Hydros and BRS?

[BrokenReefer]

If anyone thinks that what Aperture/Bertram/BRS (simply by being owned by private equity) did is so egregious that they should not get another dime of their business, need only look down to the device on which you are typing. Apple did this with their "iNAME ANY DEVICE" ecosystem; Google did that with their search engine business; Microsoft did that with their OS and 'productivity' suites; Samsung ... well there's no consumer product they don't seem to make ... people are lost in their beliefs that "for-profit" means that a business cannot adapt <business> own sustainability to the path <business> choose.

Let's just say that I had this same conversation with my sales team today; the only business I care about surviving is my own. I will do what is necessary to ensure the survivability of my company so I can continue to feed the 49 families that depend on it.

As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this "restructuring" is just positioning the balance sheet to look better for Bertram's exit strategy in a year or two.

 

[rtparty]

If anyone thinks that what Aperture/Bertram/BRS (simply by being owned by private equity) did is so egregious that they should not get another dime of their business, need only look down to the device on which you are typing. Apple did this with their "iNAME ANY DEVICE" ecosystem; Google did that with their search engine business; Microsoft did that with their OS and 'productivity' suites; Samsung ... well there's no consumer product they don't seem to make ... people are lost in their beliefs that "for-profit" means that a business cannot adapt <business> own sustainability to the path <business> choose.

Let's just say that I had this same conversation with my sales team today; the only business I care about surviving is my own. I will do what is necessary to ensure the survivability of my company so I can continue to feed the 49 families that depend on it.

As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this "restructuring" is just positioning the balance sheet to look better for Bertram's exit strategy in a year or two.

Absolutely!

99% in here complaining shop at Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Associated Foods, add in large retailer name here, etc….

We all use iOS or Android or Microsoft.

Every single one of them has done and is doing the same.

 

[GARRIGA]

Absolutely!

99% in here complaining shop at Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Associated Foods, add in large retailer name here, etc….

We all use iOS or Android or Microsoft.

Every single one of them has done and is doing the same.

Hate going to Walmart but still shop their knowing they have destroyed many a mom and pop shop but then so did Home Depot and bass pro shops. Now I just have it delivered and keep drivers employed. We try our best but end of day living is expensive and sacrifices to moral values might need to be made.

 

[theatrus]

If anyone thinks that what Aperture/Bertram/BRS (simply by being owned by private equity) did is so egregious that they should not get another dime of their business, need only look down to the device on which you are typing. Apple did this with their "iNAME ANY DEVICE" ecosystem; Google did that with their search engine business; Microsoft did that with their OS and 'productivity' suites; Samsung ... well there's no consumer product they don't seem to make ... people are lost in their beliefs that "for-profit" means that a business cannot adapt <business> own sustainability to the path <business> choose.

Let's just say that I had this same conversation with my sales team today; the only business I care about surviving is my own. I will do what is necessary to ensure the survivability of my company so I can continue to feed the 49 families that depend on it.

As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this "restructuring" is just positioning the balance sheet to look better for Bertram's exit strategy in a year or two.

Correct. Its nice to have choices of the ecosystem, but upwards consolidation is a pretty common move. There are massive economies of scales to vertically integrate this, even if its just reducing the reseller overhead from every transaction.

This hobby is not a huge business, but enough that it makes sense. If the product is good, I'll continue to engage with the larger outfit, but I still want choice in the market so will support multiple sides.

Aperture in one corner will try to grow, and CoralVue already had a significant market share in the ODM/import market just didn't build their own resale arm.

Some of the "disappointment" on BRS is that it very much grew as a "friendly" face for the community, which was in direct push back to the established pet/reef/aquarium channels at the time it grew (imagine going to PetsMart for reef equipment or two-part additives or food back then). But everything is cyclic, and a new breed of manufacturers and resellers will come into play to fill the gaps that emerge.

 

[BrokenReefer]

Hate going to Walmart but still shop their knowing they have destroyed many a mom and pop shop but then so did Home Depot and bass pro shops. Now I just have it delivered and keep drivers employed. We try our best but end of day living is expensive and sacrifices to moral values might need to be made.

The convenience of the Walmart+ never made sense to me until I had two little kids…. Man, the free time my Wife and I used to have, haha.

 

[BrokenReefer]

Some of the "disappointment" on BRS is that it very much grew as a "friendly" face for the community, which was in direct push back to the established pet/reef/aquarium channels at the time it grew (imagine going to PetsMart for reef equipment or two-part additives or food back then). But everything is cyclic, and a new breed of manufacturers and resellers will come into play to fill the gaps that emerge.

I think that this is the crux of every issue here in this thread.

They found a very direct (and monetized I’m sure) method for having commercials in a “new” tech/information space. That gave them the credibility from so many, allowed them to then expand into all of their experiment videos and capture interest in the brand. All an incredibly smart marketing move, one that truly shaped a brand in a way that I don’t think this hobby has seen.

