YouTube "reviews" (rant)

[bikerbeagle]

I don't know how this rant is going to go over well because I'm not going to provide any real details for identification, but ...

I was searching online the other day for reviews of a vaping product I am interested in, came across a YouTube "review" by - let's just say - someone who is well-known in the community for recommending products (and they give the impression like they 'use' all the products they recommend) ...and it was the WORST review I'd ever seen. This person had CLEARLY never even laid eyes on the product they were 'reviewing' before the camera was turned on, all the while using statements like "I use this all the time" or "it's my go-to device when I'm going out", with lots of wrong information and, at one point, even reading directly from the box. Looking back, it may have been quite funny as a comedy routine ...if it wasn't so bad (and so sad). I haven't been able to seriously consider any of this person's 'recommendations' since then.

There's the old saying, "If it's on the internet, it MUST be true!" - a fallacy that I admit I fell for. There are some 'trusted' sources in reviews, but even most of those aren't truly 'unbiased' even if they claim to not get paid to endorse a product. A lot of them get the products for free (especially if they typically review a large variety of different devices) and get to keep them if they do the review ...sorry, that's 'payment'. Just be careful out there. Do your own research and don't let anyone tell you what to buy.

 

[kuritaro9]

i dont pay much attention to youtube reviews. seems to me that most people are doing them for A- free product or B - deeply discounted product.

i generally, go by a lot of different peoples descriptions of the flavors they get, and try to make an educated guess of if i am going to like them or not.sometimes i win and sometimes i get a big pile of doodoo dumped in my lap.

some of the most highly praised juices on the forums and elsewhere just tasted like junk to me. ones mans ADV is another mans $13 down the toilet. so its just a crap shoot. luckily, i have found some outstanding juices i like based on some of the reviews i have read. youtube, not so much...

 

[ch2468]

I agree with kuritaro, don't go by what one single review says. Watch more reviews, read more articles, the more information you have, the better an idea you can get of what the product is like.

 

[Ken_A]

Agree with that one!! I don't purchase any device on a review. 3 or 4 reviews, wait a month and check the forums while researching the product... THEN decide if I like it.

 

[Statistic]

Well now I just wanna go watch the vid...

 

[Steam Turbine]

While I agree with the fact that we need to reasearch the products ourselves, saying that all reviewers out there are doing it for freebies is just not true... And I think it is ungrateful to think that way.

The amount of time that they have to put into it, doing the research, do the review itself, edit the videos, buying good cameras and mics, respond to comments, etc etc... far exceed the price of the x tank or the y device that they are reviewing for you.

 

[Glen Snyder]

I believe in calling it like I see it. Hit us up with a link

 

[Statistic]

I've watched a lot of review vids. I can't say I've ever gotten the impression any of them were doing it to get "paid" or get free stuff. I've definitely seen plenty where the reviewer seemed like they had never seen the product before and should have called it a "first impressions / let's guess how this works" video.

 

[bikerbeagle]

While I agree with the fact that we need to research the products ourselves, saying that all reviewers out there are doing it for freebies is just not true... And I think it is ungrateful to think that way.

I didn't say that they were doing it for freebies ...although I may have insinuated it ...but to say that many are just doing it out of the pure kindness of their ever-lovin' heart - as you are insinuating - is probably a stretch as well. Everyone has a motive for doing the things they do and, in my experience, that motive is usually self-serving in some way. Perhaps it is a sadder testament that that's the world I live in, I don't know.

My statements were really very specific to this one instance, clearly the person to which I referred to is doing it for the freebie ...and I can imagine, knowing who it is, that this person makes a hefty income from web advertising and their 'recommendations'. All I'm saying is, be careful who you get advice from (which is a good lesson in life all around).

 

[Heavyrocker]

Most of the utube reviewers that i followed their advice, was pretty much spot on,but i know where your coming from,some miss the '' mark.''

 

[kuritaro9]

While I agree with the fact that we need to reasearch the products ourselves, saying that all reviewers out there are doing it for freebies is just not true... And I think it is ungrateful to think that way.

The amount of time that they have to put into it, doing the research, do the review itself, edit the videos, buying good cameras and mics, respond to comments, etc etc... far exceed the price of the x tank or the y device that they are reviewing for you.

agreed. i maybe should have said "SOME" people do it for that reason. they are fairly easy to pick out IMO. i have a select few video reviewers that i will pay attention to for flavor reviews.

 

[Caridwen]

From the sticky here-

CAUTION: 1. Some reviews are paid for by the vendor and therefore may not represent a truly independent view of the product. In some cases they are a form of advertising - and adverts don't tell you what is wrong with the product.
2. Reviewers' websites may contain affiliate links, and an enthusiastic review might lead you to click a link and then purchase the product.This results in paying a fee to the reviewer (called an affiliate commission). While most reviews may be accurate and independent, we cannot guarantee this is always the case.
3. Honest reviews always flag up faults - because no product is perfect.
4. No review of a brand new product just received by a reviewer can be considered accurate: faults may not show up for a few days.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Frankly, I think many of the reviewers are attention 's who like to see and hear themselves talking. If the video isn't instructional (like how to make or rebuild something) and it's longer than 3-5 minutes, I don't watch it. I don't have time to sit and watch some yo-yo go on and on and on for 20 minutes and provide what amounts to about one minute's worth of information.

 

[Zipslack]

I get more annoyed over watching a 10 minute video review that only has 60 seconds worth of useful info scattered through it.

 

[Myk]

I don't go by reviews. I don't recall ever seeing a review that waited before coming out, they all seem to want to rush to be the first and you simply can't put something (hardware or liquidware) through its paces that quick.
Video reviews are good for one thing, to see the product in action and make your own decision based on what you see not what you hear (unless you hear gurgling).

 

[Butters78]

I trust PBusardo. Even if he gets it for free he's honest about how he feels about the product. He honestly cares about the community.

 

[Butters78]

Also Field of vapor, he put the word out the Smok telescope or whatever was dangerous because it didn't have vent holes. After he put that video out the manufacturer added them.

 

[ch2468]

Also Field of vapor, he put the word out the Smok telescope or whatever was dangerous because it didn't have vent holes. After he put that video out the manufacturer added them.

Field of Vapor deletes comments off his youtube pages. I've tried correcting him about some errors/inaccuracies on his Green Smoke video, and he deleted them. I guess he likes spreading half truths.

 

[The Ocelot]

I refuse to watch a video that starts with, "Yo!"

And I want a link to the OP video too! It's not nice to tease!

 

[GPSTrucker]

I do read/watch reviews but am more interested in actual user reviews in the end. I try to locate real user reviews for pretty much any products I am considering purchasing.