The Energon Pub

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Just because someone throws toys across the room or on the floor. Does not mean he cares less because he got the toys for free. Just think it's a case of some having less OCD with their toys. Perhaps some video reviewers realize their just plastic toys and regard other things as more important in life like people, family and friends.

So are you suggesting as long as he doesnt abuse his wife or kids that its ok to smash his toys into the wall ? Its just my opinion, but I feel it shows he doesnt value his toys.

doesnt vangelus throw all his figures? sure seems like it. i know he threw that sentinel scorponok.

Yeah, he did the Tetrajet test on the giant Scorponok, Hercules, even freakin' Encore Fort Max. It's a standard part of his reviews, and it's hilarious (and also helpful).

I love it when reviewers toys unintentionally break while they are reviewing them. It just makes my day so much better

Here is the latest peaugh video review, Discuss.

Dx9 Toys War in Pocket X-03 Medilance and X-04 Plague video reviews.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Dx9 Toys War in Pocket X-03 Medilance and X-04 Plague video reviews.

I wasn't expecting a non-English review! That caught me by surprise

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Dx9 Toys War in Pocket X-03 Medilance and X-04 Plague video reviews.

Aside from the reviewer, anyone of you have personal experience with X2 products? How do they hold up?

fenrir72 wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Dx9 Toys War in Pocket X-03 Medilance and X-04 Plague video reviews.

Aside from the reviewer, anyone of you have personal experience with X2 products? How do they hold up?

Did you mean to say "DX9" products? Since the video in your quote is focusing on DX9 figures.

necr0blivion wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Dx9 Toys War in Pocket X-03 Medilance and X-04 Plague video reviews.

Aside from the reviewer, anyone of you have personal experience with X2 products? How do they hold up?

Did you mean to say "DX9" products? Since the video in your quote is focusing on DX9 figures.

Oopsie my bad..........

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Here is the latest peaugh video review, Discuss.

This one. How does X2 products stand in the QC?

fenrir72 wrote:This one. How does X2 products stand in the QC?

Unfortunately, I have not X2 products to comment on. And the Autobot clones haven't been released yet, so only a select few reviewers would be able to comment on that.

X2 has previously released the Trailcutter/Hoist upgrade kit and an additional gun for Metroplex (thanks for only including one, Hasbro) that has added transforming feature. Maybe you can look up those product threads to get more feedback.

I will say that their clones look ambitious for a "new" company, and I hope they're worth it.

Didn't want to bring this thread back to life but....




there sponsored by Toy Dojo and he was honest about the figures he didn't like it. at no point is he trying to sell you the toy like Peaugh and other sponsor reviewers does.

Always liked Vangelus. Good reviewer.

wow. thank you vangelus. i knew youd come through.

ive thought those disguizers were crap since peaughs review (even though he wouldnt say so) and my biggest issue with them (price) was brought up. great video sir!

mooncake623 wrote:there sponsored by Toy Dojo and he was honest about the figures he didn't like it. at no point is he trying to sell you the toy like Peaugh and other sponsor reviewers

Toy Dojo reviewer? I think that's me! If not Toy Dojo's gots some splainin' to do!

This thread is probably not meant for sponsored reviewers like me to chime in on but I'm going to anyway

Based on some other comments from forum members (and some from manufacturers of the stuff I've reviewed) I'm apparently pretty honest (or too honest/nitpicky as far as manufacturers are concerned). To me that's the highest compliment I get. I'd rather get that than hear anyone say "he's trying to make you buy that". Maybe they just have better sponsorship terms than I do

A little anecdote. When Toy Dojo approached me to do reviews for them I had very few reviews and probably even fewer subscribers. I actually thought they were crazy to ask someone who was 1) doing it for fun and 2) provided little to no benefit in terms of marketing reach. They said they didn't care about that and just liked my honesty and review style. They specifically said they wanted honest reviews and that integrity is what made me want to work with them.

Anyway, just wanted to share that!

Also, I personally really like peaugh and vangelus' reviews as well as many others.

~Paik

Paik4Life wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:there sponsored by Toy Dojo and he was honest about the figures he didn't like it. at no point is he trying to sell you the toy like Peaugh and other sponsor reviewers

Toy Dojo reviewer? I think that's me! If not Toy Dojo's gots some splainin' to do!

This thread is probably not meant for sponsored reviewers like me to chime in on but I'm going to anyway

Based on some other comments from forum members (and some from manufacturers of the stuff I've reviewed) I'm apparently pretty honest (or too honest/nitpicky as far as manufacturers are concerned). To me that's the highest compliment I get. I'd rather get that than hear anyone say "he's trying to make you buy that". Maybe they just have better sponsorship terms than I do

A little anecdote. When Toy Dojo approached me to do reviews for them I had very few reviews and probably even fewer subscribers. I actually thought they were crazy to ask someone who was 1) doing it for fun and 2) provided little to no benefit in terms of marketing reach. They said they didn't care about that and just liked my honesty and review style. They specifically said they wanted honest reviews and that integrity is what made me want to work with them.

