Evangelist program

[kmulder]

Re: Evangelist program

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/12/...ting-plan.html

Does anybody else find this program somewhat disturbing? I mean - to receive a $400 discount ($99 box + $99 free movies) to spread glowing reviews to blogs, perhaps in this forum, and to possibly unsuspecting friends?

I guess there is something wrong with me too, I find this practice a little shady also. Maybe its time open a section up over at the AVS forum where we can discuss the Vudu without all the sugar coating.

[Nded]

Re: Evangelist program

...snip.... First off, I don't appreciate being called names in your private messages to me ...

I do not think this word private means what you think it means. Sorry your feelings were hurt by Jon's passionate response. It was not appropriate for you to reference this matter in the public discussion. Do not expect me or anyone else who respects privacy to correspond with you via PM in the future.

Folks, if somebody sends you a Private Message that you believe is inappropriate, including one of the moderators, you should forward that to the moderator team. We expect folks to behave in a civil manner, and will handle such things in a manner that we determine appropriate for the originators action.

If I see ANYBODY posting excerpts from Private Messages in the public forum, they will likely be banned for some period of time, or at least be put on permanent moderation status. The private message system is there to allow something to be shared in confidence. Crossing this boundary will not be tolerated.

Enough said!

[rstone]

Re: Evangelist program

I guess there is something wrong with me too, I find this practice a little shady also. Maybe its time open a section up over at the AVS forum where we can discuss the Vudu without all the sugar coating.

And what is there to sugarcoat again? The box works as advertised.

[Nded]

Re: Evangelist program

I guess there is something wrong with me too, I find this practice a little shady also. Maybe its time open a section up over at the AVS forum where we can discuss the Vudu without all the sugar coating.

Rats! Vudu's evil plan has been uncovered!

[mebby]

Re: Evangelist program

Rats! Vudu's evil plan has been uncovered!

Classic!!

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

Saying that Apple and other companies do it doesn't make it right.

If it is an accepted industry practice then it has nothing to do with Vudu specifically. That combined with the fact that it has nothing to do with any Vudu user's enojoyment of their box seems to make this the wrong forum for this. Is dissent ok? Sure. I think it just should be relevant to the purpose of this board, and dislike of common industry practices seems to fall short of that.

[NA9D]

Re: Evangelist program

It's so funny how there's this thought that Vudu has some sinister intent because they want to sell boxes. I laugh about it.

First of all, my review on Amazon was truly because I like the product. I've spent a ton of time since last February testing this thing and trying to help get this thing to where it is today. Without the work of the beta test team (who are impugned as essentially hacks) this product wouldn't be where it is today. If I didn't believe in or like the product I wouldn't spend the time with it I have. I have more important things to do with my life than vainly promote a product I am truly not enthusiastic about. This is why criticism of my reviews on Amazon or anywhere else are simply not valid.

So someone who likes the product reviews it positively. That's considered sinister.

The bottom line is sour grapes that a group of people got their box for less money than someone else. It is nothing but envy.

And to say that we are "paid" by Vudu as that blog says is just pure fantasy. No one but those so identified as Vudu employees on this forum are on Vudu's payroll. Just because you receive a free or discounted box does not make you a paid agent. It's not income per IRS regulations, there is no further "payment" these people receive, etc. I resent the fact that it is claimed that myself, the beta testers and the evangelists are on the "payroll."

[mbustin]

Re: Evangelist program

It's so funny how there's this thought that Vudu has some sinister intent because they want to sell boxes. I laugh about it.

If it's such a funny matter I guess I wouldn't have been given a warning ...

Can't you guys see that this is a matter of disclosure?

NA9D - I know how much time you have put in beta-testing and moderating, that really is admirable - seriously ...

But when you go out and post a glowing review on Amazon as JOdgen (and I know you truly feel that way about the product) - don't you see that if the reader knew how closely you were involved with the company and the product - they would factor that into into their evaluation of your comments ???

You specifically mentioned on Amazon that you weren't a Vudu employee - true, but you're the next closest thing ....

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

Can't you guys see that this is a matter of disclosure?

Did you know that Ebert and Roeper don't pay for all the movies they review and that almost every review of every product is done by somebody who didn't pay for it themselves? Should we consider all of their reviews suspicious? Having Vudu give the boxes to people who would be eager to get it (i.e. would have likely bought one themselves) seems to indicate that their reviews would be the same either way. If they gave it to someone who didn't want it, the same thing is true.

The reality is that people who like the boxes will give it good reviews and people who don't will give it lousy ones. The only thing that a company could do that would render the reviews invalid would be for them to pay someone who didn't like it to lie and say that they did. I believe that case isn't an issue due to the nature of the evangelist program.

[Paul Maxx]

Re: Evangelist program

I see this is a very passionate subject for a lot of peaople but maybe the view of someone who is in the evangelist program might helpful.

