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

[stiffdogg06]

What's done is done. There WILL be and ARE other detailers out there that are just as good and has a lot of knowledge to spread.



If you can't be honest that you are trying to hype a company/product without letting the owners of the site know and try to manipulate the thread views, then that is YOUR loss. No one elses. :sosad



David - I applaud you with the investigation you've put through whether it is true or not. I am glad to be apart of a community and site that is HONEST.:woot:

 

[Bobby G]

If that is what happened, I really don't understand it. I think Todd's work stands on its own merit. No need to go through all that trouble to garner extra attention.

Not saying I understand it... or for that matter even care... I just know what I see in my server logs and what plays out here. The rules are clear. Multiple accounts are a one-way trip to Banville and vendors are requested to identify themselves. Both rules are reasonable.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

OK one last chime in I guess. But I'm so lost on all the lingo that goes on here. But can someone tell me what the heck CMA is? I thought he was pushing Mequires?



And davidB I think your spot on here. rules are rules and that should be that. Just a shame but it seems that while Todd is the center of attention here other detailers that have skills might be caught up or involved in this.

 

[imported_Detailing Technology]

OK one last chime in I guess. But I'm so lost on all the lingo that goes on here. But can someone tell me what the heck CMA is? I thought he was pushing Mequires?



And davidB I think your spot on here. rules are rules and that should be that. Just a shame but it seems that while Todd is the center of attention here other detailers that have skills might be caught up or involved in this.

Proper Auto Care.



Its also a commonly used component in a lot of corp name. Cover My A$$.

 

[blk45]

My apologies, Eric. I know you're in the Orlando area, and I think you know Todd personally, but before this, I could remember your real name. Sorry...just a case of mistaken identity.



No hard feelings, I hope.

No problem Casey. I'm actually in the Tampa area. I just wanted to clarify things in this whole "As the rotary turns" saga. It always amazes me how the "drama" threads out pace informative threads 100/1. Pathetic.

 

[Eisen Hulk]

Thanks, Eric. I guess if I actually used my reading skills from time to time, I'd see that it clearly states you're in the Tampa area.



I've been known to behave like an idiot from time to time. :grinno:

No problem Casey. I'm actually in the Tampa area. I just wanted to clarify things in this whole "As the rotary turns" saga. It always amazes me how the "drama" threads out pace informative threads 100/1. Pathetic.

 

[stiffdogg06]

OK one last chime in I guess. But I'm so lost on all the lingo that goes on here. But can someone tell me what the heck CMA is? I thought he was pushing Mequires?



And davidB I think your spot on here. rules are rules and that should be that. Just a shame but it seems that while Todd is the center of attention here other detailers that have skills might be caught up or involved in this.

Proper Auto Care where he is a current employee at.

 

[gtpaul]

Proper Auto Care where he is a current employee at.

doing what? packing my order?

 

[MichaelM]

Proper Auto Care where he is a current employee at.

After reading all this and then going to Proper Auto Care's site I got a little laugh seeing that they call their forum "Truth in Detailing".

 

[htodd]

I feel like I'm being really dense here but...



1) What would the motivation be for someone (not affiliated with this site) to "artificially" drive a lot of extra traffic to this site?

2) Why is driving extra traffic to this site a bad thing? (I understand the multiple accounts no-no.)



I've been a member here for years, but never really spent a lot of time here until recently. I think I've only read a few threads from the party(s) involved; I'm just trying to get an understanding of that the deal is.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I feel like I'm being really dense here but...



1) What would the motivation be for someone (not affiliated with this site) to "artificially" drive a lot of extra traffic to this site?

2) Why is driving extra traffic to this site a bad thing? (I understand the multiple accounts no-no.)



I've been a member here for years, but never really spent a lot of time here until recently. I think I've only read a few threads from the party(s) involved; I'm just trying to get an understanding of that the deal is.

I think you're misunderstanding. Autopia, being a free site (to members), survives on advertising and paid sponsorship. For some reason that I don't quite understand, some detailers develop a rabid cult following like a rock star, actor, or sports figure. People want to use the products they use, so they can feel like an "elite" detailer also...or something like that. If a non-sponsor, through "product placement", gets said detailer to use their products, they are effectively getting free advertising through the community.



The second thing that the Mayor mentioned, was that when those type of threads get linked on another forum ("hey, Lambo owners, I just detailed a Gallardo, go to Autopia to see the thread!"), the traffic costs server bandwidth, which costs money.

 

[termigator]

I think you're misunderstanding. Autopia, being a free site (to members), survives on advertising and paid sponsorship. For some reason that I don't quite understand, some detailers develop a rabid cult following like a rock star, actor, or sports figure. People want to use the products they use, so they can feel like an "elite" detailer also...or something like that. If a non-sponsor, through "product placement", gets said detailer to use their products, they are effectively getting free advertising through the community.



The second thing that the Mayor mentioned, was that when those type of threads get linked on another forum ("hey, Lambo owners, I just detailed a Gallardo, go to Autopia to see the thread!"), the traffic costs server bandwidth, which costs money.

Good explanation. Thanks.

 

[Bobby G]

I think you're misunderstanding. Autopia, being a free site (to members), survives on advertising and paid sponsorship. For some reason that I don't quite understand, some detailers develop a rabid cult following like a rock star, actor, or sports figure. People want to use the products they use, so they can feel like an "elite" detailer also...or something like that. If a non-sponsor, through "product placement", gets said detailer to use their products, they are effectively getting free advertising through the community.



The second thing that the Mayor mentioned, was that when those type of threads get linked on another forum ("hey, Lambo owners, I just detailed a Gallardo, go to Autopia to see the thread!"), the traffic costs server bandwidth, which costs money.

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).



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.



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.



:bat

 

[htodd]

Thanks DavidB and Setec for the explanations. Indeed, I was being dense. :idea

 

[termigator]

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).



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.



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.



:bat

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:

 

[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......