The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revised “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” (16 CFR, Part 255) to include blogs. In accordance with these revised guidelines usrbingeek LLC and Steven Mermelstein disclose the following material connections:
You should assume usrbingeek LLC (operating sites: ImetSteve.com, SteveMermelstein.com, usrbingeek.com, VTDrone.com, VTPhotoTours.com, and VTPhotoGeek.com) and/or Steven Mermelstein (“We” or “Us”) has a marketing or an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned by Us and any associated websites, social media network accounts or third-party websites We use, and may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. We will not endorse anything if We don’t actually like and believe in the provider, product, or service.
Additionally, on occasion:
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We may have received a gift or sample of a product for consideration in preparing to write this content. We may not have been expected to return this item or gift after the review period;
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We may have received a review copy/item (book, CD, software, product, etc.), or an item of nominal value that We may have kept for consideration in preparing to write this content;
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We may have received a cash payment or gift from a company affiliated with a brand, topic and/or product that is mentioned.
Disclosure of compensation or promotional consideration:
We had or have an ongoing relationship with the following and/or have been paid, otherwise directly compensated, and/or received promotional consideration such as gifts, samples, content, and/or other incentives to promote a product, service, and/or topic from the following:
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American Express
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Aol Inc.
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B&H Photo & Electronics Corp.
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Belkin International
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CloudFlare
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DJI
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Generator Makerspace
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Google
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GoPro
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Graupner USA
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Joby (DayMen Canada Acquisition ULC)
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Logitech
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LowePro (DayMen Canada Acquisition ULC)
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Lyve Mind
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MR Designworx LLC
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Netgear
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Nest Labs
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Nikon Corporation
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ReadyMade RC
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Roku
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Samsung Group
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Twitter
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Ustream
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Advertising, affiliate, and sponsored link disclosures:
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We may display Google Adsense ads and earns advertising fees from Google;
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We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com;
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We are a participant in the B&H Photo Affiliate Program operated by B & H Foto & Electronics Corp. (d/b/a B&H Photo) and earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to B&H Photo. B&H Photo also occasionally provides Us access to sample products for consideration in preparing to write content;
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We are a participant in the Backblaze Referral Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide its users with means to earn credits by advertising and linking to Backblaze;
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We may display CloudFlare ads and earn advertising fees from CloudFlare;
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We are a participant in the DJI Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide its users means to earn credits and/or advertising fees by advertising and linking to DJI.com and other partner sites;
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We are a participant in the SiteGround Referral Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide its users with means to earn credits by advertising and linking to SiteGround;
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We are a participant in the Square Referral Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide its users with means to earn credits by advertising and linking to Square;
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We are a participant in the Sync.com Referral Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide its users means to earn credits by advertising and linking to Sync.com;
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We use VigLink to automatically affiliate commercial links and earn advertising fees and/or commissions from VigLink when one of those links are used to purchase a product or service.;
The Material Connection Disclosures is also supplemented by our Privacy Policy.
If you have any questions about these Material Connection Disclosures please email us.