Do you think PBMG pays forum members to plug their products?

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A man has two things. His word and his honor..................

The reason I do the reviews is because I like to see reviews from others that I respect their opinions. Hope that I do the same for others and some new folks.

Face it, it`s the techniques and product knowledge/experience that help people out here. I have garnered a lot of knowledge from people here, and hope that I can also give. If I get something and like it, I tell people. If I get something and don`t like it, I tell people........(lots of people, look at some of the shots people take at me)

As/if you hang around here for a while you will begin to understand this this isn`t your "normal" forum. There are bonds and friendships that this place has spawned. To some of us, this place is "home".
 
Ronkh said:
A man has two things. His word and his honor..................

The reason I do the reviews is because I like to see reviews from others that I respect their opinions. Hope that I do the same for others and some new folks.

Face it, it`s the techniques and product knowledge/experience that help people out here. I have garnered a lot of knowledge from people here, and hope that I can also give. If I get something and like it, I tell people. If I get something and don`t like it, I tell people........(lots of people, look at some of the shots people take at me)

As/if you hang around here for a while you will begin to understand this this isn`t your "normal" forum. There are bonds and friendships that this place has spawned. To some of us, this place is "home".
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So true


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TuxedoTaurus said:
Once compensation is in play the reviews are useless. They become motivated not to knock a product.

Check my Gold Zirkon review and what Ron`s feelings were towards PA.

It wasn`t until he received some Secret Santa that he got involved in it.

The stuff is pricey, but ease of use and results speak for themselves. He is not the only "fan boy" here. People praised it here and on other forums before Autopia carried it.

It would make sense if those individuals only pushed PBMG (or whatever the parent company is now) house brands, where PBMG would make a better profit margin.

I highly recommend you try it for yourself. It is not really a detailing for money line, unless a client is willing to pay. It is an enjoyable line to use whenspend quality time with your vehicle.

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Bingo!

PA is fantastic because of ease of use and it is better looking than any other sealant out there. Cosmic spritz, for example, is super easy and has a unique look to it.

I push all my favorite clients towards it simply because it is fool proof. The hardest part about PA products is trying to use them so sparingly once you see the results, it`s tough not to get trigger happy.
 
mikejames said:
Several years ago, I don`t remember the dates. I never said I thought you were one of them Ron that is on the payroll to hype products, or anything of the like. I don`t post a lot but have been on the forums a long time. Yes his name is Justin! I don`t know if he posts here or AG anymore, but I can tell you he was all buddy buddy with the AG folks and they pretty much distanced themselves from him when ```` went down.

Scottwax was posting reviews often back then on Autopia, but he was upfront with everyone that he tested products for Megs, and a couple of other company`s . It wasn`t the same as what the other young fellow was doing, Justin was hyping product! I suspect there were others but they kept their mouth shut. Some of the guys that have been around along time on these forums should be able to chime in.

Hey don`t be naive, it happens! Hype sells, it`s not against the law. Just use your own judgement to decide.
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:bigups:bigups:bigups
 
512detail said:
I will praise or flame ANY product I like or dislike


Let`s be honest, we (die hard detailers, or Autopians, if you will) exist on the fringe within a void where most people would consider most things to be unnecessary.
I personally like it there.
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Man! This quote just took me back to the 70`s when all I wanted to do was go to another Grateful Dead Show. I couldn`t wait to listen to what Jerry was going to do this time. You had to be there to experience it. LOL
 
Interesting discussion. I have to question why PBMG would encourage people to hype products like PA when it competes directly with their own brands (Pinnancle, Wolfgang, McKee`s, etc.). Maybe the profit margin on items like PA is higher?

I have no reason to believe that any payments to forum members are taking place. But let`s say it is happening for the sake of discussion. There are enough people here using these products to call BS on a over-hyped reviews. Example: I did a short comparison of PA to 2 other coatings on AG and concluded that while PA was easier, I didn`t find eat easier enough to justify the cost. Point is, there are so many people here giving feedback I think it would level out any paid opinions anyway. Given how much we all share, why would they pay forum members for hype?
 
Ok now I understand I wrote one bad review on a Britemax product now I can`t win any giveaways. And I thought it was bad luck. Lol. I am also going to complain to the people that run Powerball.
 
I`ve won a few free contests in exchange for reviews. I do not believe anyone is getting paid for reviews either way. Sounds to me like 9/11 conspiracy stuff...

Just an FYI, I`m always available for fake reviews, shills, plants, and lies for $$$.

I don`t think I`ll ever be buying any PA products, not because they aren`t great (seems people love the stuff) - but, simply because the price is just astronomical compared to other alternatives that are:

1. Cheaper

2. Also great

3. Already in my garage


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TroyScherer said:
It took me some time to think through this and how to be nice and politically correct while also being honest. I thought I would give my own past experience with this since I think I understand where the OP is coming from.

Back when I started on AG (2009) and getting into detailing in general. I was really excited and into learning everything I could while trying new products and find the "best" options. I quickly learned about the giveaway raffles and was lucky enough to win one. I had also noticed that many people won stuff but never followed through on the review part of the giveaway. So I made sure to do a review to the best of my ability. Since I was buying new products I started doing more reviews and start liking what I was doing and they got better as I went along. (I think). As I did more and more reviews I was lucky to win a few more giveaways and then later I was asked to do some testing/reviews on new products.

This is where I want to make it clear that I was never paid to give a good review or hype a product. But I have come to realize that when you are being given free products you are more likely to like the stuff and give it a good review. But that is also easy to do when the products are good and I have found that PBMG really dos the work to come out with good products and carry only the best.

