Do you buy a product because of show or "Pro"?
 

This is not brand specific or even piece of equipment specific. It covers all makes and models.

I had a someone tell me the other day the that they switched from something that was working for them to another brand/type because they saw the pros using it and if it was good enough for the pros, it was good enough for them.

Personally I thought it was kind of crazy. I mean I understand the whole win on Sunday sell on Monday strategy. A lot of manufacturers rely on this type of marketing. That is why big money is paid to the pros or tv shows to use their products. Nothing wrong with it. I also understand that a person is in the market for a new piece of equipment and their favorite show's name is on it. No problem there. Heck, I might even be a little guilty of that.

But the question is this. Do you purchase a product simply because you saw a pro use it or saw a person on your favorite show use it?

Absolutely not!

In fact, the more these so called "pro's" tout something as the best the more I tend to stay away from it.

I tend to be the same way. I must say that I was suprised when he told me that because he was dead serious.

I wouldn't buy a product strictly because I saw somebody on TV use it, but I wouldn't let that steer me away either. I buy a product I feel will work for me. Now if there are two options, and both seem equal in quality and price, I may be swayed by who uses or endorses the product.

i bought a "hindsight" once because i saw tom miranda endorsing it and thought it looked cool. missed the biggest buck of my life using it and immediately sold it on ebay. could have been just me choking under pressure, i dont know but i did get rid of it lol. i can still see that monster today in my dreams. now i cant say i am not intrigued when i see a new product , but i give a little more consideration before i purchase things. i tend to look at message boards like this for real world reviews of products than i do on tv because i know those guys are just saying its the "best" because they are getting paid to say it.

That's not a dream. That's a nightmare!!

Absolutely NOT,Those guys would endorse anything for the right price.
I buy and use products that will do what I need them to do,or to try them out for my self over the years i've found that just because something works for you don't meen it will work for me.

Mostly I look for a product that has the features i'm looking for or I'll ask my buddies what has been working for them. I used to favor things based on what I saw the guys on tv. After I wasted some of my hard earned money I began to think a bit more about my purchases.

i do feel they show a bunch of good climbers and blinds on the shows, but i am lookin for durability , not who is tryin to sell it...i like the ghost blind, and those big bad no wind flap 2 man blinds, but i couldnt tell ya who was tryin to sell it..
im thinkin maybe those people get famous tryin to sell a nice product, not the product gettin famous because of who is sellin it

Of course!!! Everything I buy;)

some "pro" has to use
mathews and Hoyt bows
sure loc and sword sights
trophy taker, octane, limb driver, and whisker biskut rests
xtreme stabilizers
tru ball and Carter releases
victory, Easton, and carbon express arrows

and pretty much any other gear I have;)

probably all endorsed by at least a pro or two... Haha

Oh, I do have a bone collector ameristep blind! Highly endorsed. But the shop I shot for is business parteners with mr waddel so u can see what I'm getting at haha

Have to say,without the advertisements,u never know the product exsists!
Its then when I check it out in person and see and feel if its a product That is comfortable and is of quality and feels good to my likeing,I think about the purchase.
Its been said by thousands of sportsman etc.And Its TRUE What feels good to some does not always feel good to others when purchasing products.Its personal preference.

Many times if the "pros" are pushing it, I avoid it because I think they are probably getting paid to endorse it and thus are biased in their review/view of the product. Hiring "pros" to endorse a product jacks up the price of said product, so why should I pay more for it?

I specifically avoid anything with bone collector on it because I don't want to give any of my money to those clowns.

It is starting to pizz me off because everything has that crap on it these days.

I started bow hunting when Fred Bear was about the only pro...I don't care what others use as chances are I've killed way more deer then they have... :)

I just use what I have confidence in...

I'd much prefer to go off my own opinion of a product, or a personal friend that I know I can trust.

Most of the tv personalities today couldn't find their ass with both hands, let alone be successful in alot of areas we hunt, so what they use means little to me. 99% of outdoor tv these days is pure garbage.

Tyler

I don't buy anything just because it is used by a "PRO". The "PRO" is paid to use it, and will tell you just about anything the Co. would want you to hear just to buy it. I have seen some items over the years highly promoted by the PRO that was nothing but junk, could not keep em together to save ya life. Take whatever the item is and use it FIRST to make sure it is what they say it is. I buy from
field testing experience, reputation of the company, AGE of the Co.
NOT just because of advertisement

I usually might see a product introduced on tv, but I always look online for the reviews. I like to get reviews from the average hunter not someone that is paid to put the good word out on a product.

i hate those guys too mike waddell is a joke and so are lee and tiffany and i dont buy stuff because a "pro" says its good i buy it because it works for me i use rage broadheads because a guy i hunt with gave good feedback about them and told me about other people he knew have had good luck with them

No!

I also tend to stay away from what the "pros" push. I like products to stand on their own merit. Advertisement is needed to get it in front of the consumer but to pay for a celebrity pro to endorse a product, whether with cash, hunting trips or free gear, is money that could've been deducted from my cost.

Dan

PS: These so called pros kind of annoy me and for this reason I downgraded to loose the outdoor channel.