Anyone else HATE video reviews? (Rant)

[Josh the Happy]

If you have experience being in front of a REAL camera, or speaking in front of people go for it, (and aren't just sitting at your computer desk with a crappy webcam with crappy lighting) and at least write yourself a script -or list of talking points. One out of maybe fifty people on-line have the voice for this type of thing. (That's being rather generous in my opinion.)
Remember: you don't have to upload the first take.
I've always hated watching amateurs give their opinion on the net. (in general not just here)
If you are showing how something operates, or is assembled etc, that makes sense to show a video, again scripting or rehearsing is always a good plan.
I'm not dissing people that enjoy making videos, (well not all of them) just put a little more effort into what you are doing. I've seen some high quality videos on this site, they actually put effort into making them, they looked clean, didn't ramble, and spoke clearly so I'm not dissing everyone. I just think people need to put more effort into it to make it watchable. Effort does not include title screens and music, it's just your opinion - it doesn't need it's own logo and them song.
I prefer to get my info reading; but just some pointers.
LowThudd sums it up well:

I don't watch them. My problem is that the video reviews are becoming more common than writen reviews, which leaves me wanting for info that I can't get except by watching a video that I don't want to see. Like I said, maybe this can be taken as constructive criticism. I would hate to see the writen word be replaced entirely by poorly made, subjective videos.

 

[cozzicon]

Hey! Not all review videos are equal.
Have you seen RavenVapes spoof on reviews?

YouTube - RavenVapesReview8-21-10.mov

Classic. LMAO.

 

[bassnut]

Classic. LMAO.

The video was made by Liam Lynch. (RavenVapes5V510)
I had been confusing him with Liam Sullivan.

 

[thephoenix]

Unless you're making instructional how-to videos just for your home page..

that's it exactly...mostly for new users...

 

[Shan B]

I have done a little over 80 Reviews. I would NEVER write mine, script mine or do anything that would seem "fake" in my eyes. Truth comes out of things when someone is just rambling or giving their 2 cents. I know this post is old, but I felt it should be bumped again because I've gotten a lot of support from fellow vapers, as well as people who still smoke.

I make mine for noobs, for ammies, and for pros. DIYs, Premix Reviews, Stupid mods I've made, etc. I may not have the greatest voice, face, and some people may have trouble telling I'm a chick, but hey... I feel I'm doing a lot to help people know what's up with things.

I'm sorry some people feel they would rather read words. When I 1st started doing my reviews here @ ECF they were text posts, might have gotten 2 - 3 bumps a week. With my video reviews I can post them WHERE I want, as well as get the views I need to push me to keep doing them.

So when more people decide to get into more "text" reviews, maybe I'll do both, but for now, my heart is with the camera.

For anyone who's interested in the effort I put forth, check me out on Youtube. ShanBurkholder

You should also check out Liam's latest vids, you'd be surprised

 

[clyde2801]

Like a written review, it depends on how well the video was made. Love the parody earlier in the thread; it's a regular what not to do in making a video review.

Besides having a face made for radio, I like writing reviews because of the luxury of having time to think about what you're going to write before its posted. It allows for getting a lot of information down, arguably more than a video can come up with due to the 10 minute you tube time limit.

That said, there's some really good video reviews out there... grimmgreen and igetcha69's reviews were instrumental in helping me choose my first mods. They're concise, entertaining and informative. I've seen a couple of reviews where the camera was primarily focused on the mod rather than the reviewer, with the latter primarily providing a narrative.

Some people access and retain information better by reading, others by watching or listening. Good thing both types of reviews are out there on the forum.

 

[otrpu]

we're in the middle of putting together some video demos for our products...

now you have me all nervous that we're going to get boos! i promise the production value will be top notch...does that count?

__________________________

Far too many video reviews are done by people with no training or experience. Too many are poorly lighted. And love the black object on a black background. I don't care for your music selection, it's usually too loud and competes with your verbiage describing facts I want to hear. Or, your pet whatever squawking in the background/foreground. Many talk too fast and you really have trouble figuring out what they are saying. Most pro's do dress rehearsals, I imagine it rare for a video reviewer to go through that process. Well, they are what they are, but many could be so much more. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

 

[rogerdugans]

I have never watched a juice review video.

I have watched some nOOb videos and quite a few hardware videos for/about mods.
Also watched some great parody videos, the CrapBox being a recent favorite.

