Should it matter?

This trend of compensation for reviews is all over the map now.  It has been a sore point with me and, if I see something of interest on Amazon, for example, (which has become obnoxious about doing this), and most or all of the reviews have that disclaimer, "l got this at no cost for my honest review", I will almost always move on and not get the product.  In other words, these reviews have the opposite effect of what was intended.  No matter how "honest" those reviewers may truly believe they are, for me the seeds of doubt have been planted. I would feel the same in the shaving world.

This is a good topic.  There are two sides to this and Hardtop01 has articulated one side very well, which I believe to be the overwhelming view of most in this community.

The other side, which is what I believe, is that it isn't a black and white issue.  There are absolutely people who whitewash reviews.  As well, the folks who put more time, thus having more knowledge about wet shaving, often have a financial interest.  The key is determining who has credibility.  

Lynn Abrams makes a living, mostly in the straight razor community, in wet shaving.  When he endorses a product that he sells, I'm fully confident that everything he says is true.  Every product he has recommended that I have purchased has been everything he promised and more.

The challenge is how determine who has credibility.  This is even harder for us as the wet shaving community is a genteel for the most part and folks don't want to be critical.

My job requires that I speak with a lot of sales people who have incentive for me to choose them.  One of my favorite ways to determine credibility is to ask about the strengths and weaknesses of their offering.  If all I hear is how great they are and they can't come up with any weaknesses they lose all credibility. So, when reading or listening to a review I watch to see if it is all positive, or if it is balanced.

My concern in dismissing anyone with a financial interest is that you dismiss those with good input.

Here is an example from this (the DFS) forum.

I've found that the only way to really compare shaving soaps and creams is to shave each side of my face with soaps I want to compare so I can draw conclusions in real time.  I used to write some of these up and post them as 'Faceoff' threads.  They were popular and had a lot of comments.

I then decided to start a straight razor side business and wind up getting a business account with Col Conk, who is the United States distributor for Dovo straight razors.  They included a two ounce sample of their new Naturals shaving cream with my first order.  I didn't have high hopes, though was totally impressed with this soap.  I have since purchased two scents of the full size cream with matching after shave balm/lotion.  While not in the same tier as Castle Forbes and Baum.be, they are some of my favorites due to the scents and matching balm.

I did a 'Face-off' thread comparing this cream with TOBS. I acknowledged that I have a business relationship with them, though no financial interest in this shaving cream.  I gave the Col Conk a very slight edge vs TOBS, though outlined where each of them was stronger.  I was completely honest in that thread and continue to believe what I said.

No one commented on this thread.  Clearly I didn't have credibility with that thread on this forum.  A couple of weeks later I did another 'Face-off' with two different soaps.  Same thing.  No response.  Keep in mind that these threads had previously been popular.

While I still do the face-off's because I believe in the method, I don't invest time in writing them up and sharing what I found.   I think these threads had been a good way to mix things up on DFS and they created solid discussion. I believe they instantly lost credibility when they shouldn't have.

Well said Sir on many fronts! As it relates to Mr. Abrams, I still refer to his CD I purchased many years ago for hints and tips. A solid example of credibility.

I don't think it should matter, but it should also depend on the reputation of the reviewer and the company being reviewed. For example, Amazon reviews are fraught with paid reviewers the seller has sent items for free in exchange for a favorable review, so it's difficult to find the genuine reviews over the paid. In the wet shaving community, at least, artisans live or die by word of mouth and what better way to get that than from sending out samples to be reviewed, but with the caveat that there's no expectations.

So now we have an example of razors being made by an artisan for a mainstream seller. If I'm the artisan, I'm making that razor the best it can be because my name is on it and I would feel like I'm representing the artisan community. I'd need it to be the best because my product is going to be on the same shelf as the well known mainstream products.

Having said all that, when it comes to reviews, opinions are like assholes; everybody has one and should be treated as such. Reviews oftentimes are helpful, especially from a trusted reviewer even if they were sent the item for free. But the only opinion that matters is yours.

To the point made about if you have nothing good to say don't say it, my favorite reviews are the negative ones. Not ones that just slam the company or whatever, but the ones that offer constructive criticism. It's lovely.

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As a vendor, we struggle with this. Do we send a freebie to get in front of a lot of eyeballs or do we wait for them to come to us? We've noticed that the ones that "only buy" tend to showcase new product from familiar people. I guess they're choosy with their hard earned cash too.


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On the other hand many forums are full of neophytes who proffer up their reviews on new products which is about as useful as someone with a driving learner's permit doing a review of a new Ferrari. It's a double edged sword and the only way out is to find a reviewer or two whom you trust based on past experiences and follow their reviews. However, since we live in such a whiney PC "everyone gets a trophy" World whereas everyone is offended at the slightest pretext of criticism there has been a dearth of objectivity.

What is problematic is when the producer of a product being reviewed is a PAYING advertiser for said forum and the Mods forbid any criticism of their product(s) for fear of revenue loss. It is then that people should abandon that forum as when men turn from the truth everything decays into chaos.

I guess I look at it in a different way. I actually don't mind those who are willing to do a review online getting shave gear from vendors for free. I figure, "How else can I judge a product?" Most of my den is made up of what I have seen reviewed and I can't really say I have been disappointed with any of it. My experience has been that most of what's out there is pretty good stuff. I think it's safe to say that unless a reviewer gives an explicitly negative review, then it's probably going to work for me. I know what notes I find delightful, what ingredients work for me, and have no problem using any razor, except the joy of learning how to use it. I think the visual use of a product also tells a lot. I would just chill and not make it more complicated than it is.

IN MY OWN WORDS " I find the ACME shave kit the best I ever tried" Wile E. Coyote of De Moines Iowa

Just out of curiosity, can you enlighten me on which razor we're talking about?

The practice of reviewers receiving complimentary products to review is not much different from paid celebrity endorsements. Lebron James was paid $1B to endorse Nike shoes. Stephen Curry is paid to endorse and use Under Armour shoes. James Harden, Adidas. They wear the shoes and millions of people buy the "same" shoes as their favourite stars wear. I'm told and have no actual verification, however, that the shoes the pros are wearing are all custom made and have little in common with the consumer market replicas. Like nascars I guess. So can we be certain that the freebie products provided to the reviewers and bloggers are identical to the product that will be sold to us schleps? Maybe they're enhanced or in some other way modified. Like the cars the auto makers provide for EPA mileage testing - hand built, ported. polished, balanced, blueprinted ideal examples of automotive art bearing little resemblance to their namesake models rolling off the assembly line.

I will look at reviews as just one source of information and wouldn't usually base a buying decision purely on a review. I've tried enough products by now to have an idea of who makes stuff I'm likely to like and guide myself that way. That doesn't help me with new artisans but I have no interest in buying any more pricey hardware and I don't have a problem springing for a tub of soap or aftershave on spec.

At the end of the day you have to ask yourself, who is this person? Why are they reviewing this product? Really? Are they altruists spending their precious time enlightening the masses on the wonderful products they've found in order to make our lives better? Maybe but doubtful. Money or moneys worth or just ego.

Reviews are of little to no value for all of the reasons mentioned and more. I have never been a fan or put much stock in reviews; if I have a question about a wet shave product I contact other users on this form and others I participate in to gather their opinions. I still end up buying things I find I don't like and then sell or trade them. $ for a review is fine, but the review needs to state that and in the end "Caveat emptor!" to us all.