Shilling and Lighting suppliers

billsreef · 02/06/2010, 10:01 AM

Hi Folks,

This a warning to those in the industry that have been flagrantly violating our User Agreement and shilling (pretending to be hobbyist consumers) to promote their wares. Not only is such behavior a clear and obvious violation of the User Agreement, but is a complete misrepresentation that considered by most to be very unethical

Those involved will find some new restrictions on their accounts, as well as some posts and even threads removed. Further such violations can lead to bannation.

tibob32 · 02/10/2010, 02:01 PM

This may be controversial, but shouldn't users(read consumers) be aware of such dishonest business practices? I'd suggest making the infractions public.

detroit_fan · 02/10/2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibob32

This may be controversial, but shouldn't users(read consumers) be aware of such dishonest business practices? I'd suggest making the infractions public.

Reef Central probably won't do that but i agree they should.

Av8bluewater · 03/10/2010, 09:33 PM

Makes ya wonder if I got bum advice.
Thanks for the sticky.

Tigre9 · 03/18/2010, 01:07 AM

I also beleive that any posts should be left on the site with a bright RED note stating that the information was posted by someone in a business related to the industry and violated the User Agreement.

That way we would know if the information read was biased.

Just my 2 cents (all I will have after big corporations take everyones money!).

Geek · 03/20/2010, 07:34 AM

hang em out to dry!

returnofsid · 03/20/2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geek

hang em out to dry!

I totally agree. Especially since the same member, who prompted this warning, is now posting on several other reef related forums, shilling their products. Yeah, threads are being deleted on those forums as well....lol. Go get 'em RC!!

saltn07 · 03/20/2010, 11:27 PM

Yeah that is a bunch of bull, people come here for honest advice not people pushing their product spewing whatever to sell it...

dragoneggs · 03/21/2010, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by returnofsid

I totally agree. Especially since the same member, who prompted this warning, is now posting on several other reef related forums, shilling their products. Yeah, threads are being deleted on those forums as well....lol. Go get 'em RC!!

Not to argue the shilling part, but there was a lot of great information on the RC thread... contributed by several truly independent reefers that spent their time and money to report the facts, that was ultimately deleted and lost. It helped me and I know alot of other people trying to learn about LEDs and whether to take the plunge. I am sad the info was lost but I understand and respect the forum rules.

Jeff · 03/21/2010, 06:38 AM

It has become common practice on the internet for people that represent themselves as consumers and leave glowing reviews for products. Buyer beware unless you trust the reviewer.

dragoneggs · 03/21/2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

It has become common practice on the internet for people that represent themselves as consumers and leave glowing reviews for products. Buyer beware unless you trust the reviewer.

Yep that is why the forum venue is great, it allow lots of opinions from all different vantage points. I am pretty sure most people who participate in forums do so because they want more than one opinion whether it is from a customer or a supplier, especially people that own and have used the product in a similar way that they intend to.

billsreef · 03/21/2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

It has become common practice on the internet for people that represent themselves as consumers and leave glowing reviews for products. Buyer beware unless you trust the reviewer.

It's always good to search the post history of someone giving glowing reviews, it's most to all they do it is almost a definite they are a shill. Gets a little trickier when they spread themselves into other areas or pick up the commercial affiliation after they've already been a member here for awhile. Though they always seem to forget this business and hobby are fairly small and sooner later we find out who they really are

Jeff · 03/21/2010, 08:54 AM

I also think the same is true with Amazon.com and other sites that are known for reviews. On one hand, I never buy anything anymore without reading reviews, but you never really know if the reviews are done by real consumers and if the site is only posting the "good" reviews. i found this out the hard way when I bout a memory foam mattress and found it to be total crap a couple years ago.

jchase1970 · 03/21/2010, 11:17 AM

They should leave the topic posted and add a big red SPAM ALEART to it. After this was done enough these people my give up trying cause they would know that they are being singled out.

gcarroll · 04/08/2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billsreef

It's always good to search the post history of someone giving glowing reviews, it's most to all they do it is almost a definite they are a shill.

I have exposed shills and other frauds for years using this method. Problem is, it has become harder to do now that we cannot search via username!

Reefmonster · 05/23/2010, 11:06 PM

I have been scammed enough in my life to not rely on anyone's "glowing Review" of a product...I look for evidence that they are good products...The Tube, The net, and personal observation are usually what I use... Shame on whoever did the Shilling...too bad they weren't banned and exposed!

DanMgy · 06/17/2010, 11:02 AM

wow I am really glad that I saw this, I replied to a post where an African prince said he would help pay for my new tank, all top of the line stuff, I just had to do give him some money so that he could transfer millions out of a bank account he had. This is bitter sweet to read

... I wanted my new tank, but now I am not going to get ripped off by that prince...

billsreef · 07/16/2011, 11:40 AM

Some of them never learn. Just whacked a shill for a fairly new lighting company. What a poor business model

billsreef · 09/13/2013, 05:38 AM

Just a reminder, this practice of shilling is still all too common. Sometimes even from long time members that have picked up commercial associations along the way and should know better.

