Latest BRSTV video.

[GillMeister]

Did anyone watch BRStv top 20 things i would never buy again? I usually get some good information out of these videos but this one. MY GAWD, I couldn't get past the first two things. Never buy Instant Ocean. Really? Lots of people use IO with fantastic results. Never buy Arm & Hammer baking soda for soda ash dosing because it's not pure enough? It's food grade BAKING soda for crying out loud. I stopped watching right then and there.

They used to have good science based comparisons and product reviews. If this is what they're presenting they are really getting desperate for subject matter.

 

[homer1475]

BRS is no different the your LFS. They are in business to sell you things. Why say that IO is good when they can push you to buy TM @ 3 times the cost? Why say baking soda is good when they can push you to buy their sodium bicarb?

At the of the day, they push the products they sell. Plain and simple.

 

[homer1475]

Wow I can't believe I just watched the entire thing! I so want that hour and 20 back in my life. The BRS hype machine in full effect in that video. Not a single thing they say they wouldn't buy again, do they not have another more costly option on their own site.

Someone should ask the great BRS, if it wasn't for baking soda, and @Randy Holmes-Farley where would they be selling "their" 2 part(FWIW "their" 2 part is based of randys DIY 2 part and can be used the same in any calculator)?

@Bulk Reef Supply used to be a reputable company, lately they are no different then a bad LFS trying to shill products on you.

Love how they claimed baking soda isn't food grade! It's used for baking you morons. It is food grade.

 

[bdouglas119]

I love how people get upset that an online store is trying to sell products. How do you think the investigates series, lighting testing etc get paid for? Obviously they have big brand sponsors, and obviously they need to sell things they cant just do it for free. When you walk into the LFS do you get mad when they tell you about ecotech when there are cheaper options? I dont understand why people get so annoyed they try to sell their products. There are plenty of times they pointed out better options then their own products. For example the red sea DIY lid, Tropic Marin Balling method instead of using their Mag, and they have pushed All for Reef for smaller tanks. I'm sure they make way more money selling their stuff but do about as good of a job as any retail place can on being honest.

The light test are the same way, They give you apples to apple comparisons on most of the lights they sell. Take it as you want it. They could have just pushed for radions, turns out ReefBrite has better spread.

Do people get upset that Saltwateraquariums.com only talks about neptune and pushes for ecotech all the time?

So my question is what do you want out of them?

 

[homer1475]

So my question is what do you want out of them?

For them to be honest.

I get that they are in business to sell products, but as of late, they simple push products they sell and bash anything else they don't.

I would almost bet that the markup on the TM products is way higher then their own. The reason they push TM products.

 

[burningmime]

Wow I can't believe I just watched the entire thing! I so want that hour and 20 back in my life. The BRS hype machine in full effect in that video. Not a single thing they say they wouldn't buy again, do they not have another more costly option on their own site.

Not a single thing? From what I remember (saw it a few days ago), Ryan said he wouldn't buy...

* 2 UVs (that saves you $500 right there)
* an algae reactor (more expensive than scrubbers or fuge lights)
* the Hanna nitrate or calcium (the most expensive test kit for both of those)
* an ORP probe
* he might not buy the Dos for auto water changes because the python was so easy

I understand you're angry, but you shouldn't post blatant falsehoods.

 

[josephxsxn]

Agreed the last one was more if a radio show talk host but they still has a few good tips. All in all though I feel they have published a huge wealth of quality info historically. They are some of the first places (BRS Videos) that I used to go to for trusted advice.

 

[lstmysock11]

For them to be honest.

I get that they are in business to sell products, but as of late, they simple push products they sell and bash anything else they don't.

I would almost bet that the markup on the TM products is way higher then their own. The reason they push TM products.

You want honest find someone who makes videos that is not trying to sell his or her product that they are showing you. BRS goal is to sell you their stuff

 

[homer1475]

Not angry one bit.

Listen I know they are in business to sell you things, as long as you know that going into watching their vids, it's ok. I buy 90% of my reefing gear from them, so I get it.

Ok I will give them some things they say I would agree with, but 99% of it is BS.

 

[KStatefan]

I also though this video was not very good. I know it is a marketing video but there has to be good information in there or people will stop watching.

 

[bdouglas119]

Not a single thing? From what I remember (saw it a few days ago), Ryan said he wouldn't buy...

* 2 UVs (that saves you $500 right there)
* an algae reactor (more expensive than scrubbers or fuge lights)
* the Hanna nitrate or calcium (the most expensive test kit for both of those)
* an ORP probe
* he might not buy the Dos for auto water changes because the python was so easy

I understand you're angry, but you shouldn't post blatant falsehoods.

Exactly, they are about as honest as any retail business can be if not more. Of course they arent going to push product they dont sell...who would? And just bc Tropic Marin is expensive to the consumer doesnt mean its super high margin for them. I used to be in automotive electronics selling high end car audio. Some of the most expensive gear had the lowest profit margin by percent.

 

[Weasel1960]

You should have watched the whole show. Randy’s IO comment was based on the fact he could afford a higher grade salt, nothing more than any of the salt threads here on R2R. And Ryan bashed several products that BRS sells that aren’t cheap. Is it marketing, to some degree...yes, but sometimes folks on this site get to much into the weeds.

 

[MikeTheNewbie]

I always take what I see in YouTube with a grain of salt... or a bucket ;)
Try to understand the angle or the underlying motive. There will always be a balance between pushing a product and providing beneficial information to the viewer.
If you do much of the first, I’d assume you’ll lose people’s trust.
BRS keeps a good balance, I’ve learned much from them. I even like BRS ads, I watch them when they come out rather than waiting for YouTube to show them as ads. I think BRS could use the YouTube sponsored video message or a disclaimer when they try to push sales. I bet people would still watch the video, buy the better product, and would continue trusting the brand. Rather than having that odd feeling of being compelled to buy something. I’m convinced that BRS listens to feedback as they stopped showing those zen / master series style videos hehe.

 

[GillMeister]

I do feel that BRS has given us great informational videos over the years. It's the reason I'm monitoring pH closely and dosing nitrates. Most of these videos were backed up by data and science. Even the product informational vids seemed objective, more like consumer reports.

This last one was awful. At least Ryan was doing a good job of gently calling Randy out. It might have been worth watching some more of Ryan lifting an eyebrow as Randy sits there with that huge grin. A thought bubble would have been a hilarious addition.