+ 16 So all I need to do is read the reviews? Cool...
So much weight is being given to the reviews that it might be time to point out a few other things to look for when selecting a source.
Obviously, how detailed are the reviews?
Are the majority of reviewers long time members?
How did the source handle bad reviews? (no one is perfect)
What is the ratio of bad/good reviews?
How many flagged reviews?
How long has the source been on eroids?
What is their ranking?
When was the last time they logged in?
How many unread PM's do they have?
When was the last time they posted on their SI page?
Are members active on the SI page?
Have gear pics been posted?
Have labs been posted?
How old is the domain? (whois search)
Where is the domain hosted? (whereis search)
Is the server secure? (https)
That's all I have off of the top of my head, feel free to add other things you look for when choosing a source.
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To add to what Greg posted this will show you how to answer those questions. The break down of a SI page and how to read it.
https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/the-how-to-guide-of-fi...
A couple things I like to keep an eye on, other than what's posted already here are; what kind of promos are run by a SRC, because there are some that run regular promos, (which are cool and all), but the end result of said promos are that a significant portion of the reviews are being written by members that have only used a single 10 ml bottle of gear, or 10 days worth of orals from the reviewed SRC in the entirety of their 16 week cycle and write it up as a full review simply to be eligible for the next promo, causing poorly thought out reviews at best (which I have been guilty of myself.....);
And secondly, like said below me, there is a lot of real time interaction information in the SRC discussions. A little less formal and it's not formatted so it allows for expanded or additional information.
Also, this may be placing more weight on the karma system than should be, but members with single didget karma coupled with a very new account or and old one only for placing reviews turns me off from a SRC, even if they seem to carry other good reviews.
I like to investigate whether the sources answer questions from members ( in the "discussion" section).
A real source always talks to members. There is also a certain professionalism while writing.
Reviews with few karma, I don't consider them.
If I like a member (and his review) I go on his profile, I look if he has other photos of tools, blood samples.
I spend time before I make a choice.
Good information, Sir. Thank you
This. Even if a SRC is international and there’s some broken English here and there, it’s still clear what’s thoughtful, genuine writing and what’s just unprofessional drivel. With domestics particularly, I do expect not only coherent-at-the-minimum English, but a degree of decorum insofar as the SRC carrying himself or herself as a legitimate (albeit per our underground definition) businessman or businesswoman
Pause. Lol jk ;)
I'm a little paranoid, lol.
Hey. It’s 2019. “Measured paranoia” is the new “healthy skepticism.” It guides us well
Good post brother. I think the best tool is time. The longer you spend around the place, the more you understand patterns of shit sources, the more you recognize a shill review, the the more karma you collect. I think the beautiful thing about karma and time is the fact that if you do get scammed you have some legitimacy with your review.
If a source screwed me my word would stand. Pale knows me, Greg knows me, a lot of people around here know me. If I say a source sucks ass and screwed me out of a tub of money...
I think it will carry some decent weight. Maybe even enough weight to deter a source from scamming me.
Not that I’m any more special than anyone else...I’ve just been here long enough for people to know that I’m not a shit kid who didn’t know how to send his money.
Lmao, if I had been here as long as you, I would have known how to paste a pic. That would have been a lot easier.
Lmao =)
Spending some time on the site and going through the SI's can reveal alot about a source and how things are currently going for them. Even the good reliable sources occasionally have some hiccups and if people order stuff during one of those times it can be frustrating for them, especially if thier first order. Follow along the SI for awhile before ordering and if packs are suddenly taking longer than expected, items are missing from orders, brands are being switched etc., those are red flags that something is up with old reliable source. Move on or wait still stuff gets straightened out if absolutely must order from that source.
Great post Greg !
This is a great post and hopefully folks continue to build it up. Personally I have the fortunate luxury of time being around. I have seen patterns based on members. Who I know for a fact I can trust and those who I avoid like the plague.