But I gotta say this is one of the things that I like about teh intarwebs: plenty of content out there for everyone.
Don't like juice review videos? Don't watch 'em.
Can't find a written review of a given juice?
Ask for opinions in the vendor area.

Of course, these are just my opinions and in no way should they be taken to indicate that I think there is anything wrong with a good rant.

 

[Mac]

Not interested in reviews of any kind. I am only interested in samples.

 

[xg4bx]

i don't trust any reviews where the reviewer got the item for free.

i only go by user reviews, i expect honesty from people who actually opened their wallet and bought the item. ted smith from spokane, who spent a chunk of his paycheck on a pv, has no ulterior motive or reason to screw me.

this community is still small so i get a feeling of shenanigans and you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours from the "rockstar" reviewers. i'm only human, if someone sent me a $200 mod for free you'd better believe i'd kiss their ...., it's human nature.

 

[clyde2801]

I'm not a rockstar, but I was into the reviewing business as a hobby for a while when the 3rd gens first started coming out. I wrote about the mods I bought, and some modders and suppliers provided me with review units of their vapes, which I donate upon completing the reviews.

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I've found all the modders and suppliers to be very honest and reputable in their dealings with me. At no time did any of them expect anything but an honest opinion, period. Most welcomed the feedback, even when it wasn't terribly complimentary. At no time was any 'quid pro quo' express or implied.

User reviews are great, but purchasers can be biased about what they bought. No one likes to admit that the mod they bought sucked or was a waste of money.

Lack of perspective and experience can be another problem with user reviews. New, clever and innovative mods are coming out every day, and they're not cheap. If someone is writing about their first or second PV, great...but I'll probably only use that information if I'm considering buying a mod for a new vaper. It's the oldtimers and veterans that have been around the block a few times with several mods that I pay attention to now: if someone who owns a chuck, GGTS, Ali, etc., steps forward and says, "Wow, I've tried this new [...] and it's great!", I'll notice. The modders want this sort of expertise, too.

Expecting someone to spend all of their money buying mods and all of their time writing about them is a little unreasonable. Trying three or four mods at the same time and writing about them is a fair amount of work. But honesty is the biggest asset that a reviewer has.

Just my two cents.

 

[Distorted.Clarity]

i like video reviews if they are short and to the point, not a lot of ummms ahhhhhs and have a bit of humor. similar to the one i did on the casing mark did for me over at vt. however i did use umm and ahh a few times.
maybe this is more your speed for video reviews. he doesn't sell them so this isn't a plug for his mod.
YouTube - Mark Mod - The Rook with Jolly Guts.

 

[lightbeast]

i agree as far as juice reviews go make it short to the point than show the vapor production, i dont need to hear 10 min of you complimenting the company that obviously sponsors you.

 

[Distorted.Clarity]

i don't really think that showing the vapor is even needed.
let them know what its like, what % the pg/vg is and how it taste on carto and atty.
like the ry4 i have. in an atty its way to sweet. in a carto its perfect. due to cartos giving less flavor.

 

[xg4bx]

i have to say that i do enjoy unboxing videos, whether they're ecigs, a new video game console, anything really. yes, they're fairly pointless but i just dig them for some reason.

 

[GrimmGreen]

i guess you can't please all the people all the time, I have no problem with people disliking video reviews, to each is own, some people retain information better from reading, or talking, or listening, or viewing. Everyone is different. After 2 solid years of doing videos myself i have come to the conclusion that no matter what, people will have something negative to say about someone or something. People on youtube are putting themselves "out there" it's an incredibly vulnerable feeling uploading a video where someone has the potential to hurt you by being mean or inconsiderate.

we say things online that we would NEVER say to someone in real life, i can't even count how many negative and downright rude comments and PM's i have revived over the last few years. I continue to upload videos simply to help out, because for every degrading or angry PM or comment, there is someone saying "thank you for helping me out" and THAT is why i do it.

i have no intention of being a celebrity, or a internet "rockstar". The bottom line is that these devices SAVE LIVES, and as many people should know about them as possible, weather you want to nit pick reviewers or not, they ARE helping people get away from tobacco, and just because they do not cater to your particular style, doesn't mean that they are not helping someone else that really needs it. I respect anyone that can get on camera and put themselves out there, because i know that vulnerable feeling that comes along with it.

i don't trust any reviews where the reviewer got the item for free.