I am with a well known and respected a/v and lighting integration company. I became an evangelist because the president of the company got a demo box, we spec'd one into one of the projects I was engineering. I researched and really got interested in the box. Later I was forwarded by the president an offer he received for the evangelst program. I was thrilled as I am relatively new ot he industry and this was a chance for me to be an authoriy on something in the company. The ability to get a box that I otherwise may not have been able to afford currently, test at home, try different integration and/or distribution possibilites, and provide feedback in these forums is one of those oppurtunities that may not come often. But as I am very gracious to VUDU for the offer that does not taint my opinion of the perofrmance of the product.

As this is a pruduct we are looking to utilize I have to be very critical of my take on it. And honestly some things are just not relible enough for use to steadily use the product. And these faults are talked of in the same breath as my praises. And whenever I tell anyone about the product as it is often a talking point for me with my industry and personl friends I always mention the great oppurtunity VUDU gave me and the benefits that came with it. I don't think it was supposed to be underhanded but just as was stated earlier to get the product in the hands of people like myself and those with better expertise who might not other wise been able to acquire it. This helps VUDU become aware of issues that the industry is experiencing with the product. Control being #1, I know the IP is in BETA but BETA is not acceptable in a million dollar system. Consistent content quality. Some movies look gooe, some great, and some like Ocean's 13 looks like total crap. It also reinforces what is making a positive impact and that they are moving in the right direction. The addition of t.v. content was great. Not having to choose in the HD war is a huge thing if the content can hold up.

The hope is that not everyone out there is a shill and will sell there word for a couple of movies and a box that the cold reality is may not be here in 5 years. I personally will not risk my word in my company and in this industry just because I got a discount on a product. This happens all the time. Demo products, purchasing at cost, it is all part of the company developing a better product, producing a feeling of generosity, and promoting awareness both to the public and the company of the grounbreaking strides forward as well as the detrimental shortcomings.

Maybe this is understood by some, maybe it's not. You cannot control what others due to spread their opinion whether it is corrupted or not. All you can do is spread your word, positive or negative, honestly and true to your experience. I know my opinon has been called upon multiple times on this product and I have been as straight then as I am being here.

Just an outsider's opinion looking in. Sorry if I am out of place.

[RonV]

Re: Evangelist program

Just an outsider's opinion looking in. Sorry if I am out of place.

Great write up. No you are not out of place. Everyone should share their reasons and motivations for participating in the program like you did.

How can I get a Million Dollar home theater on a McDonald's budget?

[Paul Maxx]

Re: Evangelist program

Thanks.

It's the whole system that will run a mill. The theaters are much less starting only at 25-50 thousand and can go to $150 thousand and up. My suggestion would be to not super size unless it is monopoly time at McD's. I am trying to figure how to get some of the great stuff I deal with everyday myself. Even at cost things can be quite pricey.

On the by and by I did put this on another thread somewhere but it bears repeating. Sony is no longer going to be making their Bravia SXRD rear projections. So there current gen KDL-50(55&60)A3000 are it and their prices should be dropping considerably if they haven't already. I am gettin one myself next month and they are pretty good with HDMI 1.3, 1080p/24, and 1080p over component. This is great new if you have a Xbox 360 w/o HDMI. Please before anyone jumps all over me for the component statement check it out first.

[jclem]

Re: Evangelist program

I'm brand new to the evangelist program, in fact, the initial DL is going on now. Yes, I got a real nice break on the box, but that certainly won't affect, in any way, my ultimate opinion of Vudu. I'll say what I like and don't like about it, regardless.

In fact, had I paid the full list price, I might even be more apt to say nice things even if I didn't like the Vudu, in order to "save face" and justify my purchase of a lousy product.
So far I like what I've seen, but it's still way to soon to give a fair evaluation.

[Rusdude]

Re: Evangelist program

I think the previous poster is onto something. Having paid less for their box, Evangelists may be less likely to act defensively about Vudu because they don't have as much invested.

Just think about Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD flame wars that break out all the time -- they happen because people who picked one side invested quite a bit of money into an equipment that may become obsolete if another side wins and, as such, they feel the need to defend their decision.

P.S. BTW, from what I read on AVS, the program is already closed.

[sgoldblatt]

Re: Evangelist program

We can go back and forth all we want, but most of us will have our own opinions about Vudu and/or the Evangelist program and those will not likely change regardless of how much bickering and conversation occurs on the topic.

I, like many of you, have been paid or given free products at one time or another over the past few years. Very often (although not through an evangelist program) I get cell phones for free or at extremely discounted prices... does the fact that they were free change my opinion of the service or the device? No, not typically.

In fact, like jclem, I have actually learned that I will be less biased about products that I have no financial interest in... When I buy something, I want it to work "right" because my money is telling me it must do what I want it to do. If I get a product for free, I have no qualms about tossing it aside if the service is not right, it does not work well with other devices it is supposed to work well with, or if it is just a badly implemented or poorly designed product.

You, as a consumer, will always complain or opine about someone getting a "better" deal than you did. I do it all the time... particularly when it comes to Apple's products. It is human nature... there is even a Wikipedia entry dedicated to Buyers' Remorse.

Does my thesis change anyone's opinion of the "Evangelists?" I Doubt it. But at the end of the day, the product and the service are just that... a product and a service. No free or discounted hardware can impact someones judgment of that said hardware if it simply does not meet their expectations or needs.