Which reviews are unbiased? And can you really trust them?

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Centercut

Centercut

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Jun 9, 2017
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I've been thinking about this lately. When you are viewing a review of an airgun for example, how do you know its fair and balanced? Even if the intro material says "sponsored" by various manufacturers, what exactly does that mean? I'm not really talking about "sponsored" for shooting in Competition (like Team Centercut is sponsored by Airguns of Arizona), but the video reviews and hunting videos mostly. FYI, our TC sponsorship involves uniforms and lodging (AirBnB)) at the big tournaments like EBR, plus a small payoff if we finish top 3 in any of the events at those tournaments. Every gun/scope I shoot was paid for by me, except the .22 Red Wolf HP (Bleu) which I won at EBR 2019. Same goes for the other seven members.

But I'm wondering the extent of what sponsorship means for the popular You Tubers that make regular videos. We already know AEAC is paid to do his video reviews, but Steve is very up front about that, and I think he does a fair unbiased assessment in his reviews. Same goes for Dana Webb (MountainSport Airguns) in his reviews and hunting videos. He's about as fair and unbiased as possible. 

I'm talking more about the ones showing guys mostly using the equipment that only flash a couple of sponsor logos at the start of the video. So for a channel that shows a weekly (or more) video of hunting, or paper punching, or talking about guns during the video, what do they receive.? We already know they receive advanced versions of the guns that they use like the new FX Impact M3, or the new barrel tuners for the Impacts, etc. So do they get to keep those guns/scopes? Do they get paid a monthly amount to advertise that equipment (I think they do, and a substantial amount at that)? If so, don't you think it would be more honest to say that they received the gun/scope/money up front so we know that the reviews are somewhat biased, shots cherry picked, etc.?

For example, this is Joe Blow Airguns hunting video. We use ABC airguns and XYZ scopes, which we received in compensation for doing the videos. We also receive a monthly stipend from ABC Airguns as payment for doing these videos, and it increases the more viewers and subscribers we have. So, on with the video... Enjoy!!! 

Nothing at all wrong with that, its capitalism. Just thinking there might be AGN members that think that these are done for free. I know they started out that way, but... So what do you guys think?
 
Not that I pay much attention to airgun "review" videos, but I do believe the term "sponsored" attached to any kind of "review" almost always means "compensated" in some form or fashion. In other words, paid "sponsorship"; be it in cash, products(s), or other form of bribe (for lack of a more accurate term). 

Hence, I have little to no confidence in "sponsored" "reviews" being "fair and balanced". 
 
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I wish they all would give it to us raw like this guy.
Screenshot_20210930-135749.1633025021.png

 
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OK, so here's the deal.... Even if the review is unbiased, I think for a fair review to be done, the reviewer should aquire a sample from normal means like anyone else. Maybe go as far as to have a family or friend order the item. Ideally, we would have more than one sample, but things cost money.

Now, I do see a number of reviews even from reputable sources that are nothing but praise and compliments. Even when I know myself what they're reviewing may have several weaknesses or undesirable traits... That are somehow never mentioned....?

I find it hard to trust any review. It's best to try and talk to people here that actually own these items. 
 
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I just generally assume most reviewers have some incentive to review products favorably. mountainsport airgunner is one exception in that he says point blank " I don't care if you buy the gun or not" . Also mentions things he is not crazy about but others may like. He states it from his perspective , wish more were like him. But in the end , If I like something , I will seek out forum members who have acquired respective item of interest and ask their assessment. Then I decide to either buy or not.
 
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I review products, and yes there’s always going to be a slight bias. It’s human nature to not bite the hand that feeds you. However, when I do my reviews, I try and be as honest as possible, I let manufacturers know the issues I had. I try and point out the negatives as well in the view, If a brand doesn’t like that, they don’t send me more items, I could care less. I’ve been reviewing things since 2005, only started Airgun reviews in 2020. I’ve done goalie equipment for ice hockey, fishing equipment, and air guns.

I’ve done reviews for free, never for cash, and often for trade. Every company I work with is a little different in how they want to structure things.

