When to stop supporting a hunting brand

[IDVortex]

Well, actually curious. And hopefully this doesn't turn into a dumpster fire. (If it's better this gets deleted, that's fine!)

But, with SO, now NF. I'm curious.

When do you stop supporting a company for who they bring on as a influencer, or make political opinions?
And besides not using them anymore, who did you replace them with, plus did you also activately reach out to the company to state the reasoning you left them and no longer support them?

Lastly, what are you doing proactively to counter act the company to let other companies know that kind of behavior isn't wanted within the community?

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

Never. I dont look that deep into it. i see a product i like, at a price i agree with, so i get it. simple as that for me.

 

[JF_Idaho]

Can't really say. If you dig deep enough you can find a reason to not support *most* companies. Then you'll have nothing left. The outrage train is a train to nowhere.

I'm sure there is something that some company can do to irk me and I will find an alternative if possible.

 

[180ls1]

I think we need to tread carefully here. The whole "Why don't they have our backs" movement a couple of years ago condemning hunting companies for not being politically active was nauseating and really outside the lines of what a business should do.

 

[CorbLand]

I dont go looking for things but when a company puts it out there for you to see...well, I dont ignore it.

I send an email explaining why I will not support them until something changes and move on.

There are plenty of companies that make quality products. Capitalism works and it works both ways.

 

[IDVortex]

Can't really say. If you dig deep enough you can find a reason to not support *most* companies. Then you'll have nothing left. The outrage train is a train to nowhere.

I'm sure there is something that some company can do to irk me and I will find an alternative if possible.

This is where I fall back on. I guarantee even if a business doesn't openly state it, they do something I don't agree with. But if I boycott everyone, I now have to make my own cell phones.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Something else to consider, and OP you may have joked about it in other thread, is money. Are there folks actually going to get rid of their scopes and sell at a steep discount because they are outraged? Or is it just that-expressing outrage, but not taking further steps.
Not criticizing either way, but something to consider. I read an immediate dump on NF scopes (quality, price, glass comments) by several folks-which is peculiar. Very similar to the bandwagon premise. While NF's decision to promote that individual will have me evaluate my next purchase, the scopes I currently have did not all of a sudden become useless junk.

 

[Jimmy]

For me its more about trying to do what I can to support people and companies that are doing it right. I do reach out to a company though and voice when I don't like something.

 

[CorbLand]

Something else to consider, and OP you may have joked about it in other thread, is money. Are there folks actually going to get rid of their scopes and sell at a steep discount because they are outraged? Or is it just that-expressing outrage, but not taking further steps.
Not criticizing either way, but something to consider. I read an immediate dump on NF scopes (quality, price, glass comments) by several folks-which is peculiar. Very similar to the bandwagon premise. While NF's decision to promote that individual will have me evaluate my next purchase, the scopes I currently have did not all of a sudden become useless junk.

Same here. I will not sell my NF items but as long as the relationship with MF is intact, I will not purchase another thing from them.

 

[BBob]

Are there folks actually going to get rid of their scopes and sell at a steep discount because they are outraged?

No I won't go that far. I just won't spend more $$$ with that company. In the case of NF they might be able to correct this if they get rid of the MF'r deal but SO? Nope they're out unless ownership changes.

 

[go4thegusto]

Frivolous things, comments by manufacturers employees on podcasts etc I let go. Blatant and large support against our cause is a show stopper.
Case in point: Subaru is one of the largest ASPCA supporters. Would never own one....

 

[RockAndSage]

Very few companies large enough to be a broadly recognizable brand have marketing and/or business intelligence teams focused deep enough into their market to know the drama and details passionate enthusiasts do. NF's team is simply not likely to know the MF controversy, even if a cursory search would turn up court details.

These same companies - just like your Congressman - don't listen at all to 1 rando's email or call.

But they very much pay attention to a pattern - especially a very vocal, passionate, but reasoned pattern - of customer/constituent emails, calls, and letters.

