CES 2018 - Samsung charming the most influential reviewers?

[Ralfi]

Firstly, I respect these professional &, from what I've seen, unbiased reviewers on YouTube so forgive me if this comes across as anti-Samsung/Google etc. I'd also think the same if Apple did the same...

But as these tech reviewer professions blossom, their opinions carry more clout & influence in the world of phone tech, so reading up on a prominent reviewer thanking Samsung for a dinner at CES 2018 (which also included reviewers who are iPhone users btw, so no discrimination on Samsung's part ), the old 'conflict of interest' thoughts entered my head.

Does it seem right that a major player in phone manufacturing is shouting tech reviewers a decent meal/drinks in a landscape where their opinions are ever more critical to its success? & not only the splurging on them, but the fact a reviewer (maybe more) is publicly thanking the brand for it?

Maybe overthinking things again.... It's what I do...I think..

(Mods, if this is more apt in another section, feel free to shift it over).

 

[Vermifuge]

I think there is a reason Apple avoided tech professionals when reviewing the iPhone X.

 

[boltjames]

I was at CES yesterday and I had a nice dinner, doesn’t mean the person who took me has any influence.

 

[Kram Sacul]

Would not be surprised at all if Google, Samsung and other companies bought off reviewers. Really no different than the movie industry with sending swag and giving perks for glowing movie reviews.

 

[joeblow7777]

It's all part of how the game is played. I'm sure Apple has their own ways of greasing people's wheels. But part of being a professional means being able to maintain a level of objectivity even if someone takes you to dinner. Thanking Samsung is also a good way to provide full disclosure to readers. Isn't it sketchier if they try to hide such things? Tech review sites and publications also display ads, so you can say there's a conflict of interests there too...

I'd say you're over thinking things. You seem overly concerned about Apple having competition. Competition is the absolute BEST thing for consumers. The more successful Samsung is, the better the next iPhone has to be, and vice versa in a cycle of everyone having to up their game to keep up. As soon as the leader lacks stiff competition to keep them on their toes there's no motivation to make outstanding products.

 

[Ralfi]

You seem overly concerned about Apple having competition. Competition is the absolute BEST thing for consumers. The more successful Samsung is, the better the next iPhone has to be, and vice versa in a cycle of everyone having to up their game to keep up. As soon as the leader lacks stiff competition to keep them on their toes there's no motivation to make outstanding products.

Mate, you've basically written the exact same thing I have numerous times. Read my comments in my other thread. It's almost word for word lol.

I'm not concerned about competition at all. I embrace it more than most.

Just thought it was an interesting topics of discussion....please don't assume things.

 

[Vermifuge]

It's all part of how the game is played. I'm sure Apple has their own ways of greasing people's wheels. But part of being a professional means being able to maintain a level of objectivity even if someone takes you to dinner. Thanking Samsung is also a good way to provide full disclosure to readers. Isn't it sketchier if they try to hide such things? Tech review sites and publications also display ads, so you can say there's a conflict of interests there too...

I'd say you're over thinking things. You seem overly concerned about Apple having competition. Competition is the absolute BEST thing for consumers. The more successful Samsung is, the better the next iPhone has to be, and vice versa in a cycle of everyone having to up their game to keep up. As soon as the leader lacks stiff competition to keep them on their toes there's no motivation to make outstanding products.

I guess it depends on how you define professional. Unfortunately journalism died sometime in the 90s. Maybe even sooner than that. Today these bloggers call themselves journalists, but they don’t know the difference between reporting and opinion articles.

Long story short, just because you get paid for something doesn’t make you a professional...

 

[joeblow7777]

Mate, you've basically written the exact same thing I have numerous times. Read my comments in my other thread. It's almost word for word lol.

I'm not concerned about competition at all. I embrace it more than most.

Just thought it was an interesting topics of discussion....please don't assume things.

Well, I’ve read your other thread about how the Galaxy S9 will steal the X’s spotlight just 4 or 5 months after its launch, and you seemed troubled by this. Perhaps I misunderstood. I got the impression that you were concerned about the iPhone being overshadowed. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous.

 

[Ralfi]

Well, I’ve read your other thread about how the Galaxy S9 will steal the X’s spotlight just 4 or 5 months after its launch, and you seemed troubled by this. Perhaps I misunderstood. I got the impression that you were concerned about the iPhone being overshadowed. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous.

No worries bud. I didn't mean to across like that. All good.

 

[The Game 161]

Firstly, I respect these professional &, from what I've seen, unbiased reviewers on YouTube so forgive me if this comes across as anti-Samsung/Google etc. I'd also think the same if Apple did the same...

But as these tech reviewer professions blossom, their opinions carry more clout & influence in the world of phone tech, so reading up on a prominent reviewer thanking Samsung for a dinner at CES 2018 (which also included reviewers who are iPhone users btw, so no discrimination on Samsung's part ), the old 'conflict of interest' thoughts entered my head.

