Reviewing a dozen of anything at the same time is generally a nightmare.

Tech journos might get to play with cool toys, but mostly the life of a product reviewer is far less glamorous than it might seem. Testing one product can be tricky enough, but testing a bunch of them can drive you mad - especially when you're dealing with bleeding edge technology.

In ten years of tech reviewing, the last five as a freelancer, I've learned a few things about group product tests (also known as a "Round-Up"). As I settled in this week to run a group test of Android smartphones, I started to post a few words of warning on Twitter, using the hashtag #ShitIveLearnedTheHardWay. Colleagues soon jumped in with their pearls of wisdom. Our musings quickly grew into quite a long list of advice which I thought people might find of interest. I know it would have helped me along my way when I was first starting out.

Round-Up Rule 1: Group tests are more trouble than they're worth, that's why editors outsource them

Round-Up Rule 2: Know when to say no to a group test commission, and which editors are good to work with

Round-Up Rule 3: @David_Neiger Don't test heavy or bulky products (eg. printers, large screen TVs) unless you love your physio

Round-Up Rule 4: Read the brief carefully & plan ahead. Reread brief as you go - aloud if necessary

Round-Up Rule 5: Allow at least week for all gear to arrive, despite promises from vendors/PR/couriers

Round-Up Rule 6: Pay mbe.com.au to deal with couriers, to avoid #PunchCourierInTheFace (the @alexkidman clause)

Round-Up Rule 6a: @alexkidman At least 1 product will be sent to the publication rather than you. The heaviest one (Freelancer sub-clause)

Round-Up Rule 6b: @David_Neiger Products sent to the publication will disappear from the planet only to re-emerge after deadline

Round-Up Rule 6c: Stuff sent to mag will disappear forever, or be stolen in transit (with @coaten)

Round-Up Rule 7: If one in a million are DOA, you'll get that one

Round-Up Rule 8: @alexkidman Expect cables and other important stuff to be missing

Round-Up Rule 9: Expect gear to turn up with only US power plugs

Round-Up Rule 10: Clear a dedicated work space ie. not the kitchen table

Round-Up Rule 11: Allow extra time, clear yr schedule & don't leave complicated stuff til last

Round-Up Rule 12: Photograph the contents of every box before you start

Round-Up Rule 13: Get right tools for job - don't be afraid to spend $$ on gear that makes life easier

Round-Up Rule 14: Cheap powerboards r like dodgy mates - keep plenty around but don't rely on them

Round-Up Rule 15: Take lots of notes, including logins & passwords - and keep notes forever

Round-Up Rule 15a: @alexkidman If someone else set the password, try "Password" and "VendorName" first.

Round-Up Rule 16: NEVER assume you know everything, plus don't take the vendor/PR's word on anything

Round-Up Rule 17: Network-locked gear is a pain in the arse

Round-Up Rule 17a: @neerav Demand SIMs for every phone

Round-Up Rule 18: Battery tests are a pain - be methodical and double-check b4 walking away for 24 hrs

Round-Up Rule 19: Don't get cocky - if it all seems too easy, you've probably missed something important

Round-Up Rule 20: If y'r gettin friend to help, hope they don't have bad reaction to meds & need hospital- slows u down #TrueStory

Round-Up Rule 21: Feature tables are a pain in the arse and take longer than you think

Round-Up Rule 22: @alexkidman High Res product photos will take 4x longer to source than most product tests actually take

Round-Up Rule 22b: Good product photography is harder than it looks, don't do it unless you know your shit

Round-Up Rule 23: When u start seeing compression artifacts & 3D crosstalk whilst driving to shops, y'r in "the zone"

Round-Up Rule 24: You always go through that moment of panic when all seems lost - learn to deal with it

Round-Up Rule 25: @David_Neiger No matter what you do, one or more vendors will end up screaming to the editor

Round-Up Rule 26: @David_Neiger Vendors have no clue where products are - you'll be asked to return gear already sent or never received

Round-Up Rule 27: @David_Neiger The return satchel supplied by a PR will never be big enough to fit the product #itstrue

Round-Up Rule 28: @alexkidman At least 3 new replacement products will come out the day your story goes live. Learn to love it.

Round-Up Rule 29: Don't get sucked into Twitter when you should be working