FAQs

Why Join

What is Expo?: Expo is an online video community of consumers who share their unbiased, honest reviews and opinions through various word of mouth programs with their peers and brands.

What are the benefits of being an Expo member?: Try products for free - sometimes even before they hit store shelves! Share your opinion about products in video, help shoppers make buying decisions, and influence major brands. Connect with other shoppers like you. Earn points and redeem them for cool rewards.

What do I get for joining Expo?: You get to learn about new products and influence some of the biggest brands in the world by providing your honest opinions of their products and services. Expo members get access to try new products for free, coupons, and rewards for other activities.

Does it cost anything to become an Expo member?: Not a penny - joining the Expo community is totally free.

Content

Why does Expo ask for reviews of specific products?: While the site welcomes both positive and negative reviews about all nationally available products and services, sometimes we are asked by our sponsors to get reviews of specific products. When this happens, we put out a call to members asking them if they use and own those products. If they do, they are welcome to submit a review and provide their honest opinion about the product.

Are reviews of sponsors' products biased?: Absolutely not. Expo provides its members with a safe environment for them to share their thoughts and opinions about the products they use. Our sponsors come to Expo because of this authenticity. They value their customers' opinions and believe that positive and negative feedback is valuable.

Can I review any product that I want?: For the most part, as long as the product is nationally available it is welcome for review. The only products that are not able to be reviewed, for legal reasons, are prescription medicine, firearms, or tobacco products. See our Member Terms and Conditions for more details about our video requirements.

What are video assignments?: Video assignments are fun and easy opportunities for you to earn points for contributing to the Expo community. Once you sign up, you will start receiving invitations to participate in various video assignments based on your personal information, hobbies and interests. Assignments can be invitations for you to review a specific product or brand or can be to participate in a video study about some consumer topic. Each video assignment will have a different point value based on the level of work we think is involved. You can choose to participate or pass. The more video assignments you complete, the more rewards you'll earn.

How can I get invited to do assignments?: For starters, make sure you completely fill out your profile. The more we know about you, the more relevant assignments we can send your way! A lot of video assignments are put out after a quick survey is conducted to find qualifying participants. Make sure you take these surveys, otherwise it will be tough for us to select you to take part in a video assignment.

What does Expo do with our videos?: Make sure it gets seen by as many people as possible looking for information on that product or topic. We value every member's opinion and want to make sure anyone looking for peer to peer information about a product or service can find your video. That means we make it available on ExpoTV.com and through our partnerships with site like smarter.com, Shopping.com, YouTube.com and others. Additionally, we share your videos with the brands we work with so they can hear what their customers have to say about their products and also make your review accessible to potential future customers on their websites. The ultimate goal is to get your voice heard wherever someone is looking for authentic consumer opinions.

Why does Expo only solicit for videos related products or brands?: We actually solicit for videos on any nationally available product. Every month we run a different sweepstakes to encourage the community to contribute reviews on any product they like (or dislike for that matter) and each video enters them into a random drawing. The prize changes each month but the opportunity to share their authentic, unbiased opinion about anything is always there.

When will I be able to see my video on ExpoTV.com?: Videos are generally live on ExpoTV.com within 48 hours of uploading. Every video is screened by an actual person, which is why videos are not published immediately after you upload.

What makes for a good product review in terms of content and or length?: Any good video has a beginning, middle and end. Make sure you introduce to viewers the product you are going to review, spend about a minute on the actual review where you demonstrate key features and provide your honest opinions. There isn't a hard and fast rule on video length, but most good reviews are around one and a half to two minutes in length.

Do I need to appear in my video?: Yes, that is what makes video reviews special. In order to qualify for Expo Rewards you must appear in your video. It provides for a much better viewing experience - the person watching your video will be able to relate with you and the content that much more if they see the person who owns the product.

Can I use any music in my video? Can I show footage from a TV show, movie, or video game?: Expo can accept product reviews containing copyrighted materials where the use of such materials constitutes fair use under the U.S. Copyright Laws, such as for commentary and criticism of that specific product. For more information about fair use, click here.

Tryology

How do I get picked to try products for free?: Each and every Tryology Program is unique and designed to match the sponsor's needs and objectives. The best way to ensure that you are being considered for the most Tryology Programs is to complete your profile by telling us about yourself. Invitations for upcoming programs are sent to members based on the information provided within their profiles. For example, if a major diaper brand is looking to send a new product out for testing they will most likely want to talk to moms. So, we will notify all members that have told us they are moms about this upcoming program. The more we know about you the better the chance you'll get invited for a Tryology Program.

