Where`s the "Really impressed with Meguiar`s as of late" thread?

[imported_DJ Mayo]

I knew something like this was going to eventually happen. David, I know I have never talked to you personally but I think your doing a great job at resolving these issues and thanks for a great site. At the end of the day, most of us are JUST detailers.

[Bobby G]

IIRC, someone admitted as much that they post their works in the Click N` Brag section so everyone can see his work and contact him for business. I`m sure he`s not the only one that does it for the free advertising. :chuckle:

True. That`s why the C&B section is there. I made it a goal last year to help pro detailers get more business. It`s good for the industry. 95% of the pros who post their work do so without abusing the system and the community.

[Setec Astronomy]

Good points, but it goes deeper than that.



When someone with "credibility" -- be it deserved or not -- mentions a product in a positive way, it generates sales. Now, this is not a bad thing, it is a good thing because our economy needs sales.



HOWEVER, when a person`s motivations are less than honest, you don`t know if a recommendation is being given because they are being financially rewarded or because it is the truth. This is why the Moderators and I hunt down shills like the dogs that they are. No one wants to be fooled (even if it is a good product).

Thanks (and I think I hit on that in my earlier post).

Here`s another point. How much additional work do you think a post-o-matic detailer can get if he shows all the hot cars he details? The answer is "a whole lot" if you promote your work properly.

Isn`t this a problem Autopia has been struggling with for a long time? The pro C&B`s?

[David Fermani]

In regards to what happened to the original thread, the Moderators discovered a volume of activity from a single IP address originating from Tampa, FL that lead back to multiple member accounts (most of them new). One of the accounts was banned for crude remarks towards a female member (also in Florida). In other words, we`re putting the pieces together about someone or a business that is not acting in an appropriate manner.

There is absolutely way too much spin around the accounts TH0001, OverExposed, VaSupershine and MakitaNinja to know exactly what has taken place or why. Frankly, I don`t care why. What I know is that the individual(s) involved attempted to manipulate this community. At a minimum, the individual(s) involved created multiple accounts for the purpose of deception, falsely jacked up post views to create the appearance of popularity, and intentionally created spin on other communities that lead to a thread back here solely for the purpose of gaining attention. For the purpose of closing out this issue, I banned all of the accounts mentioned above for the reasons stated.

I’m not sure what’s going on here…:think:….I really believe you’re mistaken if you think Todd Helme is OverExposed. If you look at OE’s last few posts/activity, you’ll find it to be around ~11pm last Saturday evening. That was the day of Detail Fest and Todd, blk45, jgh1987 & I spent the whole day together. While OE was posting, we were at a dinner club sitting at a large table with Mike Phillips and the whole AG DF bunch. We were actually partying until about 1am. There’s no way Todd could have made those posts. Also, if I’m not mistaken, Brian Brice a.k.a. VaSuperShine after being banned the 1st time was the one using multiple screen names (i.e. Makita Ninja ). What makes you now think that Todd is part of that concoction? Especially seeing that Todd doesn’t live anywhere near Tampa? What proof/documentation do you have that links Todd to this or any other alter ego? That`s the reason why here`s been banned right?

I just got off the phone with someone who shed a lot of light on the situation but I`ll keep my mouth shut since I can`t independently verify what was told to me. I do believe that DavidB was already aware of what I`ve heard. :nervous2:

Could that person be Brian Brice? I know you & Brian converse quite often. If so, I think your light could be severely tainted. Care to tell us more of the conversation that took place.

[blk45]

Todds a good detailer, no question.



My 2 big questions about that "I love Meguiars" post were,



Why did we not see the Megs wax as the LSP on any of his click and brags in the past 5 months.

I did a search, wet fire and black diamond were the most common.



Second, will we see Todd on MOL now, posting alongside Mike Phillips and Jason Rose as an employee?



Not a bad career move, could be really fun.

