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YouTube Reviewers?

gsmit1

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I know that not all reviewers are created equal (by a longshot) and also that not all vapers are either.

In surfing around this site I am picking up on a general disdain for YouTube reviewers among at least some members here. Maybe actually for reviewers in general.

What are your guys opinions of reviewers? Either generally or particular ones or both.

Personally, I have gained some quite useful information from a number of them, but can also predict what some of the answers here might be. Observations I've made myself.

So what about it?

You may fire when ready.
Black-Knight-helmet-from-Fortnite-2.jpg
 
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MrMeowgi

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I watch reviews but don't really worry about how "they" like the item.im just looking for the details not the extra bs. Some reviewers I can't stand because they're whiny bitches though too. Or that loud mouth Australian. No offense to the ones here. Y'all are cool as shit. But I feel most are just giving good reviews because it free. I trust reviewers from VU a lot more. Pizzadave80, Kingpin and Sir Richardrear or however it goes. Sorry.

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jwill

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My issues with youtube reviewers is they are all ball bags. Some of them are informative if you can tolerate them. The few I absolutely cannot stand is the m*th head, who is always yelling and talking a million miles an hour. Jai Haze because he is an absolutely intolerable crybaby, drama queen douche bag and the guy who looks like he just got out of prison and is the illegitimate offspring of Vanilla Ice, dude is trying waaaaay to hard to be cool.
 
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JuicyLucy

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I know that not all reviewers are created equal (by a longshot) and also that not all vapers are either.

In surfing around this site I am picking up on a general disdain for YouTube reviewers among at least some members here. Maybe actually for reviewers in general.

What are your guys opinions of reviewers. Either generally or particular ones or both.

Personally, I have gained some quite useful information from a number of them, but can also predict what some of the answers here might be. Observations I've made myself.

So what about it?

You may fire when ready.
View attachment 124485

Some of those reviewers are real tools, some know their shit and plenty are in between

Eventually you will find one or two that vape like you do and have a similar style, those are the ones you will follow or follow their advise if you need it

I'm a middle of the road squonker, so I like Todd and feel I can believe what he says because he has the experience and is known for his honesty

I rarely watch anyone else unless Todd and not reviewed it, I'm interested but need more info or need to troubleshoot something he didn't cover
 

Time

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Member For 4 Years
I've never watched a product review. If I want product information I read VU member comments that have bought the product.

I have watched a vaping "how to" video or two. Those can be good. Like if I'm interested in mesh or ceramic wick in a genny.
 

jwill

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Convicted Vapes is the dude who looks like Vanilla Ice's illegitimate son.
iu


Convicted Vapes.jpg



There is a dude from Ireland or Scotland, kind of old and looks like he is doing reviews in his garage. I cant understand a thing he says but will always watch his videos if I find them.
 
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Giraut

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Member For 4 Years
The one I can't stand is the Portuguese guy who relocated to the US, who keeps speaking in the future tense for reasons unknown. Can't remember his name, I stopped watching them all - they're all marketdroids working for the Chinese mod makers. The Portuguese guy thinks he's some kind of hot-shot tech wizz, but he keeps getting shit wrong.

The one I really liked was Ohmboy Josh. His videos were really enjoyable. But he quit making videos.

The fat NY dude who reviewed high-end mech mods (East Coast Review or something?) was good too.

So is the crazed beer-drinking Aussie with lots of tattoos who swears all the time. But he's just too ugly to watch for more than 5 minutes. But that's entirely subjective :)

Todd's okay. He'd be better if he quit rambling and finished his sentences.

The others are unwatchable.
 
