 Ok i'm cynical but yet another feature on Osprey rucksacks. We've had breaking news, the competition, competition winners, winners verdicts, and now another overview. oh yeah and annoying banner in the forum. I think that maybe somebody on here is being bunged a wee do us a favour and we'll send you to moab to test one for us( ). When you consider how many rucksacks are out there it is abit Osprey tastic on here. And no I'm not bitter because I did'nt win one I never entered
|
 |
 Yes I have to agree that we've been absolutely bombarded with information about this pack on OM.So I would have to pose the question of how much have Osprey actually paid to OM for all of this substantial publicity?If we believe all of the hype about this new product,then this is the sack to purchase and we can forget about all of the rest.I have to admit that like many members on here,I am a complete gear addict and I find that all of the publicity about a Sack such as this makes me really want to own one.But is it really that good and are there not lots of sacks out there on the market which perform equally well and are considerably cheaper?The other product to receive lots of publicity is the Thermarest Neo Air mattress which I understand is available around April time.It seems to get rave reviews but again is it that vastly superior to all of the other mattresses on the market or are we merely being brainwashed into thinking that this is the only one to own.Unfortunately,these objects of desire do not come cheap-£130 for the Osprey Rucksack and £100 for the regular size Thermarest.We are being asked to stump up large amounts of cash just to own the latest state of the art gear.Whatever happened to the so called Credit Crunch?
|
|
 You're right MCN - it is a bit suspicious - not very stealthy advertising which I'm sure we will all rise above. My only question is - When can I buy one? Just kidding
|
|
 Not very stealthy advertising possibly, but a very clever strategy in getting OMers to try out a product Osprey were clearly very confident about. Osprey are very inter-active on this forum. What is there to stop any other company from doing the same? My only gripe about the thing was that none of the testers was a woman. If it's a unisex design, we should have had full evaluations by men and women. However, to suggest someone took a bung, even with some winkies, is a bit off in my book. Unless of course, you've got the proof?
|
|
Well there aint many other companies who get so much coverage from one product but what do I know........
|
|
 there aren't may other companies who actually get off their arses and engage in debate on here either therefore raising their profile for being in touch with their customers and willing to debate the pros and cons of their products. paramo/nikwax, furtech and osprey are such companies. are there any other manufacturers whom i've overlooked? (oh yes, julie greengrass when she was at montane) we rip into event, goretex and the like. nada from everyone. we are curious about paramo and the head honcho pops along to explain everything.
|
|
 there aren't may other companies who actually get off their arses and engage in debate on here either therefore raising their profile for being in touch with their customers and willing to debate the pros and cons of their products. paramo/nikwax, furtech and osprey are such companies. are there any other manufacturers whom i've overlooked? (oh yes, julie greengrass when she was at montane) we rip into event, goretex and the like. nada from everyone. we are curious about paramo and the head honcho pops along to explain everything.
Osprey is the only one to have their own permanent thread though.
|
|
then everyone will know when their product doesn't live up to expectation. it's happened before... they're either daft or proud of their product. mm! will they have a deathwish and introduce an ad that screws the site up like some other brands...
|
|
I'm sure alot of companies would bung 5 wot evers if they got this much advertising from it...
|
|
then perhaps they should.
|
|
would they get the coverage though.. without the free trip to moab for the editor..?
|
|
lol. i couldn't comment...
|
|
 I've not been involved in the Osprey competition or reviews, but I am 100% certain of one thing. Jon does NOT review ANY product favourably in return for and trip,payment or other freebie, and to imply he does is offensive. The same applies to all reviews from the OM team.
|
|
have you checked his sun tan lately... ?
|
|
is that a free beer on your hand there dave? runs away.
|
|
I've not been involved in the Osprey competition or reviews, but I am 100% certain of one thing. Jon does NOT review ANY product favourably in return for and trip,payment or other freebie, and to imply he does is offensive. The same applies to all reviews from the OM team.
Have the OM team reviewed the Exos? I thought they gave avid OM members the opportunity to review it and report back.
I'd be disappointed if Osprey had not had to shell out a few notes for the coverage.
|
|
Lets be honest here. I don't for one minute think there has been any 'shady' goings on. It's just a very clever marketing 'trick'. Martin from Osprey pops on to the thread every so often to keep the thread current. In fact, i think OM have probably been suckered by this clever way to get free advertising. I'm just surprised that a closed thread wasn't set up. ie, get the sacks, first report, report after use, finished. Not an interactive thread as has developed. I'll be very surprised if another manufacturer gets away with this again. Unless Osprey have paid for all this advertising, and it isn't free.
|
|
Of course they paid for it. And well- Moab or not its still pretty biased . it is a commercial website afterall and survives on advertsing . It just happens to be abit heavy in Ospreys favour thats all. And free holidays..
|
| Edited: 25/01/09 21:26 |
 Personally I think it's all been very positive and helpful. I wish other manufacturers would take a leaf out of Osprey's book and communicate with their customers in the same open and receptive way. They took quite a risk with the evaluations: what if the testers had ripped the pack to shreds and panned it -- that would have been a serious backfire! The fact that the thread was totally open was great. I'm struggling to see how you manage to come up with such a negative spin on this mcn...
|
|
  Me too, I wish more outfits would give out brand new free gear to us all here!
|
| Edited: 25/01/09 22:02 |
