BRS is basically QVC for Reefs Sometimes?

[Tariq]

I have been watching BRS videos for a very long time and it never occurred to me that they were “pushing” certain products. Their recommendations are based upon data and hard numbers. i enjoy their videos and the information they have shared over the years. Their customer service is second to none. They have been my go to store for a very long time and I don’t plan on changing that.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

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.

Would it surprise you that the information they are telling you is paid advertising? The counterpoints that they choose are minor at best. It's clever, you get paid to push a product and then offer some negatives and everyone thinks they're being unbias. And because of that, no matter how unbiased they may seem, it's still paid advertising.

 

[jeffrey750750]

Personally I have learned alot of information from them. I take bits and piece's from brs and other refers and come up with a conclusion. You can only do what you can do with a budget in mind. Everyone wants the new Corvette but I'm happy with my kia soul! Today I actually made my first online order with brs.

 

[JCOLE]

I do feel that they push the products they sell. However, why wouldn't they? Their only business is to make money selling Reef Related gear. Honestly, they don't have to make any videos at all. Do the videos help push the product they sell so they can continue a business, yes. However, are their videos informative, yes.

However, with that said. I do feel there are other products that are better and cheaper that they do not showcase. They don't sell them so why would they spotlight them? Their goal is to have you spend money with them not someone else. I know what I want and how much to spend if needed. My only issue is it does seem their videos are geared toward the newer hobbyist that are maybe not so informed when it comes to gear pricing, etc.

I like what BRS does and I will continue to support a company that puts out reef related videos.

 

[NS Mike D]

Would it surprise you that the information they are telling you is paid advertising? The counterpoints that they choose are minor at best. It's clever, you get paid to push a product and then offer some negatives and everyone thinks they're being unbias. And because of that, no matter how unbiased they may seem, it's still paid advertising.

No. I stated that it doesn't bother me that they are selling product and that their recommendations are opinions. I didn't think that was not clear. Maybe, since you think no one is capable recognizing there is bias, you thought I wouldn't make a connection between their recommendations and a profit motive.

I am fully capable of making my own choices, seeking different sources of information, and filtering out bias. There is a reason why I labeled their videos as not being gospel, but that does not require one to throw the baby out with the bath water. They have some very good information in those videos that is corroborated by experienced reefers on this site.

 

[Grill]

I shop several sources for equipment. If there is something in particular I’m looking for and BRS has it at the same cost or a few dollars more I’ll most likely purchase from them, just because of what they have done and continue to do for the hobby. I do agree that sometimes the videos feel a bit “infomercialized” (think they covered the Radion G5 3 or 4 times the first week it was released) But taking all the convoluted and often conflicting info on the web and putting it in a clear simplified video is an asset to the reef community, especially the BRS investigates series.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

ive learned a few things from brs, however ive never bought anything from them.

i find their videos fun. love to watch them actually!

you know i go to the strip club and get a lap dance, but i know the girl working there doesnt love me or want to go home with me. its just a bit of fun.

 

[2Wheelsonly]

I think they have done an amazing job riding with the industry and are industry leaders in their respective space. Nothing but respect for that company, they really made it easier for me to get into this hobby back in the day. I remember watching their videos back around 2009 and they have come A LOOOONG way since then! What ever happened to the guy that was in the original videos with Ryan? Roger I think he name was?

If they carry the product I need they are my first and only choice every single time.

 

[NS Mike D]

Personally I have learned alot of information from them. I take bits and piece's from brs and other refers and come up with a conclusion. You can only do what you can do with a budget in mind. Everyone wants the new Corvette but I'm happy with my kia soul! Today I actually made my first online order with brs.

As I look over my tank, the bulk (pun not intended, at first) of what I purchased did not come from BRS, but the information I got fro them helped me decide on my final purchase. My lights are Corona RapidLEDs. I found their videos on reef lights very helpful and a major factor in my going with the Coronas.

I decided on sicce pumps with their and others' input but I didn't buy from them. My tunzies I think I got from them. My DIY ATO - one of my pride and joy DIY low budget projects used their kit which was the only one that met my needs. Their videos were very helpful in understanding the pros and cons of ATO set ups and kudos to them for being my final solution. My media reactor was from them which I purchased when another nano media reactor That I did not buy from them broke (bad design) and the BRS was better designed, and easier to use. Kudos for them for understanding my needs. I didn't need them to tell me what was bad about my broken reactor.

