(06-11-2017, 03:50 PM)GroomingDept Wrote: (06-11-2017, 01:21 PM)nikos.a Wrote: (06-11-2017, 11:23 AM)vtmax Wrote: This soap maker is not, as of yet, a paying member of another forum that rhymes with book hence no revenge stream for the forum's owner. Thus no links are allowed. Happened to me with Phoenix & Beau without knowing. I was confused thinking it was a shave forum until I realized it's just a store front for the owners shop.
I'm actually surprised that members avoid saying the name of the forum, which is "The Shave Nook". I've seen that several times.
I highly doubt that it's a store front. There are some great and generous members over there with plenty of knowlegde. I used to participate in a greek forum years ago, which was the worst forum I've ever participated. My next attempt was TSN. I learned a lot of things and I'm grateful. Phil is a nice guy, we've exchanged some pms in the past. The same with the most moderators I had the chance to interact. I can't understand where all this hate comes from. Some people need to relax a bit. I've made several presentations and reviews and nobody said me anything. I've never received a pm from a mod regarding a presentation.
The fact that they don't permit direct links to other sites it's totally understandable. It's unfair for those that actually pay for their presence. Each forum has some costs. I doubt that Andrew pays all the costs of this forum out of his own pocket. There are several banners from vendors and artisans here as well.
I wish I had the time to participate more in forums but this period I just can't. And I'm in no way affiliated with Phil or BG. I'm just saying my honest opinion.
DFS is the best shaving forum on the internet period
Several weeks before I launched GroomingDept I contacted Andrew via Instagram, and I offered him a sample, he loved it. Andrew was the 3rd person to buy soaps from the site. I was really surprised how Andrew's posts on other forums were received. Andrew only posted about his experience after he bought his first two soaps. I have not given any promotional products to anyone. Even my friends had to pay for the soaps. Nobody has been given any soap for advertising or mentioning.
There is only one guy on Facebook and Instagram his name is Ralph Gabb from TN who posts about my soaps before they're released. He's my main tester and a close friend. He didn't even get jars for free.
I can't say that a forum is better than others. I participate in 3. To me, they're slightly different. Most members participate in several and sometimes it's like a deja vu.
If I were a vendor/ artisan, I'd say the same because you never know. But everyone is entitled to his own opinion.
Offering samples is a common practise by upcoming artisans. It's not bad. But saying indirectly that a forum is not good because they have rules to protect the members doesn't seem ok to me. Again, I'm in no way affiliated with the mods of TSN. I don't even live in the US.
Maybe you sent one to Andrew because you knew he's the admin of the forum. But that doesn't have to mean anything. Basically, who cares. If your product is good, let it speak for itself. I didn't say that you gave away soaps in order to receive feedback. If your product isn't that good and is just a trend, we won't hear again about it in a few months. Time will tell, but I tend to believe the honest reviews of some members.
GroomingDept likes this post