John Abela's quilt review

[Justin Baker]

Both of his recent reviews didn’t seem very reviewy, they just seemed like he was rambling on without focus.

[David L]

“you can others here have over and over again tried to DEMAND that i not ask about disclosure on a review that john SPECIFICALLY posted linking to his review on this public website forum”

Wait, what?  Demand? You are being on the wrong side of delusional here. I think most of us got your point with the very first post.  However, your constant repetition suggests some other motive. Attention? Sleep deprivation?

[James holden]

Hmmm david

some nice folks have messaged me privately and pointed out that although they agree with me …

its pretty useless to argue with folks hell bent on personal attacks and snark for asking a simple question

so enjoy your “review”

im off to do a bit of lazy climbing outside

there is an earlier thread out there on the FKT quilt for folks that want to discuss it …

im off this thread … Too many marmots have died

;)

[Nick Gatel]

For the most part I disdain the concept of Gear Ambassador and Sponsorship. As consumers it is our responsibility to separate the bias from facts in gear reviews. I am skeptical of any review created by a Gear Ambassador or Sponsored individual, as well as the true credibility of anyone who reviews gear. For me it is always “buyer beware,” but does not necessarily mean that a Sponsored or Ambassador hiker is biased.

People reviewing gear should disclose any affiliation they have with a manufacturer, and more important than disclosing Sponsorship or Ambassadorship, they should disclose any remuneration they receive if someone clicks a link to the manufacturer’s website.

Now, I am an old guy in my 60’s, so I don’t understand the in and outs of the Internet. So can someone explain to me why when I link to a product on the manufacturer’s website, it is just a simple URL to the product. As in the link below I used when I reviewed the Deschutes CF shelter.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/tarps/DeschutesCF.html

It appears that Dave Chenault’s links all look like mine too.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

However when I click on the most recent two reviews on Abela’s website I get this long URL, which includes “UTM Campaign” that, to me, might signify some sort of marketing? Is this correct? Also, for some reason the post does not word-wrap the entire URL, so you would need to go to the URL to see the entire text.

MLD FKT Quilt:

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=227&utm_source=hikelighter.com&utm_medium=web&utm_term=hikelighter.com&utm_content=sidebar&utm_campaign=hikelighter.com

 

zPacks Windshell:

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/wind_shell.shtml?products_id=133&utm_source=hikelighter.com&utm_medium=web&utm_term=hikelighter.com&utm_content=sidebar&utm_campaign=hikelighter.com

 

Or this SectionHiker link to the Nemo Hornet, which definitely looks like an affiliate advertising doohikey:

https://www.rei.com/product/880476/nemo-hornet-2p-tent?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-3184-_-3816-_-NA&avad=3816_db493d4d

Or this link from Andrew Skurka that includes some sort of “avad” reference:

http://www.backcountry.com/delorme-inreach-se-satellite-communicator?avad=136055_ab4a6b25

Why are these last 4 links above so complicated when I can get to the same products using these simple links?

MLD FKT Quilt: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=227

zPacks Windshell: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/wind_shell.shtml

Nemo Hornet at REI: https://www.rei.com/product/880476/nemo-hornet-2p-tent

InReach SE at Backcountry.com: http://www.backcountry.com/delorme-inreach-se-satellite-communicator

Instead of just copying and pasting the product URL, why are these bloggers creating huge long URL’s?

When I clicked on this BPL ad on the right side of my screen, I also see “UTM” but it is “UTM Source” not “UTM Campaign.”

http://www.backcountry.com/delorme-earthmate-app-for-mobile?CMP_SKU=DEL0007&MER=0406&utm_source=Criteo&utm_medium=Display&CMP_ID=DM_CRT001&mv_pc=r350&mr:referralID=8f64843c-1b98-11e6-8195-005056947d48

Please, can you computer guru’s please educate me on what all of this means?

Edit: I just noticed that Abela’s link also has “UTM Source” just like the BPL link to the Backcountry.com ad. 

 

 

 

 

[Paul Magnanti]

As a person who does affiliate marketing, but is not sponsored (a brief experiment did not work out well for me of the gear company. Lesson learned.), it is an interesting dynamic.

I did not do it for years as I felt, well, “dirty” about it.  A long car ride with a well-known backpacker changed that idea.  A fair amount of people are using my site as a resource..is it wrong to passively get income from my advice? Seems it is a low key way to gain a small amount of money off my knowledge and experience.

I do have two pretty prominent disclaimers on my site. I do keep the ads as text only and low key. And I try to suggest gear or products I use and/or would actually suggest to my friends and family.

Figure if the profit is honest and upfront..well, it is honest profit. :)

I do not know if it is the correct answer. Or the proper answer.

I do know it feels right for me.

 

 

[Jerry Adams]

I see no problem with getting paid, gear, ads, whatever, as long as it’s disclosed.

a gig’s a gig

[Nick Gatel]

There’s nothing with getting paid to promote a product as long as it is easily determined as such. To get paid for a gear review with a free or discounted piece of gear should be prominently mentioned, any income derived from the sales of the reviewed gear even more so. But I don’t unterstand how “affiliate” sales via clicks work.

[Roger Caffin]

Dear All

Clearly I did not think things through well enough when I restored this thread. I did not expect it would develop into such acrimony. My mistake.

For the record: someone deleted almost every one of John Abela’s postings and reviews, deleted the titles, and moved them all into a restricted Forum Channel where access proved to be a bit tricky. But I do not know who did it.

This was only possible for the original author due to a poor (default) value for one of the Forum SW settings which permitted this action. In view of this unfortunate event, that option has been turned off, with some inconvenience to all other Members. Sorry about that too.

The only other people who could have done this were Ryan Jordan or myself. I can assure you we just do not have the time or interest to have done this. I guess if someone knew John Abela’s password they could have logged in as him.

A lot of John Abela’s postings have since gone due to his actions. That was his choice.

For the record, BPL DOES require full disclosure whenever anyone posts about any gear in which they may have any commercial or vested interest. It is perfectly acceptible to politely ask the author of a gear posting whether they were given the gear in question, or whether they paid full price for it.

As this thread is becoming a bit too acrimonious for my taste, I am closing it to further postings. Sorry about that as well.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
Online Community Monitor
Backpacking Light.

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