Next up is the influencer craze, the reality YouTubers that sprinkle in product placements with a subtle caveat that it is a paid promotion. I watch Daily Driven Exotics (I love cars and their content is fun enough to keep me engaged) and I think they got their hand slapped for the sneaky paid promos, I’m sure that is the next frontier we will see with this hobby. Yes, I know that some ‘podcasts’ are sponsored but that’s not what I’m saying. Example would be Polo Reef talking about tank husbandry then slyly dropping the name of a coral glue they only use because it’s the best…. As a fictious example.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I think that this is the crux of every issue here in this thread.

They found a very direct (and monetized I’m sure) method for having commercials in a “new” tech/information space. That gave them the credibility from so many, allowed them to then expand into all of their experiment videos and capture interest in the brand. All an incredibly smart marketing move, one that truly shaped a brand in a way that I don’t think this hobby has seen.

Next up is the influencer craze, the reality YouTubers that sprinkle in product placements with a subtle caveat that it is a paid promotion. I watch Daily Driven Exotics (I love cars and their content is fun enough to keep me engaged) and I think they got their hand slapped for the sneaky paid promos, I’m sure that is the next frontier we will see with this hobby. Yes, I know that some ‘podcasts’ are sponsored but that’s not what I’m saying. Example would be Polo Reef talking about tank husbandry then slyly dropping the name of a coral glue they only use because it’s the best…. As a fictious example.

Most of YouTube (and social media) is marketing. But honestly, that’s what people want to watch. It’s a very inexpensive way for companies to advertise compared to traditional methods.

 

[GARRIGA]

The convenience of the Walmart+ never made sense to me until I had two little kids…. Man, the free time my Wife and I used to have, haha.

I order every Monday. Get delivery after 4pm when market closed. Get everything else from Amazon except for meat. Go to the store but now I have way more free time to do what I please. Life is short. Not going to waste it shopping

 

[BrokenReefer]

Most of YouTube (and social media) is marketing. But honestly, that’s what people want to watch. It’s a very inexpensive way for companies to advertise compared to traditional methods.

100% agree, I have a Rok Form case on my iPhone because of DDE. Stupid as it may sound, they throw their phones into walls on the ads and I said “that’ll definitely survive hitting some ballast (big rocks)!”

 

[merkmerk73]

Guess what?

BRS updated their prices on those Aquaforest sponge/plates that I mentioned earlier!

I wish I had taken screenshots for proof, but I'll take it.

I got nowhere reaching out to customer service, but whining about it on a major r2reef thread got it fixed

 

[Oldreefer44]

If anyone thinks that what Aperture/Bertram/BRS (simply by being owned by private equity) did is so egregious that they should not get another dime of their business, need only look down to the device on which you are typing. Apple did this with their "iNAME ANY DEVICE" ecosystem; Google did that with their search engine business; Microsoft did that with their OS and 'productivity' suites; Samsung ... well there's no consumer product they don't seem to make ... people are lost in their beliefs that "for-profit" means that a business cannot adapt <business> own sustainability to the path <business> choose.

Let's just say that I had this same conversation with my sales team today; the only business I care about surviving is my own. I will do what is necessary to ensure the survivability of my company so I can continue to feed the 49 families that depend on it.

As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this "restructuring" is just positioning the balance sheet to look better for Bertram's exit strategy in a year or two.

The difference is that companies like Bertram typically do not invest in a company like BRS. They have teams of analysts that figure out how to cut expenses, first in line is payroll, than they position it to be resold as a whole or in pieces. Agree with what you said about the tech companies except they are looking in the long term and private equity views things in much shorter time lines.

 

[shred5]

Next up is the influencer craze, the reality YouTubers that sprinkle in product placements with a subtle caveat that it is a paid promotion.

This is a big issue. I am into woodworking and tools as another hobby. There is a influencer that I feel is honest in that area.
He showed some of the contracts he has been offered. The amount of money they can get is staggering for one video and I am not talking the YouTube money this is just the manufacturer.. The reason he showed these contracts was to show what some of these companies required, like review of content and final say what is in it etc. He was like this is not a review it is a advertisement and I do not do them. He said you know what, if I do not take the money the next guy will.

Now to make it worse he has reviewed stuff and sometime has been not so positive and has been threatened by companies layers to take his videos down.

So it is hard to believe any reviews. I see it in this hobby all the time. While there is not as much money there is free product. No one wants to not get free equipment because they gave a bad review or a chance to do a video before everyone else gets a product.

Especially as soon as I see sponsorship I know it is over for the reviewer for me. No more honest opinions.

I believe we see a crash coming here and allot of backlash.

I think YouTube should take some responsibility for their content to.. I mean I can put a lab coat on claim I am a doctor and give bad medical advice on a video. Someone is going to take this advice and get seriously hurt or die. YouTube should be responsible for content posted. All the money they make, videos should be reviewed first and stuff should be verified..

 

[rtparty]

This is a big issue. I am into woodworking and tools as another hobby. There is a influencer that I feel is honest in that area.
He showed some of the contracts he has been offered. The amount of money they can get is staggering for one video and I am not talking the YouTube money this is just the manufacturer.. The reason he showed these contracts was to show what some of these companies required, like review of content and final say what is in it etc. He was like this is not a review it is a advertisement and I do not do them. He said you know what, if I do not take the money the next guy will.

