Are there any Honest reviewers these days?

[DavidAmonettNashville]

I noticed on Todds Facebook page that he'd posted an email from a new juice company, Four Foggers, where they'd offered money via paypal for reviews. I then looked on youtube and everyone and their brother had just put up a review. Seems more than a coincidence to me. Many newer reviewers are angry with Todd and Mark fagan stated that Todd was just stirring the pot and Todd should have kept the email to himself. I think the whole thing stinks to high heaven but I wonder how others feel about this type of " review "?

 

[Douggro]

Falls in the same range as astroturfing reviews on sites. Sending product asking for a review is one thing, and a perfectly fine practice IMO. Offering to pay for the review falls in the category of "paid advertising" unless the reviewer discloses that info as part of the review. Having payment involved adds bias.

Integrity for sale. Who's buying?

 

[Asbestos4004]

I think your post answered your own question. Some are honest, some aren't. A few years ago, it made sense to watch a review when trying to determine what would work for you. There weren't many options and chances were, the reviewer was showing something he recently PURCHASED.
Now, it's become a business. People are trying to get free stuff and make money. I don't fault them for that. I made a comment in the rip tripper thread that said basically, ALL vape reviewers are clowns to some extent. They sit alone in a room and film themselves talking about vape gear. Most of them are trying to avoid a real job, these days. Fagan, to me, is the whiniest, least credible and most annoying in the lot. He cried when he didn't receive a box of Rafael tanks when the big name reviewers did. He claimed he put UWell on the map. Ummmm....OK.
I take what any reviewer says with a grain of salt but I tend to believe Todd, Phil and Scott.

 

[Steamix]

Considering that about two thirds of the content of any newsmedia comes from PR or 'placement' or 'content provider' agencies, I nowadays question the content as much as the source and the messenger too.
Spin doctoring, public opinion shaping, seen plenty enough of that - especially when it comes to vaping in general.

For me - and that applies to me only - watching juice reviews on YT would be a total waste of time:
First because I DIY. Second because my tastebuds and preferences are different from anyone else's tastebuds and preferences.
Sure, commerical juice makers try to make complex flavours that - they hope - appeal to the broadest possible customer base. I could be sitting on the mostest bestest fantaticest juice recipe for all I know, which I discarded cuz it didn't tickle MY tastebuds. Same can be said from every other DIY'er out there too.
One provider, one reviewer, one viewer ...all rolled into one person when it comes to DIY.

I do believe that opinions are more honest from folk who shelled out their own hard-earned dosh for anything thy're commenting on. No 'sponsors' to suck up to ( unless SO holds the purse strings , no glossing over the facts. With my own money spent on it ( on anything ); I'm perfectly to free to call it crap or the next best thing since sliced bread. I don't owe and my opnion isn't 'owned' or 'rented'

I reckon the Todd 'n Mark 'familiy' still needs to learn a lot about subtlety . Bear in mind though, the slope from subtle to sleazy is a slippery one

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

Seems like so many newer reviewers get into it saying it's for the love of vaping and then start complaining about lack of compensation. An inflated sense of self importance run amok if you asked me. Yeah Fagan whines constantly. They're all annoying really....edit: *these new guys that is*

 

[Baditude]

For me - and that applies to me only - watching juice reviews on YT would be a total waste of time:
... because my tastebuds and preferences are different from anyone else's tastebuds and preferences.
Sure, commerical juice makers try to make complex flavours that - they hope - appeal to the broadest possible customer base. I could be sitting on the mostest bestest fantaticest juice recipe for all I know, which I discarded cuz it didn't tickle MY tastebuds.

Taste preferences are totally subjective. That's why I don't watch online flavor reviews or spend much time in the E-Liquid Sub-Forum. For me, its a waste of time.

I still enjoy watching PBusardo review hardware. I believe he's honest and does a very thorough (some say TOO thorough) review with pro's & con's.

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

Just find one that doesn't get into the BS drama and shows you the product clearly....it is your job to make up your own mind if something is good for you or not, not the reviewers

 

[sofarsogood]

Then there's the problem of what's the definition of honest? I watch the youtube reviewers to see stuff in somebody's hands and being used. I might learn more if I turned the sound off. Usually the best opinion of a product is from someone who paid their own money and used it for a while. But then they still need to separate their preferences from the product so people with different priorities can decide for themselves.

