Jody clubbing Seals?

I was speaking to some reviewers and watch brands about this - it's a spectrum I think as any large reviewer can easily become an "influencer" (and yes in martketing terms influencers work, and work very well).

Reviewers made the point that even if you're just getting a review watch to return from the brand and shipping costs paid - there can be an influence on a review as you didn't have the "pain" of spending say $500 on a particular micro or $150 on an Aliexpress - does that mean you're less likely to be "picky" about small things that as a paying customer you wouldn't let slide?

I think it's better when they ask for cash generally - brands don't lose an important review unit (which is more expensive than retail costs when you factor in R&D costs) (or in Jody's case a retail unit) - asking for cash just makes it a simple transaction - and (with my watch enthusiast hat on rather than microbrand) - I'd see it as more "okay" if you're taking San Martin/Cronos/Heimdallr money to then go out to buy and review watches from brands that won't give away watches - this may allow a content creator to review a Tudor BB58 or Omega or Rolex and grow their channel that way.

As for Jody's job - when you're that large and producing that much content the watch review channel is his primary (income generating) source - we estimated that he'd probably earn around $10-12,000 a month at his channel size and monetisation options - roughly 1/3rd YT ads, 1/3rd affiliate links and 1/3rd cash/selling free watches from reviews - and fair play to the guy - it's a business for him and he works hard at his job.

The point was made to me that Jody actually earns more from reviewing non-microbrands since they get more views (ad revenue) and he can use the affiliate links more efficiently.

So - for a business that may be earning around 10k a month - losing out on 1 watch (I'm inclined to believe Jody's side since he provides a lot more details about timelines and such) retailing at around $1,000 should be chalked up as a bad debt/tax deduction and move on - he'd damage his business a lot more by losing 10k subscribers etc. than getting a $1k watch.

Oh and we were spitballing ideas about how to segregate the business of watch reviews from watch brands - and for me - ideally having a non-watch related sponsor (I think we've all seen those Audible ads on YT) would be a completely ok way to do things - or seek money from subscribers directly as Patreons. I'm not sure you could make a living from sponsored ad segways and Patreon though - watchs are very niche (despite our little bubble here) - it works for mobile phone/laptop reviewers because they get 5 million views, not 80k views (which for a watch channel is already very, very high).

As I said to my reviewer friend (which now makes it difficult as we have a personal relationship as well as reviewer/brand relationship too - I trust him to castigate Sólás if we deserve it though) - I guess it's about goals - some people start a channel and want to get enough back to cover filming costs, buying a few $200-400 watches to review, share their hobby and passions... some realise that their brand of content is worth perhaps 10k a month and turn it into their job, some just want to get free watches. For people who treat it as a business (and if you're deriving 5 figure incomes monthly it is a business for most) - of course rational business decisions should be made - which makes the decision to go public with the Seals bad debt spat somewhat less rational in my view.

Same applies for all brands of course - watch microbrands included - there are very specific reasons for Sólás however that come model 3 Eclipse I may want to mention publicly - before model 3 I want all our models to be judged purely on their own merits without any "backstory"

Welcome to the watch forum ha - we're an odd bunch but I don't think particularly violent (especially towards seals) - I'd club a salmon though (but use all of the meat and skin afterwards )