Why wasn't I selected to participate in a particular Tryology Program?: We do our best to get as many members involved in each Tryology Program as we can, however, sometimes product availability is limited. There are two main reasons why you may not have been selected for a program. The first is that you didn't meet the qualification standards set by the sponsor and second would be that the program was full by the time you responded to our invitation.

What can I do to qualify for more Tryology Programs?: Keep your profile information up to date. The more we know about you, they better we'll be at matching you with Tryology Programs that you may qualify for in the future. This includes telling us about your hobbies and interests as well as completing surveys that go out from time to time.

How will I know if I qualified for a Tryology Program?: You will receive an email notification from Expo letting you know that you qualified for a specific Tryology Program which will give you directions on how to confirm your interest and lock in your spot in the upcoming program.

What if I don't want to participate in a Tryology Program that I get invited to?: We hope that you'll be interested in trying the free product and reviewing it, but we understand if you would like to decline a program. Simply click "No Thanks" on the invitation on your profile page. Don't worry, this won't affect you from getting invited to future programs.

Do members get points for participating in a Tryology Program?: No, we never offer incentives as a thank you for trying new products. This is so that we can maintain the authentic, unbiased opinions that we've cultivated within our community. For any word of mouth to be credible it needs to be voluntary.

Do I get to keep the products that I receive?: Of course -- the products are all yours to keep!

What if I don't like the product that I receive?: That's ok - we don't expect that every product will please everyone. Both Expo and the brand wants to see your video review of the product regardless of your opinion of it.

What if I'm not able to make a review once I've received the product?: Part of your accepting to be part of a Tryology program is that you agree to upload a video review in exchange for receiving the free product. We ask that you do not accept a program invitation if you know in advance that you will not be able to make a video review of the product. Members who do not upload a review of the product after receiving a Tryology kit will not be considered for future Tryology programs. This is so that we ensure we send the products to as many people who are willing and able to make a review as possible. If you are having trouble uploading your Tryology review, please fill out our Contact Us form.

Why do I have to sign a Confidentiality Agreement to participate in some Tryology Programs but not others?: Some Tryology Programs will be for products that have yet to hit the market. That means you are trying a product before anyone else in the country knows about it. For programs like this, we ask members to sign a confidentiality agreement to ensure that you'll keep your participation a secret -- no talking about it with others (in person or online) until the product is available to the general public.

Rewards/Points

How do I earn points?: You can earn points by doing all sorts of activities on Expo, including taking surveys, uploading videos, referring friends, and more. Learn more about which activities earn you points when you click here: http://www.expotv.com/rewards

How often will Expo invite me to participate in assignments that earn points?: We'll always have new assignments coming out, so you can expect to see several invitations each month.

What are points worth?: Points can be redeemed for all sorts of cool items in the Expo Store. While points do have actual monetary value, we do not disclose what each point is worth.

Do points expire?: Yes - points do expire after 12 months of inactivity on a member account. To ensure that your points don't expire, it's best to stay active on the site by answering questions that visitors ask about products you've reviewed, uploading videos, applying for Tryology programs, taking surveys, and more.

When do I receive points for participating in assignments?: Points will be added to your account as soon as the activity has been completed - with the exception of uploading videos. You will receive points for your video as soon as the video is approved and published to our site.

Does Expo award points for reviews of any product?: We welcome and encourage members to submit reviews of any and all products. While we can't award points for all reviews, we have a monthly sweepstakes that gives members a chance to win a big prize for their contributions. Learn more: http://www.expotv.com/rewards

How will I know if I earned points for my video?: You can visit the "Points" tab on your profile to find out whether the points have been awarded to your account.

What do I do if my point amounts are missing or incomplete for an activity?: Please fill out our Contact Us form and include specific details regarding the issue with your points. We'll look into it for you!

How do I redeem my points?: Visit the Expo Store to redeem your points for all sorts of cool stuff. Redeeming your points is simple -- it's just like shopping on any other website -- but better because you don't have to use your credit card! Just add items to your cart and then check out!

How often can I redeem points?: Whenever you'd like. As long as you have enough points to cash in for the item you want, feel free to redeem away!

Can E-certificate orders be canceled?: No, we are sorry, but e-certificate orders cannot be canceled due to the same day processing schedule.

When will I receive my E-certificate?: Fulfillment should occur within a week of placing your order. If e-certificates are unavailable, your order will remain pending until the e-certificate can be fulfilled.

Where will I receive my E-certificate?: All e-certificates will be sent via email to the email address listed in your profile at the time the order is placed.

