So, we had an idea.

We frequently come across consumer issues that require some hands-on research. We work hard, and sometimes even spend a little of our own money in the process. Sometimes readers do, too - spending their own money to ship things to us, sending us photographs, dissecting diapers. What we do already feels like something of a team effort, and we get a lot done. When the cost of research (buying a product here or there) is low, it all works out; we make a little money from our blogging, and readers' frequent willingness to send us a product at their own expense is a sign of just how passionate ZRecs readers are about bringing out the facts on issues that matter to them. But there are also projects that are simply beyond our financial means to justify, times when we could do much more if consumers pooled their resources to do something ambitious.

What if, we wondered, instead of going hat in hand to ask readers to contribute to a general fund to fuel our consumer reporting (not that there's anything wrong with that), we could actually pitch specific research projects to our readers and ask them to fund them if they are interested in seeing us conduct them?

Yes. That got us very excited indeed. Would it work? We weren't sure. But we wanted to find out. And here we are.

Pampers and SIGG

We have two proposals for your consideration. Both are timely, and both have practical benefits to consumers as well as an investigative, "let's-find-out-the-real-truth" bent. Both will, if funded, offer both useful consumer information that will be collected no other way, and a shot at consumer justice.

If you have been touched by either of these potential product issues - burned by a product that harmed your family or just your pocketbook, please consider donating to make these projects a reality. We don't claim to be scientists, but we do claim to be thorough, credible, transparent, and objective.

• Pampers Dry Max Skin Reaction Test: Will Dry Max diapers cause a more serious skin reaction than previous Pampers diapers?


• SIGG EcoCare Liner Test: Does SIGG's new, BPA-free liner still chip away from bottles, even though the company declares that this "cannot happen"? (Click through for details)

Each pitch linked above includes a background on the problem, a proposal for a specific experimental test, a breakdown of project costs, and a form to fill out if you would like to donate. For our Pampers research project, you can even donate on behalf of someone else and send them an e-card.

We won't lie to you - we are using these two projects to pilot our idea for making engaging, grassroots consumer research a reality. We have even bigger projects than these in mind for future research, including some that would require outside experts, laboratory testing, or whatever else is necessary to create movement where there is stagnation in public discourse on consumer issues.

I guess what we're saying is, if you get the gist of where we're going with this and what the future possibilities might be, and you're saying to yourself, "This is brilliant and exciting! I totally trust ZRecs to do this and I want to read about it!" then we encourage you to seriously consider helping to give these specific projects - as well as this broader idea - a future at Z Recommends. These are our pilot projects that will prove whether we've touched on a viable model for getting direct consumer funding for consumer research that can impact not only your consumer intelligence but public debate and awareness.

A bit of fine print:

• Donors of any amount will have the opportunity to sign up for exclusive email content documenting our projects in progress and get early notification of our results, before they're published on ZRecs. Donate once and you can receive the updates as long as you want.


• If we cancel the project for underfunding, or if events change and testing is no longer needed (even the prospect of a project getting funded and conducted could spur a company to act where it might otherwise choose not to), donors will be offered the option of allowing us to use their donation for another project, or receiving a full refund.


• Donations are not tax-deductible. Our current organizational structure is an LLC, not a non-profit. We will consider non-profit status for our "research unit" if this takes off, but at the moment it feels premature.

Like this idea? Then read our Pampers Dry Max or SIGG project pitches and see what moves you. And if you have any problems with the donation form, please let us know at zrecsmedia {at} gmail {dot} com.

Thanks for your support and readership! Someone has already chipped in for the Pampers Dry Max testing - care to join them?