One of my standards from the beginning that I was going to give an honest and truthful review. It didn`t matter if the product was free or one that I bought. When your always doing glowing reviews and basicly buying ti to the next best product the vendors love you. But when you are honest and have to call out issues with products then there can be some issues. This has come to bite me as I have given some honest reviews and pointed out issues on products and thus manufacturers and reps didn`t like what I had to say publicly and privately. When you are potential for giving a bad review any possible freebies kinda disappear. But I will say that vendors that want and desire all feedback respect the honest feedback.

As I grew in my experience and my stash grew as well I had more than enough products to continue doing reviews with no need for free stuff. In the past few years I have found what works and have stopped buying into the latest stuff. But when you use the same stuff all the time you don`t really need to do a review as you most likely already did one. I would love to get the new stuff but that also gets expensive and I just don`t have the money for it all the time. But I do respect these guys that can continue to do it as they are the ones that really know if the new stuff is any better than the old stuff.


Sorry for the long ramble. I guess it comes down to this. Do they pay guys to do hype and reviews? I doubt it. Is the giveaways their way of generating hype and talk? Yes. I also think it`s possible some get better discounts weather that`s "connect" or possibly a special code. But in my option it doesn`t matter. That`s how businesses generate revenue and sell product and that`s what their in business to do.
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There`s a reason I reached out to you and a few others as well. Honesty.

In regards to forum favorites to constantly review products, from my own personal experience which I`m certain applies to PBMG as well, there are a lot of people who just want free stuff and have zero intention to follow through with reviews/feedback. This doesn`t sit well with me. So you tend to reach out to people who have proven to be honest, follow through with work (reviews/feedback), and have become reliable. Sending out free product to the end user costs a lot of money and after being burned a few times you become very selective. During development and release of our detail spray for example, I sent out roughly 18 bottles and only received feedback from 5 people. Out of those 5 people, 3 were actually first time customers who paid for their product.
 
rwright said:
There`s a reason I reached out to you and a few others as well. Honesty.

In regards to forum favorites to constantly review products, from my own personal experience which I`m certain applies to PBMG as well, there are a lot of people who just want free stuff and have zero intention to follow through with reviews/feedback. This doesn`t sit well with me. So you tend to reach out to people who have proven to be honest, follow through with work (reviews/feedback), and have become reliable. Sending out free product to the end user costs a lot of money and after being burned a few times you become very selective. During development and release of our detail spray for example, I sent out roughly 18 bottles and only received feedback from 5 people. Out of those 5 people, 3 were actually first time customers who paid for their product.
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Richard, I really appreciate the backing from you. And I like I said when you originally offered I am humbled and glad to help give honest feedback.

And I would like to point out to everyone that I like Richards stuff so much I did buy bottles after it was released.
 
I`ld like to say I`ve given a review on everything I`ve won but I don`t know for sure as I`ve bought a lot of stuff over the year trying new stuff that I may have gotten them mixed up.


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Just to reiterate, I`m not asking about free giveaways. And, believe I have read a few posts in this thread about it actually happening in the past. Maybe I was a bit harsh pointing my finger South, perhaps he`s just a shine freak, but I do believe it still happens. And it`s not wrong, good business actually. If you have ever seen the movie The Jones with Demi Moore and David Duchuvni(sp)? That`s what some of the reviews on here feel like.
 
rwright said:
There`s a reason I reached out to you and a few others as well. Honesty.

In regards to forum favorites to constantly review products, from my own personal experience which I`m certain applies to PBMG as well, there are a lot of people who just want free stuff and have zero intention to follow through with reviews/feedback. This doesn`t sit well with me. So you tend to reach out to people who have proven to be honest, follow through with work (reviews/feedback), and have become reliable. Sending out free product to the end user costs a lot of money and after being burned a few times you become very selective. During development and release of our detail spray for example, I sent out roughly 18 bottles and only received feedback from 5 people. Out of those 5 people, 3 were actually first time customers who paid for their product.
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Richard, cough cough, im always looking for new rinseless washes that leave nothing behind.....
 
Billy Baldone said:
Just to reiterate, I`m not asking about free giveaways. And, believe I have read a few posts in this thread about it actually happening in the past. Maybe I was a bit harsh pointing my finger South, perhaps he`s just a shine freak, but I do believe it still happens. And it`s not wrong, good business actually. If you have ever seen the movie The Jones with Demi Moore and David Duchuvni(sp)? That`s what some of the reviews on here feel like.
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Getting closer. I`m a shine freak that buys toooooooooo much stuff.

But as I just said in a pm, If I like something I tell people (and why I like it), If I don`t like something I tell people, and why I didn`t like it. It`s that simple.

There have been people here that have done reviews and I learned something...... Hope I do the same for others. That`s it.
 
TroyScherer said:

Richard, I really appreciate the backing from you. And I like I said when you originally offered I am humbled and glad to help give honest feedback.

And I would like to point out to everyone that I like Richards stuff so much I did buy bottles after it was released.
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There`s a good reason people look up to you. You`re a straight shooter, and helpful.
 
Ronkh said:
Now if PBMG would carry Kamikaze and Overcoat, I`d probably never go anywhere else. They picked up Gyeon.

So I`m a happy camper for now.
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I think you probably buy twice as much product as I do and I detail for a living. How do you end up using all that stuff? :crazy:

:gotcha:
 
New rinselss wash I M totally loving is waterless wipe by limitless car care. Totally smells great, cleans well without marring and leave a clean surface that shows off your hard work.

I purchased the towels and got a small sample. Well I already purchased more towels and have 2x32 oz of the waterless wipe on the way to me. Also ordered some shampoo and Apc to try. Price was right with the crazy sale they were running.



JBM said:
Richard, cough cough, im always looking for new rinseless washes that leave nothing behind.....
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