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Synphul

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Member For 4 Years
I think after awhile some tend to get on my nerves. Maybe in the beginning when I was still new to things I watched more of them. Some just ramble to hear themselves. I like grimm's reviews. Bogan seems like a nice enough guy but like the rip trippers from down under, spends too much time on his beer. I get it, they all have their own style. For one I'm not a huge beer drinker, for another I can't fucking taste it so why do I care? I like Phil Busardo but his vaping style isn't really mine. So many try to sound like street folks shaking their change can at you with some mile a minute spiel. I'm not against reviewers outside the U.S. really but if their accent is too thick to understand them I likely shut it down. Not reviews but I like squidoode's vids.

When it comes to hardware reviews I like knowing the specs of it. Don't just read the shit off the box, I can read. Does it do what it says it does? Does it do it well, does it actually put out the volts it says it does? That matters more to me. He might not be the best reviewer out there but one who's more calm I don't mind listening to, Robert Ellis. Abby Vapes is easy to listen to as well though she doesn't do a ton of vids anymore and doesn't go real in depth a lot of the time.
 

5150sick

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Convicted Vapes is the dude who looks like Vanilla Ice's illegitimate son.
iu


View attachment 124490



There is a dude from Ireland or Scotland, kind of old and looks like he is doing reviews in his garage. I cant understand a thing he says but will always watch his videos if I find them.



The thing about the convicted vapes guys (Matty & JTG) is that I have never not liked an eliquid that they have given two thumbs up to.

That's the trick with eliquid reviews.

If you like 90% or more of the eliquid a reviewer recommends then you found your eliquid guy.


Hardware is different.

It's hit of miss with hardware
At the very least if there is a major problem with a device the reviewers will let everyone know.

But with a mod if a reviewer takes two weeks and uses it steady that still doesn't mean it won't break in two months.
 

5150sick

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Mark Todd (my favorite) from his shed in Scotland

I like Todd too.

If there is an oddball device that i'm looking up there is a real good chance that Todd reviewed it.

Remember when those clowns tried to sue him because he gave the mod a bad review?

it was the manhattan mod I think

The Vaping community was so pissed off for Todd that the company had to change names because no one would buy their shit anymore.
 

Ruppy_bear

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Rip tripper has his own personal style, but sadly it's not working for any of us.

I don't watch yt review cuz I buy what I like base on looks. The only guy I ever watched and bought shit after was from vaping with twisted 420. I saw a aspire quad flex survival kit at the vape shop and was thinking about it. Then got curious again back home, so went online to check it out again. Rip tripper came up first but video was 12mins (that's a pass), second was vaping with twisted 420. I loved his humor and how he actually fully utilize the word survival kit lol.

But other then that, I don't really watch yt review of anysort (on a few, which is less then 5 in general)
 

CactusFanaticus

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Reviews are great for seeing close-ups of products, especially decks and airflow of rebuildables and that’s pretty much it. Even still I cannot watch most; I can watch Todd, maybe one more and that’s about it. Some just their face/ voice is enough to rub me the wrong way.
I also have a rule, if they are making a dumbass suprised/ big-eyed shocked face looking at the product in the thumbnail I will not watch it.
 

SpectoVia

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I’ve watched more than a few, but a lot less now that I have plateaued to a zero point between what I want and what I have. For an in-house VU reviewer, @SirRichardRear’s text reviews aren’t too bad. (tips cap to Sir RR)

Honestly, if you can’t keep a video review at around 5 minutes........deuces, I’m out. For atomizer reviews, I would mostly just fast forward through everything until they showed the build deck or what kind of coil the atty uses. Or for a mod, go to the part of the video that showed if the contact pin floats or not.

The guy from Aspen Valley Vapes? isn’t too bad. Rip just makes me want to DIY him a liter IV drip of “drank”.
I will say that the most memorable moment of my “Great Squonk Hunt of 2018” was Jai Haze’s iJoy Capo review.
Classic stuff.
Fast forward to 25:55


p.s. after all of my squonk shopping, I ended up listening to the crankiest old phart here on VU (The Cromwell) and got a eLeaf Pico Squeeze. His recommendation did not disappoint. Thanks TC.
 