Anyway, just wanted to share that!

Also, I personally really like peaugh and vangelus' reviews as well as many others.

~Paik

Nothing wrong to earn a little dough on the side, but so long as you maintain your integrity/honesty when reviewing a diamond in the rough or a turd, then you're good.

Paik4Life wrote:
A little anecdote. When Toy Dojo approached me to do reviews for them I had very few reviews and probably even fewer subscribers. I actually thought they were crazy to ask someone who was 1) doing it for fun and 2) provided little to no benefit in terms of marketing reach. They said they didn't care about that and just liked my honesty and review style. They specifically said they wanted honest reviews and that integrity is what made me want to work with them.



~Paik

That's pretty much how TFsource approached me as well. And for the record, while I do sometimes get samples of stuff for free from the companies themselves, I pay for everything I get from TFsource, just like everyone else. I am under no pressure from them whatsoever to "sell" the toys I review, nor am I under any kind of corrective oversight on their part with my opinions or videos.

RE: the Cubrar axe, I tend to just kinda GO when I shoot my stuff. I like being unscripted and just kinda talking about stuff while I shoot. My brain was just kind of processing the "oh ****" moment and working out how to possibly fix it while I was still trying to finish the video review. *Could* I have said something while shooting? Sure, but it wouldn't have been all that family friendly, and I try not to swear or get too off color when shooting. I just tucked it aside to deal with when the video was done. *Should* I have said something right when it happened? Based on the thread, well, yeah, probably. But I wasn't intentionally trying to obfuscate the issue, I was just focusing on finishing the video without derailing or going off on another tangent and stretching the video out longer. A lot of times I shoot multiple videos at the same time, and I want to focus on getting the relevant information into them while still getting them done. I absolutely realized I should have said something after the fact, which is why I had no problem talking about it openly in the comments. (as well as actually calming down and figuring out why it happened a a solution for it. Sometimes things break on their own, sometimes it's absolutely my fault. I'm not going to blame a company for something that's my fault, or vice versa.)

Always been a fan Peaugh. Keep doing your thing.

Thanks for wading into the fray, Peaugh!

Peaugh wrote:RE: the Cubrar axe, I tend to just kinda GO when I shoot my stuff. I like being unscripted and just kinda talking about stuff while I shoot. My brain was just kind of processing the "oh ****" moment and working out how to possibly fix it while I was still trying to finish the video review.

This is very true for me as well. I don't do scripts other than making a rough outline of things I know I want/have to talk about. I know others really like the voiceover scripted style that Optibotimus does and I have nothing against it, it's just not my preferred style to watch or shoot.

Anyway, back to the topic, I have done very similar thing in the past where I've damaged a figure while shooting. Nothing broken but maybe stressed or scratched. It's not because we don't care or anything, but most people don't realize how hard it is sometimes to transform figures from behind a camera while keeping it in focus and in frame and make it timely (I know the last one is my biggest problem). Sometimes it's your fault and other times it is the figures, but in that moment it's really hard to say which.

I'm happy to answer any questions that I'm able to if people are curious about sponsored reviews, but obviously I can only speak to what my personal experience is with it, and it could be completely different from any other particular sponsored reviewer or the "norm."

As far as free figures, I don't get free figures. Anyone who has watched a lot of my reviews will know that I don't keep any of my test shots, which is why I mention I can't do comparisons once I get the retail copy. I think the most I've been given is an accessory set for Feral Rex and that was more as a friend than anything business related.

Lastly, I've mentioned this before, that the reason I think most reviewers give positive reviews is that 1) they are TFer fans. They like TFers and will have a bias just based on that, 2) I think because most of us don't get figures for free, we spend our own money, that we tend to do our research as well and only buy figures that we think we'll personally like just like the rest of you. I don't think it's a conspiracy to sell you toys. My most popular review (I don't know how or why it is) is the Hasbro Evo 2-Pack Optimus Prime. Most of the comments are negative saying they think I'm stupid because I say the classics mold is weak (when compared to modern engineers and figures). It's clearly an unpopular opinion but one I personally think.

~Paik

It's cool you guys have waded into this thread. It's nice to hear a proper perspective on this. It's pretty much what I figured, but it'd definitely cool to see a response here.

Well, since you're here, (both of you, and just to clear the air on earlier arguments in the thread) has there ever been a time a sponsor has pressured you in reviews? Where you felt you had to give a good review?

Do you feel that negative reviews hurt a relationship between a sponsor or company (especially a 3rd party company)?

Exactly how does sponsorship work? There was a LOT of speculation that you're "paid" by a weird bartering system where you get free toys or a discount on orders (personally I think it's money). Do you get paid for every review? Is sponsorship, essentially, putting a toy store's branding in front of your videos and a link in the description or does it go beyond that?

If being sponsored gives you a working relationship with the people behind a 3rd party company, do you feel that adds undue bias when reviewing?

There has been a lot of times where people have said "I wish he just said not to buy this or that it's not worth it, it'd make him more honest". Do you have a direct response to this? Or do you felt you've said that often in reviews, just not in quite the same way.

