My Observation About Product Reviews

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USAFANG6799

USAFANG6799

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Jul 21, 2016
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United States
Some may not like what I say, but I have yet to see a review that is not bias toward a product that is given by said company to not expect something in return.

As apposed to someone who buys the product with their own $.

That said, I have seen a user who thinks very highly of Evanix because that is all he mostly what he owns and is quite well known in the air gun community.
 
I was quick to learn that if I take the required time to just read the forums on AGN before going to you tube I find myself making better choices when purchasing airguns and accessories. Not saying anything bad against the reviews, but reading honest and unbiased opinions first will really change the tone of the review for me. Also note who likes the same products as I do and tend to listen to them a little closer.
 
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Most reviews target the clueless. Most of the people doing them and that goes for more than just airgun stuff, are not at the top of their game. They’re just buffoons doing it for views, then money so they can buy or get more stuff to play with. They hide behind the ruse that they are providing a service. That dude Steve that reviews stuff and then gives it away here on AGN is one of the guys who has evolved into truly providing as much of a service that is probably possible without getting blackballed out of the freebie business. Every time I cave in and try to watch a review, within a minute or two I think wow, this guy is dumb and turn it off. But hey, he at least got another view and that’s why I won’t do it often. I will however recommend watching Steve’s videos to someone I know who is thinking of purchasing something that he reviewed. Except a Skyhawk. He dropped the ball on that one. He was too nice and professionally brushed over issues.
 
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Most reviews target the clueless. Most of the people doing them and that goes for more than just airgun stuff, are not at the top of their game. They’re just buffoons doing it for views, then money so they can buy or get more stuff to play with. They hide behind the ruse that they are providing a service. That dude Steve that reviews stuff and then gives it away here on AGN is one of the guys who has evolved into truly providing as much of a service that is probably possible without getting blackballed out of the freebie business. Every time I cave in and try to watch a review, within a minute or two I think wow, this guy is dumb and turn it off. But hey, he at least got another view and that’s why I won’t do it often. I will however recommend watching Steve’s videos to someone I know who is thinking of purchasing something that he reviewed. Except a Skyhawk. He dropped the ball on that one. He was too nice and professionally brushed over issues.
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I didn’t watch the Skyhawk review, but i agree with what you say about Steve’s reviews. Even after i have purchased a rifle I find it useful to go back and watch his video review of the same gun. Lots of good information and advice there, including which pellets he found worked better than others.
 
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It takes a certain level of intelligence and/or common sense to recognize S*** from Shinola, and not everyone has it. And although the actual product(s) that made the term "Snake-Oil salesman" part of American vernacular are no longer marketed, the term survives because Snake-Oil salesmen are more prevalent in 2022 than ever.

A good rule of thumb in recognizing S*** from Shinola is "consider the source" (of reviews, in this case). From my limited experience watching airgun review videos, aforementioned rule of thumb serves One well; often within the first minute of starting the video. 

I would say there's no better example than the reviewer alluded to in the original post of this thread, was it not for so many others that also qualify.

FWIW, I stopped contributing to an early airgun magazine due to a humor-deficit editor editing out much flavor, spice and humor from my contributions. I then contributed regularly to American Airgunner magazine when the owner/editor promised to print "anything you're willing to submit" verbatim (unedited).

Understandably, advertisers (in publications) are happy to purchase ads in issues containing POSITIVE reviews of their products. But reviewing products on condition of honesty is too risky a proposition for most advertisers to accept.

Hence, proliferation of Snake-Oil salesmen.
 
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If I'm watching reviews on a gun, I've already decided that I want that gun. The "review" very likely isn't going to sway my decision one way or the other. I'm pretty stubborn like that. 

I mainly watch those reviews to see my new toy in action before it arrives. If AEAC has a video on it, I'll watch it ten times before it actually arrives. I just really love the layout of Steves content. 

To your point though. I take pretty much any review with a grain of salt. If a few different reviewers are saying the same thing that is when I start believing it. A few reviewers, and I won't mention any names, are clearly just in it for the clicks and the money. I don't watch them any more.
 
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If I'm watching reviews on a gun, I've already decided that I want that gun. The "review" very likely isn't going to sway my decision one way or the other. I'm pretty stubborn like that. 

I mainly watch those reviews to see my new toy in action before it arrives. If AEAC has a video on it, I'll watch it ten times before it actually arrives. I just really love the layout of Steves content. 

To your point though. I take pretty much any review with a grain of salt. If a few different reviewers are saying the same thing that is when I start believing it. A few reviewers, and I won't mention any names, are clearly just in it for the clicks and the money. I don't watch them any more.
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This is it for me. Once I’ve picked a gun, it can be fun to see an enthusiastic unboxing and shooting video, living vicariously until it arrives.


If you think of them just as advertisements it’s all cool. I think the word “review” is the problem…
 
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How can you truly review a gun when you unbox it, shoot it for one day and put it back in the box ?

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Most reviews i have watched. All had it for more than a day. At last a week. 1 day would not be enough.
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I think a real review should take weeks if not months and a lot of lead shot through the barrel, otherwise is more of an advertisement, ......yes can have a lot of good info but it's still basically an ad rather then a true review
 
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I very much appreciate how many people have chimed in on this subject.

I appreciate the positive replies and was expecting a fair share of defenseive feedback. Like any dialogue, be it written or vocal, it's nice to keep it positive though.

As we all know there is enough negativity out there so it's nice to be in a positve envioremnt occasianally.

Many thanks for all for chiming in.
 
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Most reviews target the clueless. Most of the people doing them and that goes for more than just airgun stuff, are not at the top of their game. They’re just buffoons doing it for views, then money so they can buy or get more stuff to play with. They hide behind the ruse that they are providing a service. That dude Steve that reviews stuff and then gives it away here on AGN is one of the guys who has evolved into truly providing as much of a service that is probably possible without getting blackballed out of the freebie business. Every time I cave in and try to watch a review, within a minute or two I think wow, this guy is dumb and turn it off. But hey, he at least got another view and that’s why I won’t do it often. I will however recommend watching Steve’s videos to someone I know who is thinking of purchasing something that he reviewed. Except a Skyhawk. He dropped the ball on that one. He was too nice and professionally brushed over issues.
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Agreed. Steves's reviews are much better.
 
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Some may not like what I say, but I have yet to see a review that is not bias toward a product that is given by said company to not expect something in return.

As apposed to someone who buys the product with their own $.

That said, I have seen a user who thinks very highly of Evanix because that is all he mostly what he owns and is quite well known in the air gun community.
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Whenever you see 'includes paid promotion' you should double think about review accuracy. Remember - that guy was paid to promote the product. I really wonder what is the point of such reviews. I treat them as ads.


 
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