If you want change, make sure a bunch of people email their objections. That's how it works. It takes mass and consistency over time - not just one brief flare-up that disappears after a week or so.

 

[180ls1]

Very few companies large enough to be a broadly recognizable brand have marketing and/or business intelligence teams focused deep enough into their market to know the drama and details passionate enthusiasts do. NF's team is simply not likely to know the MF controversy, even if a cursory search would turn up court details.

These same companies - just like your Congressman - don't listen at all to 1 rando's email or call.

But they very much pay attention to a pattern - especially a very vocal, passionate, but reasoned pattern - of customer/constituent emails, calls, and letters.

If you want change, make sure a bunch of people email their objections. That's how it works. It takes mass and consistency over time - not just one brief flare-up that disappears after a week or so.

Bingo.

Show me a company without some form of controversy and I'll show you a company that does not exist.

 

[Mojave]

I own a lot of gear from a lot of different companies. Influencers are common place in the outdoor industry. I don't really buy things based on the influencers as I am not a 30 year old who lives in my parents basement.

Here in Europe it is all 20-30 year old smokeshows pimping for the outdoor companies.

The entire concept of pro-staff makes me throw up in my mouth a bit.

 

[Gone4Days]

Oh the irony that all these WKRs with their fake outrage are posting about NF sponsoring MF on the very forum that is supported by another company that also sponsors MF goes to show you how retarded the whole thing is. If these snowflakes were truly outraged they would call for Rokslide to drop MTNTOUGH and if they don’t, leave the site forever.

 

[Mojave]

No I won't go that far. I just won't spend more $$$ with that company. In the case of NF they might be able to correct this if they get rid of the MF'r deal but SO? Nope they're out unless ownership changes.

What is going on with Nightforce?

 

[Burnsie]

As mentioned, if you dig deep enough you can find something you don't like about any company. Maybe they buy parts/components from a supplier that does not agree with your ethics, maybe the bank they finance with has dubious ties overseas, maybe the company's financial holdings has stocks of companies you might not agree with. You can take it as far as you want.
I don't spend a lot of time spinning my wheels over stuff like this - I have a family and a household to support and keep happy - these problems are way low on my priority list.

 

[IDVortex]

Same here. I will not sell my NF items but as long as the relationship with MF is intact, I will not purchase another thing from them.

Now that is another question actually. Do people turn from said company permanently, or until the issue was resolved? I don't agree folks should leave a brand due to a issue, even when it's been resolved. Because in my opinion, now you're telling said business that you won't stick with them, or support them even when they fixed the issue, so why even bother to think of what consumers will purchase/support long term? If that makes sense.

 

[JohnJohnson]

For me it's about whether there are real alternatives for when I'm buying new stuff. Realistically I'm not going to sell my current stuff because of a controversy. I really dislike Swarovski for their FOV patent abuse but until someone else makes some alpha 10x50 binoculars on par or better than my ELs, I'm stuck with them (as a glasses wearer the 10x50 is better than 10x42 for me). Luckily Swarovski scopes are pieces of junk so I can at least avoid those easily.

For Nightforce it's similarly tough because no one has their reputation for durability above the $1,800 pricepoint. And they know it, hence why they haven't felt the need to update any of their scope lines in 10 years.

Companies like Leofoto with shady/parasitic/illegal business practices are easy to avoid because they're doing that stuff as a way to cut costs to compete with some better brand (RRS in this example). So I just ponied up the money and bought the RRS. It all depends on the existence of real competition unfortunately.

 

[Fredcohunter]

I try to support companies that make product in the US. I am more than willing to pay a little more for US made however I will also try to buy the best product available for my needs from companies that back their products even if that means buying non US made. I do all that I can to avoid China made however thats not always possible or practical.

I could care less about influencers or sponsored hunters since I dont pay much attention to either. That is marketing and I would expect any company to try to maximize sales. I want the best product available for my given need.