Does it seem right that a major player in phone manufacturing is shouting tech reviewers a decent meal/drinks in a landscape where their opinions are ever more critical to its success? & not only the splurging on them, but the fact a reviewer (maybe more) is publicly thanking the brand for it?

Maybe overthinking things again.... It's what I do...I think..

(Mods, if this is more apt in another section, feel free to shift it over).

Well if people were to judge apple from youtube comments then nobody would buy anything but android. I think alot of these top youtubers do like android better which i think does factor into their reviews. Flossy carter is one of the most unbiased reviewers out there and says it how it is. I also think alot of these youtube guys do like android better but always carry an iphone as they need to for their own ecosystem. Some like both and can afford both.

 

[44267547]

Well if people were to judge apple from youtube comments then nobody would buy anything but android. I think alot of these top youtubers do like android better which i think does factor into their reviews. Flossy carter is one of the most unbiased reviewers out there and says it how it is. I also think alot of these youtube guys do like android better but always carry an iphone as they need to for their own ecosystem. Some like both and can afford both.

YouTube has a major contribution for those who make purchasing decisions based off the number of objective reviews that are published by many tech reviewer's. And in today's age of digital media, YouTube is at the very top when it comes to those who reference It for advice or influence.

 

[pika2000]

Buying reviews are nothing new, even since the magazine era. It is worse today because many of the so-called "tech reviewers" on Youtube don't even have any bit of knowledge about some of the tech stuff they're talking about. Basically now, someone who has a smartphone can claim he/she is a techie. Seriously, watch/read anything by theverge. Near zero actual content other than repeating the spec sheet/marketing materials and some general talk about how great/shiny things are.

Personally, imo in the long run, the consumers will normalize their choices as they experience the good/bad owning certain products from certain brands. The smartphone market is still growing (eg. China, India, etc). Sure, people will get influenced for their first time (or second) purchase. But after a few times, imo most people will find what they like/dislike, and buy according to that with less intervention from marketing.

 

[Ralfi]

Buying reviews are nothing new, even since the magazine era. It is worse today because many of the so-called "tech reviewers" on Youtube don't even have any bit of knowledge about some of the tech stuff they're talking about. Basically now, someone who has a smartphone can claim he/she is a techie. Seriously, watch/read anything by theverge. Near zero actual content other than repeating the spec sheet/marketing materials and some general talk about how great/shiny things are.

Personally, imo in the long run, the consumers will normalize their choices as they experience the good/bad owning certain products from certain brands. The smartphone market is still growing (eg. China, India, etc). Sure, people will get influenced for their first time (or second) purchase. But after a few times, imo most people will find what they like/dislike, and buy according to that with less intervention from marketing.

Yeah makes sense. But what about each new generation that's tuned into YouTube - they're going to lock onto their fave reviewer & use them to make a decision. Eventually, they'll work out what suites them best as you say, but there's always going to be a demographic that are susceptible to be 'guided' toward a certain brand.

& as the careers of these tech reviewers progress, they're more at risk of being tied to a certain brand....it's almost guaranteed. A la journalists who work at a newspaper for decades - they have accreditation to hold onto & if they veer too far away from their bosses main agenda, they loss that accreditation & access to certain avenues of work that get them the big $$$.

 

[gimmmick]

I was at CES yesterday and I had a nice dinner, doesn’t mean the person who took me has any influence.

Out of curiousity, where you dine at? I work in food and beverage here in Vegas.

 

[boltjames]

Out of curiousity, where you dine at? I work in food and beverage here in Vegas.

DelFrisco’s.

 

[maflynn]

Would not be surprised at all if Google, Samsung and other companies bought off reviewers. Really no different than the movie industry with sending swag and giving perks for glowing movie reviews.

Exactly, companies will definitely go the extra mile in providing "swag," gifts, and what not to influence the people.

There's a reason why my employer now forbds any sort of gifts, because it has an appearance of influence. While I do miss some of the free stuff I understand why.

 

[pika2000]

Yeah makes sense. But what about each new generation that's tuned into YouTube - they're going to lock onto their fave reviewer & use them to make a decision. Eventually, they'll work out what suites them best as you say, but there's always going to be a demographic that are susceptible to be 'guided' toward a certain brand.

& as the careers of these tech reviewers progress, they're more at risk of being tied to a certain brand....it's almost guaranteed. A la journalists who work at a newspaper for decades - they have accreditation to hold onto & if they veer too far away from their bosses main agenda, they loss that accreditation & access to certain avenues of work that get them the big $$$.

Well, that's why marketing jobs exist. Always new generation to influence.

Yes, it's a guaranteed that tech reviewers have their bias. Heck, anybody does. It's a natural human tendency to be biased. Imo the problem with current batch of youtubers is that some are extremely full of themselves, and like I said the worse part is that many of the tech reviewers actually don't know much about tech.