may be getting compensation for the referral.”
Excuse me! Compensation MAY influence content?! Please! You’re getting paid, pal. Are you really going to dis your benefactors’ toys?
Transparency laws require bloggers to post disclosures. Please, please read those footnote disclosures.
So, where to look for the best toy recommendations for your kids? Well, ignore those anonymous Top Toy lists and retailers’ own Best Toys Guides. Turn to impartial mommy bloggers and trusted child development and toy experts like Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice, National Association for Gifted Children, etc.
By the way, that anonymous blogger did get back to me. He invited me to submit my toys. I declined. When you have a unique concept and an award-winning product line like Morph-O-Scopes, positive reviews are earned, not purchased.