I could be a reviewer. I'd make one video that might last 20 minutes and have most of the tips and tricks I've figured out in the past 16 months. Most of it would be about practices, not products. I'd comment on the products I use and why I prefer them. If you vape like me my preferences might be more relevent than if you don't. Then a year might go by before I've got new interesting things to talk about because I don't buy that much stuff. That's the best kind of review but you'll never find that guy because he only made one video.

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

I just wonder how prevalent the PayPal pay2play review thing actually is nowadays?

 

[supertrunker]

i think we all know who the honest ones are because they are not trying to sell their own juice, atty, mod, batteries, etc on the side.

i might take some notice of hardware reviews, but not juice reviews - i'm more likely to be interested in scientific tests of juice especially after all the AP scares.

T

 

[Ablonz]

Real honesty would come from people willing to give or "sponsor" a person regardless if they like the product or not and the willingness to accept the review. Like mentioned above, taste is subjective on juice for everyone. No exceptions there.

 

[WattWick]

Taste preferences are totally subjective. That's why I don't watch online flavor reviews or spend much time in the E-Liquid Sub-Forum. For me, its a waste of time.

I still enjoy watching PBusardo review hardware. I believe he's honest and does a very thorough (some say TOO thorough) review with pro's & con's.

Taste is not only highly subjective. It also seems very much based on preconceived notions (AKA feelery and bull).

http://io9.gizmodo.com/wine-tasting-is-bull....-heres-why-496098276

 

[sofarsogood]

Taste is not only highly subjective. It also seems very much based on preconceived notions (AKA feelery and bull).

http://io9.gizmodo.com/wine-tasting-is-bull....-heres-why-496098276

I've been doing diy. A good way to start is make an unflavored mix with your usual percent of nic and dilute a pre mix you like. A brother of mine is diluting his pre mix 50-50 and says it tastes the same. I have diluted pre mix to 25-75 and still get good flavor. I use a stand alone flavor at 1% and the taste is good. See, nobody is ever going to send me liquid to review because I would say dilute it a bunch to save money.

May be what will happen in Chicago is the shops will sell 24 mg liquid with extra favor and you take it home and cut it down to your nic level and you've bashed the hell out of the stupid tax.

 

[roxynoodle]

I can't imagine doing or watching a juice review. Way too subjective.

 

[herb]

They recently had a thread on "Reddit" about reviewers and not surprisingly most said they would have no problem "selling out" for the right type or amount of compensation.

I said at least your honest because it's so rare these days , tell me the truth straight up and you will earn my respect. Most do not tell the truth because they are so terrified of offending somebody.

I understand that but to be a respected and trusted reviewer you cannot under any circumstances be afraid to offend people . If you tell the truth your going to offend people , there's no getting around that .

Never tell people what they want to hear if it's not true , yes, you will get your a_ _ kicked when you get asked the inevitable " does my .... look big in these jeans" but she will eventually appreciate the honesty.

 

[supertrunker]

" does my .... look big in these jeans" but she will eventually appreciate the honesty.

You're on your own there. Try 'no they look big in ALL jeans'. I'm not on my first marriage.

T

 

[roxynoodle]

A smart woman would not ask in the first place.

Plus she knows if she has a big .... or not.

 

[Colin Bissessar]

A smart woman would not ask in the first place.

Plus she knows if she has a big .... or not.

The question has nothing to do with her ......... it's a test of how you will answer.

 

[herb]

A smart woman would not ask in the first place.

Plus she knows if she has a big .... or not.

Then why do they ask , to hope you slip up and say "yes, it looks very large actually " so they can open a can of whoop a _ _ on you ?

 

[crxess]

I think I don't understand the ops concerns............

Reviewers are either honest or not and people will either follow them blindly, with a grain of Salt, or not.

When I hear a Reviewer retort EVERY new Device as his Favorite to Date(hi Rip) I tend to tune out the garbage and Watch for the good/bad.

E-liquid reviews are useless and only New Vapers will hope to get anything helpful out of them.

Showing a Manufacturer wants to Buy a good review...............Back Bone.
Whining about a stand up Decision...........Spineless.



* I still hold many reviewers accountable for a False panic over the Cloupor mini.
1) Raging about Mod fires........No actual Fires(beyond a few bic sized flickers upon popping the battery cover off)
2) Screaming Recall was in order


Note - Approximately 50 units out of Tens of Thousands had a incorrect IC melt down. The other Tens of thousands were perfectly okay. I still own and use one from the Batch

GRAIN of SALT