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Ryedan

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Member For 4 Years
My formula for choosing a reviewer to stick with for a while is to compare their reviews of products I've used and gotten to know well to my experience with them. If we agree, I trust that reviewer until that changes. Reviewing style is important too ... I've learned a bunch of stuff from Rip Trippers over the years, but I can only take so much of him at a time and lately I mostly ignore him. He targets an audience that just doesn't include me.

When I want information on a new to me product I'm really interested in the technical details and also some 'touchy feely' opinions. I'm perfectly happy to spend a half hour watching a review if that's what it takes to communicate the data to me. My favorite right now is DJLsb Vapes, specially for mods. He's got the techy side covered and I mostly agree with his TF opinions. Phil is good too, but sometimes he lacks a bit (occasionally a lot) on the technical side. I feel he has become lazy the last couple of years. Love Todd's style (and his shed ;)), but he's really soft technically. He makes up for that big time by being so honest and because his native vape style is quite similar to mine.

If any of those reviewers have not reviewed something I'm interested in, I play it by ear with the other reviewers out there. Most of the time I find I can figure out how good they are quite quickly and generally I can get good information from them too, but they are a lot less productive for me.

Reviewers are an important part of our lives, in vaping and in other things. Choosing them well really helps :)
 

5150sick

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I really enjoy the written reviews that many have been using on various vaping forums recently.

It's much easier to go back and re read if you miss something, the still photos are as good or better than a video, and written reviews are much less personal and more to the point.
 

Giraut

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The only reviewer who got it right (and probably regrets pissing on his "colleagues" now) is Big Lou:

At 9:31:

 

KingPin!

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I dunno I’ll tip my hat to most reviewers who give it a crack and have their heart and head in the right place....tough gig to be honest, lots of traps along the way, and negativity which makes it hard to navigate at times.

Way I see it is there’s enough variety out there so everyone can find some element they enjoy ..... depends what your in the market for (if at all).

Reviewing is no different to forum life and just like everything... opinions are like assholes they stink and everyone has them :D Lucy framed it best you’ll eventually land on people who share the same ideals and tastes you do and stick with them, doesn’t always mean you’ll agree on everything, but you can at least share ideas and appreciate each other’s perspective on things.
 

Huckleberried

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If I have to go to YT for a review, I don't mind watching some fly by night, never heard of, that's spent time with the gear in question, that's not trying to be someone they're not. If I need more from YT, I'll venture to someone I've heard of that gets right to the point.

Like 5150, I prefer a written review. Most of the time, I can find the info in the forum, that might happen to simply be in a thread as part of a discussion. That's where the guts are a lot of the time. Most of the gear I get is older stuff, anyway, so it's been discussed by the time I get it, LOL.
 

The Cromwell

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Some of those reviewers are real tools, some know their shit and plenty are in between

Eventually you will find one or two that vape like you do and have a similar style, those are the ones you will follow or follow their advise if you need it

I'm a middle of the road squonker, so I like Todd and feel I can believe what he says because he has the experience and is known for his honesty

I rarely watch anyone else unless Todd and not reviewed it, I'm interested but need more info or need to troubleshoot something he didn't cover

I am an American however I seem to like Brit reviewers best now.
Todd is my Fav, Dean is becoming too commercial and does not vape my style. I like V1ck and occasionally watch the grumpy old Vic.
I watched Grimm, and several others for my first couple of years of vaping.
But tired of them as more of them became a business front.
Never could handle The sick as tits guy or the other loud in yer face types as I am False Drama Avoidant. And the Gene chip whiner is a salesman pure and simple.

Plus out of the blue Todd sent me an atty. Complete with custard and Spaniel hairs :D
he was my fave before that though.

And I would like to Add MOOCH as my other favorite vape reviewer.
And for ejuice it is Fresh03. More of a DIY reviewer though.
 

UncleRJ

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Me, I prefer a good written review.