I’m just a small guy, and I don’t do it for profit, I just don’t want to spend too much on it. There’s so much to consider as well guys. Cameras, Lenses, Lights, Editing Software, Plugins, Time. If I don’t make another video, it won’t be the end of the world. That’s why I try and keep it real.

if a scope is cheap… I’ll sell as an inexpensive option for those who don’t have big budgets

if a gun isn’t that accurate … I’ll tell you to keep it within 25 yards

if it’s a total piece… I send it back and no video comes out.

that’s how I try and explain things, because every product has a perfect buyer, even a piece of junk. 

If you watch enough videos you can pick up the people who are just scripting what the supplier told them.

Social media and YouTube have a requirement now for you to point out if it’s sponsored or not. If caught and not using the tag the account can get deleted, so look for that to see if the reviewer got paid, or free product for the review.
 
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Think we are all old enough to discern the information we are given. Let's be honest, there is no such thing is UNBIASED review! Even if the reviewer is not paid and bought the product with their own money they are biased towards their experience, preference, use case, frame of reference and lastly just how that person communicates. This is why I only watch reviews from people who are reviewing based on very specific use case as suppose to just another scope review that says the glass is clear. Clear for what? Compared to what? I'm not bird watching nor taking photos for Nat Geo. 
 
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First I totally agree with @centercut's comments on Steve (AEAC) and Dana, for the most part I feel they are fair. Give Steve credit on his Caimen X review, he did point out an oversight by AirMaks in the regulator adjustment for the Caimen X vs Caimen. Dana well, @crosman999 I believe is very honest in his reviews, and Marley will always keep him in line ;)

Also, Alex of Air Rifle Activities I believe gives very honest reviews to the point it freaks the manufactures out, his review on the Cricket II Tactical was an example. To Kalibgrun's credit they made it right, but I know Alex paid for the rifle himself with his own money at no discount from a regular vendor in the EU. I have become good friends with Alex and the man has backbone and believes what he believes and what change that for a pretty gun.

Additionally, I do find some people though more entertainers than reviewers when it comes to some of the more popular channels and brand. I know they are nice good people, but if you are given something to review without the agreement you can say what you want about the product then I will definitely say the review is bias. Or if you get to keep the gun after the review, again, payment.

Lastly, you can never NOT be bias, as mentioned above. It could be to convince yourself you did right (minimize self criticism), not upset the person who loaned you the gun, manufacturer, etc. I will give one shout out to Triple G on YouTube. The man speaks his mind and doesn't care about the number of followers he has, he does the reviews as he sees fit. He looks like a hoot and would be fun to hang out with I am sure.


 
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,I never go by one persons review,I read as many as possible on that gun or product.

I have been doing it a long time and know some reviewers are better than others.

.....Best thing is to gather information and hopefully be able to judge yourself and maybe use the gun before you purchase it.

This is nothing new,,,,,maybe U tube is rather recent, I do not usually watch it....I would rather read.

Reviews,,,been reading them since the 1970s....the thing I learned is a "review" is a tool for information and it is usually a bit biased or too good to be true.

I have also read reviews that trashed the "product" none of them were air gun related....

Then we have forum members opinions....the experienced ones I can trust....the newbies .....not so much...I still put them in my memory banks.

At the bottom of the review the reviewer will or should say that they get a small percent If the reader purchases the item from the company the reviewer got the " product, " from.

Again a review is nothing but a tool....you use it in a way to educate yourself,then you look for other reviews on the same gun and then you ask air gun forum members what they think.

I see no harm when an educated person reads and looks at a review....it is part of the " evidence, research and study that you do to become knowledgeable..




 
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Years ago I watched some reviews on guns I already owned. Quickly saw they were basically kids in a candy store so I quit watching. Recently with some of the topics like this popping up, especially about one guy on this forum, I watched or almost watched one of his reviews. Nothing changed. He was trying to shoot a pellet that was too light and would obviously be going too fast at a distance that was too far. I’m sure there are a couple guys out there that have at least a tablespoon of knowledge doing reviews, but I’m not going to go looking for them. I skip commercials when watching TV so I’m not going to watch these commercials either. I do watch disassemble videos. I like to see what’s inside these guns and the engineering. That will usually sway me to buy a gun more than a very transparent fluff piece. I know we all get tired of newbies asking the same old questions about guns on these forums but if you own the gun that they are asking about, try to answer the topic. Maybe he’s smart enough to not trust the vidiots on YouTube and wants some solid info from actual long term gun owners.
 
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