Shills on FIGs

I've been told by a certain FIGs member that he thinks that those who have posted rave reviews about products made by a certain small equipment company in California are "back-slapping shills". This member also happens to be a former customer of said company and not just one of members who may have gotten into wrangles with owner of said company about unrelated topics in the Clubhouse, Tour Talk, or P&R forums. I have to wonder how pervasive this skepticism about the validity of these positive reviews is amongst the general FIGs membership, and I also have to wonder if such cynicism is due to past actions by the owner of a certain equipment company in the Midwest. Needless to say, the owner of this certain company in California is *goshdarn* pissed off about the implications.

Wow I don't blame you for being pissed.  I can't imagine that perception is very prevalent but I'm probably one of the "back-slapping shills" so what do I know.  You can't fake a whole bunch of people being independently happy with a product.  Not to mention said products rarely end up on the swap shop etc.  

I too bet the atmosphere created by said midwestern co. fostered that BS.  

My honest opinion is that there are equipment cults on FIGs and that there are those who get very much caught up in the excitement to be a part of any particular cult, especially if the manufacturer or business owner himself is a frequent (or sometimes even infrequent) poster there. It does sometimes get to feel as though most of the excitement surrounding any given brand is driven more by the cult than by the product. Very often it feels as though said equipment company in the Midwest (and to be fair, as well as a couple of other companies frequently mentioned over there) could release a corndog shaped piece of aluminum attached to a piece of rebar and call it the "latest in greenside chipping technology" and people would stand in line, site unseen, to tout it as being the second coming of Jebus wrapped in a crispy floury shell.

Now, this doesn't mean that every positive thing said about any given product or manufacturer isn't genuine, or even that most of them aren't. It does, though, make one skeptical at times. I think threads like "who makes the best 7 iron?" and "what company's products most closely represent the physical manifestation of the ever loving hand of god himself?" help perpetuate the skepticism because you very rarely get answers like "there are many great manufacturers out there, depending on your needs and golf goals.." but rather answers like "SMT!!!!!!one!1! Everything else is crap."

So, yeah I can see from where the cynicism is borne. To be quite honest, there does appear to be such a cult surrounding said small California based equipment company. Whether this is good or bad is subjective. Though it seems to me that unless the proprietor of said company places a tremendous amount of personal stock in this one particular FIGs member's comments, he'd be generally pleased by the fact that his product stirs up so much enthusiastic approval. They seem to very rarely appear on the secondary markets so that must say something about overall satisfaction with the product.

If I knew the proprietor of this small California based equipment company, I'd advise him to say "*fudge* the haters," and keep on doing what he does. It seems he's doing plenty right for a great deal of people. Just stay out of bickering contests with Tait and Almo. 

i assumed this was who he was referring to. i am pretty sure he does have a "relationship" with a couple of guys that just doesn't sit right. i have corresponded  personally with him and think he is a great guy who stands behind his products. i tried a couple of his heads they were at least average among the higher level of components.

as for the other guy mentioned, i think he is an arrogant, conceited, overrated, self appreciating *bunghole*. but i am one of his dealers, doesn't mean i have to like him.

Unless I'm just reading it wrong, I think the guy he's referring to makes putters. 

Your reputation precedes you. http://www.golfhos.com/topic-4395.msg54134 

Classic strohism! LOL I'd give you a karma, but I refuse to be thought of as your shill. That position is reserved for Jules.

I never got one of those nasty letters

btw,spuzz says you are a corksoaker.