Probably started when I first started vaping and I had a Piss Poor satelite service that would not support the streaming of videos and I was absolutly delighted when I found a written review on something I was interested in purchasing.

I have indeed watched Phil Busardos Videos. Good stuff but way, WAY too long.

I do like Tod over in his shed.

IMHO, Rip Trippers is a total sellout and watching his reviews are like masturbating with a cheese grater. Always interesting but extremely painful.

No doubt that there are a lot of really good reviewers via You Tube out there. But, for every good one, there seem to be a thousand idiots that seem to think that since they have an internet connection, camera, microphone and some piece of vape gear that generates clouds that they feel the need to both instruct and even worse try to entertain the rest of the world.

And of course, if my memory serves (and in this case it does) some of these YouTube hopefulls drop by the Underground, invest their life savings in a free membership and put the bite on our membership at large to send them free gear in order to kick-start their march to glory as a prominent YouTube reviewer bringing in the big bucks.


Rant over, safe to come back out of hiding now!
 

UncleRJ

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Truthfully I get my best vaping recommendations are from the people on here whose opinions I trust.

You just need to learn their vaping style to see if if matches yours.

For instance the NarDa is a great atty, but not for me.


AMEN BROTHER CROMWELL!

Not to mention that most members here are not trying to sell you anything.

They just like talking about their new toys even if the new toys are total duds!
 

Just Frank

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I like watching Mike Vapes, Zophie, and the guy who sounds like Borat. I think his name is Daniel.

Mike Vapes....so awkward at times it's funny. He messes up a lot but atleast I can tollerate him.

Zophie is to the point, speaks well, and shows most of the important details.

Borat seems to know his stuff. I disagree with him at times but that's ok. He seems to be the most technical of the reviewers I watch.

I can't watch Jay Haze anymore. He's so negative. Ive watched about five or six of his videos and they have that in common. He basicly just shits all over the device or atomizer. Foremost authority much?

I cant take any more of Rip Tripers. He's way too spazzy. He freaks out about stuff and there's so many cuts in his vids. I just want to tell him to settle TF down lol.
 

gsmit1

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Man, there are more divergent views here than I even anticipated :)

Lois of great comments though.

I don't even know where to start.
 

skt239

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I watch the videos mainly to see the new stuff although I have no interest in about 99% of it. I never watch the entire video and fast forward through the end. And 99% of the reviewers out there are down right awful. Forget about the fact nearly all of them are obviously paid to make videos, the actual people are the worst part about the videos. They take themselves entirely too seriously.

Vaping is a “life style” and apparently there is a “vape culture” and “community”. The culture seems to be 40 year bearded old men in flat billed hats, the life style is making shitty products and the community is held together by the alliances that are a result of the constant petty feuding, bickering and a shared animosity for the fda. And the latter is only because they have a financial interest in the industry.

Like others said, the Scottish fellow in the shed is one of the good ones.
 

Drone

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The rule I follow is that if a review comes out within 2 weeks of a product release I don't watch it because I know it's a shill review. Even if they got a pre-production sample early it doesn't matter... the final released version is the one I would be potentially buying so a pre-production sample has no meaning for a product that I could never get.

If a review is done that quickly then the reviewer didn't "live" with the device long enough to understand the subtleties of the item and just wants clicks for the YT channel. So BS from my perspective.

The exception to this is scope testing, if it's done right by someone with the necessary experience to do accurate testing. But, there still needs to be further reviewing of the basics like usability, durability, ergonomics, etc. which can't be thoroughly done without putting in the time. Fuck the shills that review a product based on a couple hours of use. It doesn't mean they can't make some good observations, but they didn't do a comprehensive review so I won't waste my time watching it.

I just can't see buying a device based on a quickie review and having to live with the subtle flaws that piss me off over time. Time the reviewer didn't take the time to discover.
 