@Paik -

I've noticed the acidfree print in your sig and reviews - do you collect them? I have a bunch of their other TF stuff, but love the Whalen prints above all.

Well thanks for clearing that up, Peaugh! Also, hello!

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Well, since you're here, (both of you, and just to clear the air on earlier arguments in the thread) has there ever been a time a sponsor has pressured you in reviews? Where you felt you had to give a good review?

Do you feel that negative reviews hurt a relationship between a sponsor or company (especially a 3rd party company)?

Exactly how does sponsorship work? There was a LOT of speculation that you're "paid" by a weird bartering system where you get free toys or a discount on orders (personally I think it's money). Do you get paid for every review? Is sponsorship, essentially, putting a toy store's branding in front of your videos and a link in the description or does it go beyond that?

If being sponsored gives you a working relationship with the people behind a 3rd party company, do you feel that adds undue bias when reviewing?

There has been a lot of times where people have said "I wish he just said not to buy this or that it's not worth it, it'd make him more honest". Do you have a direct response to this? Or do you felt you've said that often in reviews, just not in quite the same way.

Just to clear the air, these are just my opinions and obviously not representative of Toy Dojo.

So there's some things I can't really talk about as far as the specific terms of my working relationship with Toy Dojo, but one thing I will say is that no, I personally don't get cold hard cash/check (again, I cannot speak for others how it works for others). I obviously do get money from YouTube/Google Adsense, but again I'm super small so the amount I get is a pittance compared to PewDiePie or other popular YouTubers who make literally millions a year. Beyond that, I can't get into specifics without getting in trouble : ) But yeah, I add the logos and links and recommend my sponsor, but not everywhere possible. I think as far as "advertising" goes it's very minimal pushing.

As far as sponsors and 3P companies, I don't really know. I don't think a review would have a direct impact on relationships with 3P companies. I've never been pressured by anyone to edit my reviews unless there is an inaccuracy on my part. That's the only time I've edited my review, if I screwed up and I need to fix it. If that mistake on my part changes my opinion of the figure, then of course I would update that, too. But I've never been instructed on content/opinion.

Sponsorship hasn't given me a working relationship with 3P. I was able to meet some 3P people thanks to Toy Dojo, but it's just that, just getting to meet them. I don't think I've changed my reviews based on getting to know someone who works for the company and definitely haven't gone out of my way to be more positive.

As far as saying whether you should buy this toy or not, I honestly don't think about that beforehand. I try not to make hardlined recommendations because we all have differing opinions and collecting habits. I don't even know how many times I've ever said definitively to buy or not buy (I hope not many). I don't want to sway people with my reviews (I'm sure I've probably said you should buy or not buy before), but instead I want to show the figure in as much detail as possible so others can formulate their own opinions. I'm sure that's what most reviewers and viewers want and do.

One person recently unsubbed because I said classics Prime weak in my opinion, especially that deco with the terrible QC. Okay, that's totally fine, but I'd hope that viewers watch because they like what I do, and I provide the information they're looking for (transformations, praises, concerns, etc.) and not because my opinion mirrors their own.

megatronus wrote:@Paik -

I've noticed the acidfree print in your sig and reviews - do you collect them? I have a bunch of their other TF stuff, but love the Whalen prints above all.

Honestly, I just grabbed a cool picture from the interwebs. I only recently found out where it came from. I don't collect prints because I like to spend any available cash on TFer figures. And being a predominantly MP/3P collector, I can use all the money I can get!

~Paik

Peaugh wrote:I absolutely realized I should have said something after the fact, which is why I had no problem talking about it openly in the comments. (as well as actually calming down and figuring out why it happened a a solution for it. Sometimes things break on their own, sometimes it's absolutely my fault. I'm not going to blame a company for something that's my fault, or vice versa.)

if youre still around and reading....
you did respond to questions, but not to any of us (3 seibertronians) asking you directly, why you didnt mention the break on camera. you could have quelled a lot of controversy by replying to one of us. so why did you answer some, but not others?

also gauntlet had some great questions adressing our main concerns. im sure we would all appreciate your input.

shajaki wrote:

Peaugh wrote:I absolutely realized I should have said something after the fact, which is why I had no problem talking about it openly in the comments. (as well as actually calming down and figuring out why it happened a a solution for it. Sometimes things break on their own, sometimes it's absolutely my fault. I'm not going to blame a company for something that's my fault, or vice versa.)

if youre still around and reading....
you did respond to questions, but not to any of us (3 seibertronians) asking you directly, why you didnt mention the break on camera. you could have quelled a lot of controversy by replying to one of us. so why did you answer some, but not others?

also gauntlet had some great questions adressing our main concerns. im sure we would all appreciate your input.

I only just found and skimmed the thread earlier, and tried to address the main questions I was seeing as best as I could with just a limited amount of time before I left the computer, and I didn't have time to go through and specifically quote each and every one just to answer the same question. I don't know if I even saw any of Gauntlet's posts earlier. I've got to start working on dinner, but I'll try to go back through the thread later tonight and answer what I can.