Now to make it worse he has reviewed stuff and sometime has been not so positive and has been threatened by companies layers to take his videos down.

So it is hard to believe any reviews. I see it in this hobby all the time. While there is not as much money there is free product. No one wants to not get free equipment because they gave a bad review or a chance to do a video before everyone else gets a product.

Especially as soon as I see sponsorship I know it is over for the reviewer for me. No more honest opinions.

I believe we see a crash coming here and allot of backlash.

I think YouTube should take some responsibility for their content to.. I mean I can put a lab coat on claim I am a doctor and give bad medical advice on a video. Someone is going to take this advice and get seriously hurt or die. YouTube should be responsible for content posted. All the money they make, videos should be reviewed first and stuff should be verified..

And who decides what “truth” is? The FBI? CIA? We saw just how poorly this went during Covid when they tried to censor and control all the information.

What if the “experts” decide the saltwater hobby is what’s destroying the oceans and they just censor every video talking about the hobby? Then they allow only videos that vilify the hobby so they can shut it down?

Censorship will never be the answer to spread the truth. It only spreads whatever message those in charge want pushed.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

This is a big issue. I am into woodworking and tools as another hobby. There is a influencer that I feel is honest in that area.
He showed some of the contracts he has been offered. The amount of money they can get is staggering for one video and I am not talking the YouTube money this is just the manufacturer.. The reason he showed these contracts was to show what some of these companies required, like review of content and final say what is in it etc. He was like this is not a review it is a advertisement and I do not do them. He said you know what, if I do not take the money the next guy will.

Now to make it worse he has reviewed stuff and sometime has been not so positive and has been threatened by companies layers to take his videos down.

So it is hard to believe any reviews. I see it in this hobby all the time. While there is not as much money there is free product. No one wants to not get free equipment because they gave a bad review or a chance to do a video before everyone else gets a product.

Especially as soon as I see sponsorship I know it is over for the reviewer for me. No more honest opinions.

I believe we see a crash coming here and allot of backlash.

I think YouTube should take some responsibility for their content to.. I mean I can put a lab coat on claim I am a doctor and give bad medical advice on a video. Someone is going to take this advice and get seriously hurt or die. YouTube should be responsible for content posted. All the money they make, videos should be reviewed first and stuff should be verified..

YouTube requires the paid promotion label when the uploader get something of value for free and makes a video about it. As for censorship, why stop at YouTube? Maybe the mods here should validate every post for accuracy before it is made? That outta be fun for them.

 

[rtparty]

YouTube requires the paid promotion label when the uploader get something of value for free and makes a video about it. As for censorship, why stop at YouTube? Maybe the mods here should validate every post for accuracy before it is made? That outta be fun for them.

Orwell warned about all this

 

[shred5]

And who decides what “truth” is? The FBI? CIA? We saw just how poorly this went during Covid when they tried to censor and control all the information.

What if the “experts” decide the saltwater hobby is what’s destroying the oceans and they just censor every video talking about the hobby? Then they allow only videos that vilify the hobby so they can shut it down?

Censorship will never be the answer to spread the truth. It only spreads whatever message those in charge want pushed.

It is not sensor ship checking to see if a doctor is really a doctor. If I say I am a doctor I should be able to provide proof. I can not open a clinic up with out it.

 

[rtparty]

It is not sensor ship checking to see if a doctor is really a doctor.

Doctors disagree all the time. So which doctor is correct if they’re both doctors?

 

[shred5]

YouTube requires the paid promotion label when the uploader get something of value for free and makes a video about it. As for censorship, why stop at YouTube? Maybe the mods here should validate every post for accuracy before it is made? That outta be fun for them.

How do they know? How would they know if a product was free or not?
They can require it but it does not mean it will happen.

Doctors disagree all the time. So which doctor is correct if they’re both doctors?

There not doctors just because you put a lab coat on a video does not make you a doctor.
I can make a video right now claim I am a doctor and the video will go up no questions asked.
I am saying Youtube should very that this content is given by actual doctors if they claim to be a doctor..
I never made any comment on the content.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

How do they know? How would they know if a product was free or not?
They can require it but it does not mean it will happen.


There not doctors just because you put a lab coat on a video does not make you a doctor.
I can make a video right now claim I am a doctor and the video will go up no questions asked.
I am saying Youtube should very that this content is given by actual doctors if they claim to be a doctor..
I never made any comment on the content.

How will they know if you’re a doctor or not? The adult viewer has accountability as well to not believe everything they see.

 

[rtparty]

How do they know? How would they know if a product was free or not?
They can require it but it does not mean it will happen.


There not doctors just because you put a lab coat on a video does not make you a doctor.
I can make a video right now claim I am a doctor and the video will go up no questions asked.
I am saying Youtube should very that this content is given by actual doctors if they claim to be a doctor..
I never made any comment on the content.

It is on you to do research and figure out who people are. How would they verify every single person uploading videos? That’s impossible.

What if they’re a doctor from another country and YouTube has no way to verify them? They just get silenced?

Again, we have more than three years worth of recent data to show just how horribly this turns out for the population as a whole