DgenR8 · 09/14/2013, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchase1970

They should leave the topic posted and add a big red SPAM ALEART to it. After this was done enough these people my give up trying cause they would know that they are being singled out.

I'd like nothing more, but we get accused of "singling people out" almost daily. Could you imagine the uproar if we actually did start to single people out?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

It has become common practice on the internet for people that represent themselves as consumers and leave glowing reviews for products. Buyer beware unless you trust the reviewer.

^^ That just needed to be said again.

02/06/2010, 10:01 AM	#1
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Shilling and Lighting suppliers Hi Folks, This a warning to those in the industry that have been flagrantly violating our User Agreement and shilling (pretending to be hobbyist consumers) to promote their wares. Not only is such behavior a clear and obvious violation of the User Agreement, but is a complete misrepresentation that considered by most to be very unethical Those involved will find some new restrictions on their accounts, as well as some posts and even threads removed. Further such violations can lead to bannation. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

03/18/2010, 01:07 AM	#5
Tigre9 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tennesse Posts: 61	I also beleive that any posts should be left on the site with a bright RED note stating that the information was posted by someone in a business related to the industry and violated the User Agreement. That way we would know if the information read was biased. Just my 2 cents (all I will have after big corporations take everyones money!). __________________ Tim W Current Tank Info: Oak Stand Build (55gal Reef Disp Tank) 55gal BTA Prop Tank (1RBTA, 2GBTA, 1Sailfin, 1Six Line Wrasse, 1Red Mush, 1Frag Grey Star Polyp) 30gal Prop Tank for BTA (currently has 1Clown, 4BlueGreen Chromis, 3Peppermint Shrimp)

03/21/2010, 06:38 AM	#10
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	It has become common practice on the internet for people that represent themselves as consumers and leave glowing reviews for products. Buyer beware unless you trust the reviewer. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/21/2010, 08:54 AM	#13
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I also think the same is true with Amazon.com and other sites that are known for reviews. On one hand, I never buy anything anymore without reading reviews, but you never really know if the reviews are done by real consumers and if the site is only posting the "good" reviews. i found this out the hard way when I bout a memory foam mattress and found it to be total crap a couple years ago. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/21/2010, 11:17 AM	#14
jchase1970 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newburgh, Indiana Posts: 409	They should leave the topic posted and add a big red SPAM ALEART to it. After this was done enough these people my give up trying cause they would know that they are being singled out. __________________ Tri-State Reef Club Serving the Indiana,Kentucky,Illinois Tri state area.

02/10/2010, 02:01 PM	#2
tibob32 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 550	This may be controversial, but shouldn't users(read consumers) be aware of such dishonest business practices? I'd suggest making the infractions public.

03/10/2010, 09:33 PM	#4
Av8bluewater Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 763	Makes ya wonder if I got bum advice. Thanks for the sticky.

03/20/2010, 07:34 AM	#6
Geek Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 20	hang em out to dry!

03/20/2010, 11:27 PM	#8
saltn07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 58	Yeah that is a bunch of bull, people come here for honest advice not people pushing their product spewing whatever to sell it...

05/23/2010, 11:06 PM	#16
Reefmonster Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Perris, Ca Posts: 88	I have been scammed enough in my life to not rely on anyone's "glowing Review" of a product...I look for evidence that they are good products...The Tube, The net, and personal observation are usually what I use... Shame on whoever did the Shilling...too bad they weren't banned and exposed! __________________ "Endeavor to Persevere" ---- Abraham Lincoln "That's the best Reef Keeping advice I could offer you." Current Tank Info: 55 Gal Reef. 6 SPS Colonies Countless Shrooms, Capnella, Sinularia, Sarcophyton, Cynarina, Hydnophora, Torch corals, Green Star Polyps, a nasty little mantis shrimp that loves Snails! etc... Filter: Lifereef w/ 24" Venturi Skimmer. Refugia in

06/17/2010, 11:02 AM	#17
DanMgy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 204	wow I am really glad that I saw this, I replied to a post where an African prince said he would help pay for my new tank, all top of the line stuff, I just had to do give him some money so that he could transfer millions out of a bank account he had. This is bitter sweet to read ... I wanted my new tank, but now I am not going to get ripped off by that prince...

07/16/2011, 11:40 AM	#18
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Some of them never learn. Just whacked a shill for a fairly new lighting company. What a poor business model __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

09/13/2013, 05:38 AM	#19
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Just a reminder, this practice of shilling is still all too common. Sometimes even from long time members that have picked up commercial associations along the way and should know better. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.