Can gift card or product orders be canceled?: Gift card and product orders can only be canceled within 48 hours form the time the order was placed.

When will I receive my order?: Physical merchandise and gift cards will generally be delivered within 3-4 weeks for sites located in the continental US. For Non-US sites, items will be delivered within 4-6 weeks from order date, unless otherwise specified in the Expo Store. Truck-shipped and specialty items are generally delivered within 6-8 weeks from order date, unless otherwise specified in the Expo Store.

Where will I receive my order?: All merchandise will be delivered to the shipping address specified at the time the order is placed. NOTE: Orders may ship only to physical addresses. Orders cannot deliver to P.O., A.P.O., or F.P.O. boxes.

Will I have to pay taxes on rewards I earn using Expo points?: All businesses are required by law to send a 1099 to any individual who is paid $600 or more in cash and/or goods during a calendar year. Therefore, any member who is paid in excess of $600 through the disbursement of cash and goods will have a 1099 filed on his or her behalf. Goods are composed of but not limited to gift certificates and merchandise. Please note that Expo does not provide tax advice. Members should consult with their own tax advisors and they (not Expo) are solely responsible for any tax, tax penalties, or interest related to their tax returns.

What is a 1099 form and what information does it include?: A 1099 is an IRS form that businesses (like Expo) send to individuals (like our members) to indicate how much they've been paid by that company during a calendar year. Expo also has to file a copy of the 1099 with the IRS. The main pieces of information included on the 1099 are the amount of money paid, the recipient's name, address, and Social Security number. To gather this information, Expo sends W-9 forms to any member who has received $600 or more within a calendar year. We will notify the member when a W-9 form must be submitted. Please note that until the member returns the W-9 form, no additional points will able to be redeemed by that member within the Expo store. As always, we will never use a member's personal information for anything other than Expo related business. Please note that Expo does not provide tax advice. Members should consult with their own tax advisors and they (not Expo) are solely responsible for any tax, tax penalties, or interest related to their tax returns.

Why are some of my points pending?: Points are held in 'pending' status for 1 week after they are earned. This is so that Expo staff has adequate time to moderate your video uploads and other activities and make sure that our community standards are being met. After the 1 week is up, your pending points will become available for you to redeem for rewards in the Expo Store.

What if I don't receive my order confirmation email?: We send order confirmations through Perks, our rewards fulfillment company. The order confirmation emails are sent from OrderConfirmation@perks.com. To ensure that you receive your order confirmation in your inbox instead of your spam folder, please add OrderConfirmation@perks.com to your safe sender list.

Why am I being asked to log in to PerksPlus when I try to access the EXPO store?: The third party redemption program that we use for redeeming points uses cookies. In order to access the store, you will need to configure your browser to accept cookies from 3rd parties. Firefox and Internet Explorer allow 3rd party cookies by default so most people do not have this issue if they use these browsers. Safari however does not have this checked by default so most Safari users will see the login page.

To allow your browser to accept 3rd party cookies, find your browser and follow the instructions below:

Safari
Go to Safari > Preferences > Security
Under "Select Cookies" to Always and close the window

For Firefox 3.0
Go to Tool > Options > Privacy
Then check the box that says "Accept third party cookies" and click OK

For Firefox 3.5
Go to Tool > Options > Privacy and select "Use custom settings for history"
Then check the box that says "Accept third party cookies" and click OK

Internet Explorer 7 and 8
Go to Tools > Internet Options > Privacy
Then move your security bar to the bottom that says "Accept All Cookies" and click OK

Membership

Can people viewing my profile see any of my personal information?: Your full name, home address, and demographic info such as how many children you have and what your household income will NEVER be displayed publicly on Expo. We do however display your home state on your public profile.

Is my personal information shared with Expo's clients or partners?: From time to time we may share personal information with a third party including but not limited to first name, last initial, city and state of residence, selected interests, or date of birth but will not include last name, or direct contact information such as email, street address or telephone number. Most of the time your personal info is used simply to help us find the assignments and Tryology Programs that are right for you. We never sell your personally identifiably information to third parties. To see our full Privacy Policy, click here: http://www.expotv.com/legal/privacy_policy

How do I update my profile and account settings?: Log in, and then visit your profile by clicking on your username in the upper right corner. From there, click 'Settings' and you can fill in info about yourself, such as full name, address, and some personal information like your marital status and how many children you have. All information collected is in accordance with our Privacy Policy. This information is collected to help us match you with various programs and offers.

