Thanks for bringing this issue to for the forefront. I have wondered about this. It is a quandary.

Luckily,I have liked the items that I have been sent for free and asked to review.

Some products have been pricey like POM juice and I stated that it was pricey in my post but also delicious and something I would buy occasionally not frequently.

I don't know what I would do if I didn't like the product.

Oooh! This is a good post (and comments)! I recently found myself in this predicament, while not being sent the product necessarily for review, but more as a consolation prize. So, here's my two cents:

The product I was sent, I actually had some experience with on the development/marketing of similar products in my career. While my review wasn't stellar, especially for my size, I offered the company some suggestions on how to improve their product. I don't think they were over the moon on the not-rave review, but they did take the time to tell me they heard what I had to say and passed that info along to the development team. I do think it was more constructive than just outright bashing the company's product. (Which, to be honest, I was sorely tempted to do. There were some serious WTF moments while using it.)

If there's nothing constructive or helpful to suggest, then I'd let the company know what you thought, why and see how they'd like to address it.

Roni,
What I love about you is your honesty and I value your opinion. When you say you love something, I'm more willing to try it out. Of course, once I try it, I have my own opinion (i.e. I hate chocolate vitatops; maybe I would like the other flavors, but I haven't tried them because the fiber taste was too strong for me). So, if you posted a negative review, I would take it seriously. The ultimate question is do you want that responsibility? :)

I don't post negative reviews but I am more likely to post something on my blogs facebook wall as a " heads up" to my readers, who mostly follow me there as well.

it's a tough call.

When I first started blogging, I posted whatever review the product deserved. If I hated it then I didn't hold back in my review and vice versa.

Once I started getting more requests to review products, I started only reviewing items I really liked. It kept me from doing lots of extra work and kept the PR folks from having to explain a very negative review.

There's a fine line and each blogger has to find that sweet spot.

I receive books to review and am always honest about what I think. Those are the only actual products I receive.

Once in a while I review things that come in to me as PR pitches. I've written some completely negative reviews in response to PR pitches, and some that are more tempered. Here's an example of a 'tempered' review: The Future Will be Captioned On Your iPhone - Maybe

I've written positively and negatively about products I've found and tried on my own. I've only gotten 2 product samples to review and I've liked both products, so this has not been an issue. As a blog consumer, I hope to read honest reviews, the good and the not-so-good. If a blogger is 100% positive about 100% of the products reviewed, I think they lose credibility and I will stop reading them (or those posts). Most often your opinion is a matter of personal taste, so others very may well like what you don't, and you could point that out too.

If the company provided the product gratis, I would probably disclose with them the content of your potential review (the negative points). I would give them the option to not have the post go up, or to have them be able to make constructive comments on the post when it goes up.

I say no, spread love not crappy products!! Or do what Mike says above!!

Use your power for good. If you feel the product poses a danger, is a scam or something, I think it is okay to warn readers. For the most part, it is a best practice to write up an honest review, and let the company know what you think. Who knows? Your suggestions may change the product or prompt them to change it into something you love. After providing the negative review to the company, offer them a chance to resolve the issues.

Then offer 3 options:
1. A redo review after they take your review in advisement.
2. Post the review as written. (bad publicity is better than no publicity at all...to some)
3. Not post the review at all.

I'm not a terribly good blogger, so I say this from the blog reader perspective. I would love if more people posted negative reviews when they are feeling them. If people only post positive reviews, then reviews are pointless because you never know when people aren't happy with something. As a consumer of blogs, I would love if there was more honest approaches to reviews (meaning people post when they receive something and say their response without regard to what the company is going to think EVERY SINGLE TIME). The problem of course is that if one blogger starts doing it companies will just stop sending them products and send them instead to the positive post people only. Ideally all bloggers would agree to post their review, good, bad or otherwise, and then companies would have to accept that their products are going to be honestly reviewed and if they aren't prepared for that they perhaps should rethink their product.

How timely! I have only been offered products to review twice. Just recently it was something that I was willing to try but told the marketer that I would NOT dedicate a whole post to the item, only a mention. Just today he checked in to follow up. Anyhoo, the product was adequate and I am struggling with what to say. I intend to be honest. Glad that it is at least not something negative. But I think I would be as tactfully honest as I could; I owe that to my readers.

if it's a product i purchased myself i'd post it.

if a company sent me the product for review i contact them and let them know that my review is negative before posting it and let them decide if they want it posted or not.

I have been wondering this very thing. I was recently asked to review a product and being relatively new to the blogosphere I am not sure what the approach is.

I would think that companies would expect me to give my honest opinion. But I have never read any negative product reviews on a blog and I felt that it was for the reason you mention-that one just does not want to publicize something one did not enjoy.

I am curious about what other more experienced bloggers have to say on this matter.