I first and foremost look at who is ordering. Some members even high ranking are notorious for using their tags to get gear (sometimes paid with heavy discounts or freebies added in the order) from non verified Sources and new trusting members see that tag and follow them blindly. “Hey, an EXP tag must mean they can be trusted with where I spend my money!” Don’t order from a non verified Src on principal alone. I never have and never will. But I’m also a poor gambler and don’t like wasting anything in my life especially my money.
Another thing I look for is TA. I want quick turnarounds and a string of successful orders landing. Who they are landing for. Are the only packs landing for the high ranking members? Are low ranking members getting packs as well? In years past the high ranks got packs and low ranks had issues. An even balance of both high ranking and low ranking members getting packs makes me feel good.
How does the Src handle themselves? Are they childish? Talk shop with them. Do they know their product? Do they use their product? Or do they describe all of their products as “fire bro!”
Good example is i ordered from a relatively newer verified Src after spending time talking shop. I may or may not have a little experience in the game and I point blank asked him about his program. Nothing about sensitive info but about how he made his products. The dialogue that took place made me 100% comfortable ordering his product. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and if the reply is not satisfactory then move on.
Last thing I verify before ordering large $$ orders is bloodwork. I need enough separate labs pointing to legit product that I feel warm and fuzzy. I try and always check all of the boxes before spending hard earned money on something that better damn well land and better damn well be what the label says it is.
Take your time there are lots of choices. Don’t jump at the lowest price or best deal. Make sure and research before ordering.
But Carlos... "fire" is the best word ever!!!!!
Only when it’s cold Mama!! Hahahaha
Hey,, I'm just repeating what I hear ;-) !!
See that quite a bit unfortunately. I ordered from an unverified source ONCE and never again. Bunch of high ranking members ranting about how great the gear was and it was garbage. Had me baffled. The verification process is put in place with some checks to at least hedge the bet in our favor when we order. So BUYER BEWARE if that source is unverified even if high ranking members are in there praising it for some odd reason.
Some Very good pointers here, some I'm guilty of forgetting to do.
Good points bro
All good advice Greg! I'm sure it will help a lot of members make better decisions. ty
StevebHow many of the reviews are from promos?
Not necessarily indicative of anything per se. If I receive something promotional, I’ll not only make it clear in the review that it was promotional, but if I feel it was a bad product, I’ll say it’s a bad product. What I do believe is that members should never, ever leave a dishonest or disingenuous review just for receiving something free. Which is where things get dicey
However, this leads to a more disturbing question: What if more nascent sources are giving out the “good stuff” as promos and then getting cheap on the quality after they accrue enough paying customers?
What I’d love to see is promos go away for good. Done, gone, bye-bye. But they’re here to stay for sure and it just makes things that much trickier to navigate
What you're describing is selective scamming, that can be a problem and we do look for signs that that might be going on.
Before eroids, you never knew what to expect from an AAS website/source. There are plenty of fake sites, sponsored sites with fake reviews, and sources that selectively scam. Hard to navigate that alone. There were no checks and balances, all the control was in the hands of the source.
The collective strength of eroid members changed that. When we band togeather we leveled the playing field. A forum was created not just for random reviews, but also where reviewers can get to know each other and learn from each other. And forums where you can interact openly with sources (plural as we are not a sponsored site) and not just a rep. (rest in peace "best regards, William")
Every now and again we get a weak willed member who, lured by the pavlovian "good boy" reward of a promo trinket", unwittingly becomes a shill for a source. Aligning his loyalty with a source to curry favor.
Fortunately for most, bitch slapping the karma out of them and labeling them a promo whore can rehabilitate most. The others are banned. When we remember to stand together, this system works. It keeps the wolves out.
So, with all that bloviation behind me, in summary, promos are not inherently a bad thing. as long as we keep focus on what we are trying to accomplish. Sources want to get their product out there to find new customers as well as to reward loyal customers, and we want to find good and reliable sources with as little risk as there can be.
Eroid members are the 12th man.
And as many of you notice we are much more heavy handed when it comes to dishonesty than we once were and it has had a positive effect. Back in the day a lot of high karma members thought they could abuse the system along with their favorite sources. But now they all know that karma can ALL go away in a keystroke from myself or Greg.