How do I change my profile picture?: Visit your Profile, and then click on the "Settings" tab. On the left side click "Public Home" and you will be taken to a page where you can select and upload a profile image that will display next to your username throughout the site.

Why should I link my Expo and Facebook accounts?: Linking your accounts allows you to promote and share the activities you do on Expo with your friends on Facebook. Let all your Facebook friends know what you've been up to on Expo!

What does it mean when you log into the Expo site with your Facebook username and password?: When you log into Expo using your Facebook login, you'll be able to post comments on videos and use our 'Ask An Owner' feature to ask questions about products that our members have reviewed. However if you want to get access to free products and participate in our rewards program, you'll need to become a full Expo member by signing up here (it's free to join!): http://www.expotv.com/register

How can I delete or remove my account?: Unfortunately, there is no way for members to delete their account. Please fill out the Contact Us form if you have a question regarding this policy.

What should I do when I join?: Complete your profile - you'll earn points just for doing so! Plus, giving us info about yourself will help us send more offers your way. Then jump in and make a video - you'll earn a ton of points just for making your first video!

Can I tell friends about Expo?: Absolutely! You'll earn points for referring friends to Expo, and you'll earn even more points when your friends upload their first video to Expo. Visit this page for details on how to refer friends to Expo: http://www.expotv.com/refer_a_friend

I registered on the site but am having problems logging in.: If you just joined Expo, you need to confirm your registration by clicking on the link included in the welcome email that we send you after signing up. If you don't receive the welcome email shortly after registering, check your spam or junk folder. If you still haven't received it after several hours, send an email directly from the email address that you used to register on Expo to contactus@expotv.com.

Can I join Expo if I do not live in the United States?: Unfortunately, due to legal reasons, we do not currently accept video submissions from non-U.S. residents.

How old do you have to be to join Expo?: You must be at least 18 years of age to submit videos. However, if you are the parent or legal guardian of someone 13 years of age or older, that person may appear in the videos you submit under your account.

How do I remove an invitation from my profile if I don't want to participate?: To remove an invitation, you can decline it by clicking the "See Details" button, and then clicking "No thanks" on the window that pops up.

Uploading

How do I upload a video review of a product that I haven't been asked specifically to review?: Toward the bottom of your Video Queue, you'll see a section where you can upload reviews of products that aren't tied to an assignment. Click the 'Find Products' button and you'll be able to search for the product you'd like to review from there.

How do I add products to my video queue?: Each member has their very own Video Queue to manage assignments and upload videos. When you accept a Tryology Program or video assignment, it will appear in your queue. You may also add products to your queue that you would like to review in the future - a 'to-do' list of sorts.

Can I upload more than one video at a time?: You sure can! Our enhanced uploading system allows for members to upload multiple videos at a time.

What kinds of video formats or files do you accept?: We accept any of these video formats: WMV, MPG, MP4, MOV or AVI. Files cannot exceed 100MB in size. In addition, please use standard video codecs and encode the video to a 320x240 pixel window size.

How do I keep my videos under 100MB in size? What should I do if my file doesn't upload?: Check your file size to make sure it's not over 100MB. You may also need to try using software other than the software that came with your camera. We encourage you to edit and compress your videos with programs such as Windows Movie Maker (included with every Windows installation), or Apple iMovie (included on new Macs), that allow you to compress your videos for web streaming. Also, by opening your video file with one of these programs and then saving it as a .avi, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv, or .mov file, you should be able to upload your video.

What do the different video statuses that show up in my profile mean?

When you log onto ExpoTV.com, you can check on the status of your uploaded videos by going to your profile and then clicking on the "Videos" tab, then the "Uploaded Videos link". This will bring up a list of videos that you have uploaded and will tell you the status of each video. The statuses change depending where the video is at in the process. You may see your video in one of the following statuses:

Received - Successful upload; video is waiting to be converted to FLV (Flash) format.
Pending - Successful upload; has converted to Flash; is waiting to be screened by Expo.
Approved - Successful upload; has been screened and published to ExpoTV.com.
Video Error - Video did not process correctly. The most common reason for this is because the video format or codec you used is not compatible with our video processing system.
Duplicate - Video is a duplicate of another one you uploaded.
Declined - Video contained content that violated our Member Terms and Conditions. If you have further questions about a declined video, please fill out the Contact Us form.

How can I fix my videos that are out of sync?: Out-of-sync audio and video is usually the result of using a codec that our system doesn't support. We recommend saving your video file in Windows Movie Maker if you have a PC, or Apple iMovie if you have a Mac. If your product review's audio and video are still out of sync, you can try re-encoding it with a different codec.