From reading countless threads, I don't think it's unusual (at least from R2R readers) to seek advice from multiple sources including BRS before pulling the trigger.


Certainly, those who take their videos as gospel are of whom PT Barnum spoke.

 

[samnaz]

Unfortunately, as a long time BRS supporter/customer/fan/lover, I have to agree. Rarely do they put out videos lately that I even bother watching. Most of them are just long infomercials for products I don't need or want or care about. Bums me out.

 

[samnaz]

I think they have done an amazing job riding with the industry and are industry leaders in their respective space. Nothing but respect for that company, they really made it easier for me to get into this hobby back in the day. I remember watching their videos back around 2009 and they have come A LOOOONG way since then! What ever happened to the guy that was in the original videos with Ryan? Roger I think he name was?

If they carry the product I need they are my first and only choice every single time.

Reid! Love classic BRS videos.

 

[Homewrecker]

Lots of people seem to forget that BRS is a business and they're in the business of selling you things...
You don't even have to buy things from BRS to make them money. Simply watching their videos already generates income.

While their data looks to be factual please realize that IMO I don't think they would ever say anything really bad about the products they carry...especially if it makes them a lot of money.

This is similar to R2R in general though. While its an amazing platform it is also selling you a product and that product is content/ vendors.

Everyone is in the business to make money(thats not a bad thing), you have to realize that no one would put in this much time/effort for free.

 

[Smarkow]

I am a huge BRS fan. BRS is undoubtedly the company that got me through my first year of reefing, so naturally I feel a connection with their educational videos. And as a hobbyist I am grateful that they might bring others into the hobby and make this community better:

I think we would all agree that this hobby is best when many people have a clear pathway to success, a pathway that BRS is leading us down. More reefers making it 1 year + in this hobby means:
More tank build threads, better R2R experience
More captive bred corals and better frag swaps, better national conferences
Greater sales volume for companies keeping them afloat and incentivizing them to develop new gear
Political power of aquarists supporting sustainable fisheries like the Hawaiian one
Aquarists supporting, and sometimes performing or inspiring research
Teaching our kids responsibility for another creature, some science/biology, and promoting inquisitiveness
Brining new people with new ideas into the hobby
And finally - more successful first year in the hobby means fewer livestock losses and more ethical treatment of our pets

Think about the biggest cost for most businesses - attracting and retaining new customers. BRS does our hobby, and their bottom line, a great service by showing one (or a few) pathways of high likelihood success to new hobbyists.

 

[Spieg]

BRS = MoH (Masters of Hype) who're all-together too eager to believe their own spin.

One gripe in specific would be any of their test kit reviews example; "Best of 2019 (insert chemistry here)". They'll have 5 staff members all test a sample of the same water and report the values indicated by the test. They then proceed declare the most accurate test kit to be the one with the most similar results among those 5. What they fail to do (and this is critical) is to include a comparison to an actual laboratory test (something like ICP). I don't care if they had 5 tests with absolutely identical results if they're all wrong. I wan't to know what test kit is closest to reality.

Also, I believe they sometimes fail to post negative customer reviews on products.

 

[John08007]

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.

This is true, brs has become an authority in reef keeping. If im researching something and there's a brs video then I'm watching it.

 

[d3vhound]

Tough to find a competitor with the same track record though. The key is supporting the smaller youtube channels that look at things without bias. Melevs reef fits that criteria (at least for me). But it's sad to see even some small youtubers falling into the marketing trap. Like we get it, ecotech, brightwell, and marine depot sent you all this gear but at least try to make comparisions instead of just stating "this is the best, I wouldn't use anything else".

 

[robbyg]

Tough to find a competitor with the same track record though. The key is supporting the smaller youtube channels that look at things without bias. Melevs reef fits that criteria (at least for me). But it's sad to see even some small youtubers falling into the marketing trap. Like we get it, ecotech, brightwell, and marine depot sent you all this gear but at least try to make comparisions instead of just stating "this is the best, I wouldn't use anything else".

I really wish i could watch Melev's videos, but of late they are like 2+ hours long. It's really hard to spend 2+ hours watching a YouTube video.

 

[jeffww]

I really wish i could watch Melev's videos, but of late they are like 2+ hours long. It's really hard to spend 2+ hours watching a YouTube video.

Meleve has his store too. But he seems to stock whatever he's using on his DT.

 

[robbyg]

Meleve has his store too. But he seems to stock whatever he's using on his DT.

I am not sure what you mean.

 

[DancingShark]

They are not as bad as QVC yet. I mean come on.