Agreed. Marketing and advertising is all theater. That’s why influencers pimp products from their sponsors as best, but when a sponsor leaves and a new one comes on board you know what happens. We were doing ads in over 30 different monthly and weekly hunting and shooting publications, and in many we had multiple clients in each. That’s a lot of ad buys and creative. These publications and nearly all media will grease the wheels that feed them. Like any other industry. Outdoor TV is pay to play, and so was print. Publications would offer to let advertisers write their own reviews. I hated that, but that’s how it works for most pubs. And the ones who say they don’t will not bite the hands that feed them. There are not many reviewers who claim to do unbias reviews, and even fewer who are “truly” unbias and are not influenced in some way, even if it’s the hope of future sponsorship. I negotiated a lot of sponsor and influencer deals too. The up and comers are hungry and let’s face it, one cannot really trust any review. Use your own judgement and choose your sources of information wisely.
I’m actually from Manitoba, Canada. Had a horse ranch out there with a shooting range on my property out to 400 yards and commuted into Winnipeg every day. Bowhunted huge Canadian whitetail on my own property. Hunted ducks and geese within short quad rides from my house. Raised my kids there. It was a great life that I miss. I operated the business there for years, then moved to California in 2012 (long story). I never planned to stay…but women…. I finally moved to North Dakota in September 2023. The business is still In Cali, but I work remote now and travel when I need to. So Cali yes and no.
As for the rest, the other post is exactly right, that’s why there are warranties and returns and lemon laws. No one is perfect. Not everyone is honest either. Anyone who’s ever bought a vehicle, even a high end or reliable brand, has likely had a warranty claim.
Let’s face it… if you own a business and have some control over a situation, you’re likely wise to exercise it, like making sure a rifle shoots. Unless it was agreed to be a random from the warehouse. I think any reasonable person would do the same.