Izanagi7

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I usually watch reviews to figure out if I’d buy a product or not. Beats the merger info available on the manufacturer’s website. Often, even pre-release reviewers will use it for days or a week or two before reviewing it. I like Mike Vapes and Zophie Vapes, Grim Green, Legion Vapes and the Scottish guy. RIP Tippers posts a lot of reviews but he’s really annoying.

I also watch builds for different types of coils to see how it’s done and I’ve learned a lot that way. It’s also nice to hear their comments on the builds to know if it’s a build I’d be interested in in the first place.

“Tricking” is a pathetic practice and I have no interest in such things.

“Cloud comps” also seem like a complete waste of time.

That is all.


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SteveS45

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DISCLAIMER: Comments are my personal BIASED opinion.

Most reviewers are only in it for the money even if they say they do not get paid. They make a ton of money when the sell all the FREE shit they got. There are some that continuously post reviews with links to other sites for the info so they get PAID for the hits. Can you say CLICK BAIT? Then you have a few who think they know what they are doing but have less experience than most of us in this thread. Then we have a small percentage who really do it because they want to share knowledge and can actually make a video I won't click ALT/F4 after 2 minutes. Like others have said I only view them know to skip thru to find out how to change the coil because I am too lazy to RTFM. And lets not forget the drama Queens who post more BS because someone disagreed with what they had to say about something or didn't like what they designed or contributed to.
 

IcepickMaker84

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I watch reviews so I can see build decks and what the item in questions looks like better than the pics show online. Vaping Bogan while taking some getting used to is pretty enjoyable to watch...others are just full of themselves. My personal pet peeve when it comes to reviewers is the Patreon thing, it’s like begging for tips to me. Just my two cents.


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SteveS45

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My personal pet peeve when it comes to reviewers is the Patreon thing, it’s like begging for tips to me. Just my two cents.

Oh yeah pay me money because I am the Bull Shittery~! Forgot about that because that is a reason to ALT/F4 immediately. One of those Hazey assholes actually posts his Patreons get consideration over non-paying subscribers. Pay so your opinion counts or means more? Wow more like BT/BP everyday....................
 

IcepickMaker84

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Oh yeah pay me money because I am the Bull Shittery~! Forgot about that because that is a reason to ALT/F4 immediately. One of those Hazey assholes actually posts his Patreons get consideration over non-paying subscribers. Pay so you opinion counts or means more? Wow more like BT/BP everyday....................

Oh man, I didn’t know he did that. I’ve seen him respond in an overly childish manner more than once, during his new rda review someone asked when Brie was releasing an rda and he about lost it because the light wasn’t shining on him anymore lol. I used to watch him a lot just because it amused me but that was the end.


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SteveS45

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Oh man, I didn’t know he did that.

Gave up on his dumbass back when he was selling SINGLE coils for what I pay for a box of 5. He told me mine must be fakes and he deleted my posts when I said since his aren't in the ORIGINAL Box I have no way to check~! Am I supposed to trust your word?
 

SteveS45

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I used to watch him a lot just because it amused me but that was the end.

Now he posts more videos about Drama then reviews and the only people who watch are his butt kissers.

Edit: Because if you disagree or prove him wrong you get blocked and comments deleted.
 

gsmit1

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The Portuguese guy thinks he's some kind of hot-shot tech wizz, but he keeps getting shit wrong.
.
I'm asking this seriously and not as a challenge.

Can you give an example of what he gets consistently wrong?
 

CrazyChef v2.0

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Now he posts more videos about Drama then reviews and the only people who watch are his butt kissers.

Edit: Because if you disagree or prove him wrong you get blocked and comments deleted.
I bumped in to Jai at a vape expo last year. I can 100% guarantee that he is a fake and a liar after the conversation I had with him.
 

gsmit1

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I bumped in to Jai at a vape expo last year. I can 100% guarantee that he is a fake and a liar after the conversation I had with him.
The problem I've had with JH is that he seems to be trying to make a career out of nit-picking for the sake of it and he takes forever to say why about a given product.
 

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