BRS is basically QVC for Reefs Sometimes?

[jeffww]

Don't get me wrong. Some of their videos are great and contain very high quality information but I find myself just skipping to their actual evaluations/data gathering most of the time. It just feels like 90% of the time I'm getting infomercialized. Sometimes it even makes me question the validity of their findings.

 

[Deschutes541]

They are a business so their main goal is to sell product.

That being said, I highly doubt they would intentionally lie when their findings are testable. The damage done to their bottom line by not selling a product as well would be peanuts compared to lying, being found out, and seriously damaging their reputation.

 

[mrlavalamp]

when it comes to storefronts, I look for those that CURATE the products they sell.

BRS seems to curate its products well, where as someone like amazon just puts up whatever anyone has available.

Do you trust the specs you read on amazon pages? I dont. But I trust the specs I read on BRS. Marinedepot falls somewhere in between the two for me currently.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Don't get me wrong. Some of their videos are great and contain very high quality information but I find myself just skipping to their actual evaluations/data gathering most of the time. It just feels like 90% of the time I'm getting infomercialized. Sometimes it even makes me question the validity of their findings.

You hit the nail on the head. The videos are construed as data driven but mostly opinionated. They do a good job showing the audience that they try to stay neutral and telling you that they aren't bias, but the fact that their number one goal is to push product with the highest profit margin isn't lost on most. And when they get paid for making product videos should speak volumes to their motives.

It's easy to get lost in their videos, and many people take what they say as gospel. Consumers need to be objective. We have to separate fact from opinion, sometimes it's hard to do.

 

[PotomacReef]

It's easy to get lost in their videos, and many people take what they say as gospel. Consumers need to be objective. We have to separate fact from opinion, sometimes it's hard to do.

This is the key. I've watched almost every BRS video they have. I love those guys, and it's important to draw your own conclusions, stay within your own budget, and learn from their mistakes. Even with their obvious product placement, they have very informative videos. I can't blame them...they're a business!

It's a simple sales process that I really appreciate: Add value by providing knowledge - use new and high margin products to highlight common issues - inform the viewers of new products that solve these issues - run promos and drive social media interest ... sales!

 

[W1ngz]

Is it just me or is this something that's just changed in the last few months? I'd never expect they would evaluate or propose solutions they don't sell, but most of their videos up to about last fall always seemed to have a theme, or a reefer-centric goal.

The feel has changed, and it seems much more to be 'product spotlights' with a distinct 'buy this' feel instead of 'hey, learn something new!'

 

[SPSReeferMI]

They’ve saved me a lot of headaches. And their presentation style conveys a lot of information on complex topics.

 

[PatW]

They can get enthusiastic in plugging a product. But I find their videos well produced and I think they try to give information straight. Also, I believe they try not to sell any product that does not meet standards.

 

[AZMSGT]

Well, they are in business to sell items. OP, you hit the nail on the head. It’s QVC for reefers. They get paid to push products, just like QVC. All the product videos are bought and paid for by suppliers. You’ll never see a bad review.

 

[JoshO]

I have to say their videos have helped me gain confidence that I can actually handle a reef tank. It is fairly obvious that certain companies are preferred, and that is likely down to sponsorship or incentives but the effort the guys put into testing methods not just products is really helpful. And their presentation style had come on leaps and bounds since the early days!

 

[GlassMunky]

I’ll be honest, I like their videos for the information they can provide, but 90% of the time, even if I’m buying a product they are selling or promoting, I don’t buy it from them. I use the info they provide and then get the product from my LFS to give them my money. BRS, for me, is for when I can’t find it anywhere else, and as long as they aren’t more than amazon they will be my go to internet reef store.

 

[Vette67]

Their videos are informative, but misleading in that they test only products they sell. There are better, and often cheaper, products out there that you’ll never learn about from them. That’s the problem I have. They only sell high dollar products, so their videos naturally lead you to their high profit items. Ever single time. It’s marketing genius and the comments here prove how effective it is. So yes, QVC of reefing.

 

[madweazl]

I appreciate their attempt to provide customers with more than just a storefront. I do about 80% of my shopping there.

 

[Mr.Z]

I disagree with the sentiment that seems to be overly cynical to me. It’s absolutely possible to successfully run a business while genuinely putting the customer first.

Although they usually spend more video time on the higher margin products they sell, they don’t seem to hesitate to point out when those products are luxury goods and there are genuine alternatives out there.

 

[NS Mike D]

I find it easy to discern fact from opinion, and they do a pretty good job of presenting different sides of the coin. They almost always present their recommendation as an opinion but based on some sort of logic they have already shared.

It's not gospel but I do find their videos very helpful and a few I will link here as their video is much better at explaining a concept than I can type.

It does not bother me one bit that they are in the business of product selling. I'm an adult and capable of making. my own choices.

 

[GoVols]

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........................................... ;Hilarious

 

[flsalty]

They are a business so their main goal is to sell product.

That being said, I highly doubt they would intentionally lie when their findings are testable. The damage done to their bottom line by not selling a product as well would be peanuts compared to lying, being found out, and seriously damaging their reputation.

I haven't seen anyone accuse them of lying, unless it was lying by omission. For instance, if a product outperforms what they sell they aren't going to test that product against what they sell. I've only seen them test one product they don't sell, black boxes, and it was clear they were biased against them from the beginning. For the most part they are producing infomercials. They do have some good info though.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Their videos are informative, but misleading in that they test only products they sell. There are better, and often cheaper, products out there that you’ll never learn about from them. That’s the problem I have. They only sell high dollar products, so their videos naturally lead you to their high profit items. Ever single time. It’s marketing genius and the comments here prove how effective it is. So yes, QVC of reefing.

They only sell products they have tested and think are reliable. And it’s not “high profit items” - BRS would much prefer these things to be cheaper so they can turn their inventory over. It’s Ecotech that doesn’t let them cut the price.

 

[Xero]

LOL, some of these video coral auction sales are way more QVC than BRS as of lately, like even down to looping videos of the corals and stuff....it was like the person rotating their hand with the ring on their finger

 

[robbyg]

If you are new to the hobby you can quickly get pulled into buying a lot of expensive gear by them. On the flip side they do provide a ton of good info for newbies and experienced reefers. It’s a balancing act but I agree that of late it has been leaning more towards product pushing but it’s better to have videos from them than none at all.
After all who else in this hobby is setting up four identical tanks and trying out different methods?