i only go by user reviews, i expect honesty from people who actually opened their wallet and bought the item. ted smith from spokane, who spent a chunk of his paycheck on a pv, has no ulterior motive or reason to screw me.

this community is still small so i get a feeling of shenanigans and you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours from the "rockstar" reviewers. i'm only human, if someone sent me a $200 mod for free you'd better believe i'd kiss their ...., it's human nature.

i almost completely disagree with everything you said, With all due respect. I feel the complete opposite way.

i feel that someone is more inclined to give a better review to something they have invested money in, rather than something that is essentially worthless.

if someone spends $200 on a mod, they are more likely to say things like "its not that bad" or "i can work with this" because they just shelled out $200 for it, does that make sense.

where as if someone gets a $200 mod for free, it has no value to them. They didn't spend the money on it, they have no vested interest in the product, so it's much easier to be honest.

there is not a reviewer that i know of, that has ever given a good review to a crappy product in order to get more free crappy products.

thanks for your time

 

[cozzicon]

i guess you can't please all the people all the time, I have no problem with people disliking video reviews, to each is own, some people retain information better from reading, or talking, or listening, or viewing. Everyone is different. After 2 solid years of doing videos myself i have come to the conclusion that no matter what, people will have something negative to say about someone or something. People on youtube are putting themselves "out there" it's an incredibly vulnerable feeling uploading a video where someone has the potential to hurt you by being mean or inconsiderate.

we say things online that we would NEVER say to someone in real life, i can't even count how many negative and downright rude comments and PM's i have revived over the last few years. I continue to upload videos simply to help out, because for every degrading or angry PM or comment, there is someone saying "thank you for helping me out" and THAT is why i do it.

i have no intention of being a celebrity, or a internet "rockstar". The bottom line is that these devices SAVE LIVES, and as many people should know about them as possible, weather you want to nit pick reviewers or not, they ARE helping people get away from tobacco, and just because they do not cater to your particular style, doesn't mean that they are not helping someone else that really needs it. I respect anyone that can get on camera and put themselves out there, because i know that vulnerable feeling that comes along with it.



i almost completely disagree with everything you said, With all due respect. I feel the complete opposite way.

i feel that someone is more inclined to give a better review to something they have invested money in, rather than something that is essentially worthless.

if someone spends $200 on a mod, they are more likely to say things like "its not that bad" or "i can work with this" because they just shelled out $200 for it, does that make sense.

where as if someone gets a $200 mod for free, it has no value to them. They didn't spend the money on it, they have no vested interest in the product, so it's much easier to be honest.

there is not a reviewer that i know of, that has ever given a good review to a crappy product in order to get more free crappy products.

thanks for your time

Dude, that's a really harsh shotgun blast. I know you take a lot of crap sometimes because you are "notable" in the community... but come on.

Insulting people who buy what they review, or questioning their integrity just isn't right. Especially since the people who review stuff they have bought haven't criticized *you* (at least that I've seen). And I've certainly never thought badly of you.

Maybe I'm misreading your intent. But I just don't take myself that seriously and certainly do not expect anyone else to. I don't take free stuff, don't take money, and don't care what people think.

What I care about, is the once a week or so e-mail I get from someone who says "I don't smoke because of your videos" or "You were spot on with this review".

Isn't that more important than the subtleties of an e-cig reviewer's methodology?

I think so anyway. It's vaping that is important. Not the reviewers or how they do it.

 

[MuddyWaterMan]

O.K I do watch some reviews and have watched several juice reviews. For the most part they ARE too long but no biggie. The only true comment I have is PLEASE for the love of GOD quit telling me " wow this chocolate e-juice taste JUST LIKE CHOCOLATE". Really? No kidding? I just sat through a 10 minute juice review for a flashback to the original Willy Wonka? I would be more shocked if it DIDN'T taste like what it said. Now for some of the off flavors I could understand being surprised, like ribs or jerky..... any meat flavor really. However the tried and true flavors that everyone sells should really not be a shock that they taste like what is written on the side of the bottle! Anyway I am happy for the most part when people put themselves out there I just have that one little pet peeve. O.K rant off soap box stored please enjoy the rest of your web surfing experience and have a wonderful day!




Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

 

[suddenly]

Reviews on e-liquid are the most bizarre of them all.

 

[Poker Face]

I don't like them. They're waaaay too long and the sound is usually very bad.