I love how everyone always tries to be a detective and blow stupid little things out of proportion. Todd and I took Mike Phillip`s class at DF last weekend. During the class, we had a conversation about how we hadn`t stopped to think how many good products that Megs has now. That`s it. Obviously, he thought about it more and made a thread about it. Mystery solved.

You are right. Mystery solved.

The Meguiars mystery was solved, exactly like I said it was. I wasn`t commenting on any of this other drama that has ensued since then. How could I, when none of it had been posted yet? Keep stirring......

[wannafbody]

Frankly, I`m not impressed and I think this community has been bamboozled by photography and a lot of hot air. That`s my opinion, but from what I can see I don`t think I`m far off the mark.(end quote)



I totally agree with this statement. I could have posted pictures of my cars hood with a killer gloss after compounding and buffing with a rotary. It looked really good from 1 foot away. But get it under the lights at night and you could see some tracers from my wetsanding attempt. Some of the claims I see being made by some people just don`t jive with my experiences.

[blk45]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you guys really aren`t going to try to turn this into a "it was all in the pics" thing, are you? I think enough people have seen Todd`s work in person to know without a shadow of a doubt that he does the actual correction. This is getting more pathetic by the minute. If you guys are so certain that he is a fluke, put up or shut up. I will gladly wager a large sum of money if someone wishes to come to FL and have to eat their words when he does it in front of you. One condition....you have to come on Autopia and tell everyone that you were wrong!

[Bobby G]

Could that person be Brian Brice? I know you & Brian converse quite often. If so, I think your light could be severely tainted. Care to tell us more of the conversation that took place.

I don`t have Brian and Todd confused. Personally, I don`t care who, how or what... I simply want the B.S. to stop. If this is fraud on the part of one individual and there`s proof, I will make a public apology.

[wannafbody]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you guys really aren`t going to try to turn this into a "it was all in the pics" thing, are you? I think enough people have seen Todd`s work in person to know without a shadow of a doubt that he does the actual correction. This is getting more pathetic by the minute. If you guys are so certain that he is a fluke, put up or shut up. I will gladly wager a large sum of money if someone wishes to come to FL and have to eat their words when he does it in front of you. One condition....you have to come on Autopia and tell everyone that you were wrong!

My comments were in no way meant as an attack against Todd. My comments were general in nature but more targeted toward many all over the internet who say-"yeah I can remove 1500 sanding marks with a PC". Some very well may have the ability and products to do so, many may not fully remove all marks.

[David Fermani]

I don`t have Brian and Todd confused. Personally, I don`t care who, how or what... I simply want the B.S. to stop. If this is fraud on the part of one individual and there`s proof, I will make a public apology.

If you have proof, why not share it? It`s not our responsibility to provide evidence to clear someone`s name. (even though my above statement documents that Todd didn`t make the posts that caused OE`s banning).

[imported_Jakerooni]

I see Todd`s post are starting to pop back up. Why? is everything solved here or what?

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Looks like we are about to flush a really full toilet here......



BLK45 - Thanks! But you have the wrong idea. I am all for getting paid, I`ve never said anything to the contrary.

[Bobby G]

If you have proof, why not share it? It`s not our responsibility to provide evidence to clear someone`s name. (even though my above statement documents that Todd didn`t make the posts that caused OE`s banning).

What, you want me to share my database with you? Come on, David.



So, here`s what I did. I pulled the IP from the last post made by the TH0001 account. The IP originated from a mobile phone. Now I`m on the phone with the cell carrier`s fraud detection specialist (guess what... I worked for GTE Mobile Comm. for 4 years... I know how this works). When I match the cell number with the IP, is that proof enough for you?

[Bobby G]

Unfortunately, I did not get very far. All they would tell me is that the call originated through an AT&T cell tower on a Blackberry or Smartphone device on a 963 exchange. Due to privacy they can`t give anymore info.

[gtpaul]

Unfortunately, I did not get very far. All they would tell me is that the call originated through an AT&T cell tower on a Blackberry or Smartphone device on a 963 exchange. Due to privacy they can`t give anymore info.

Kind of obvious that that would be the result no?



Not like he killed someone...