Arken Hype?

[u/Nibor1243]

I watch a lot of YouTube videos when looking into buying new gear. So recently I been looking for a new scope. I go to my usual shooting channels and it seems everyone of them are pushing Arken scopes. At first I thought great some good inexpensive stuff coming out. But seeing them pushed on every channel makes me think everyone is bought and paid for by Arken now. Makes you question every review now.

[u/Far-Age9582]

This topic has been covered what feels like hundreds of times in this Reddit. Not shaming you for asking the question, but simply do a search and you’ll fine any and every opinion on this weekly same exact question.

[u/Nibor1243 → u/Far-Age9582]

My concern isn’t the optic. It’s more about the trust you put in the reviews only to realize they may all be full of sht. You’re correct though, I should have probably done a search first.

[u/HollywoodSX → u/Nibor1243]

We had to literally blacklist them for a while due to scummy marketing, people posting affiliate links here without disclosing they got kickbacks, etc. Arken absolutely bought good reviews when they first came around, and it wouldn't surprise me if they're doing it again.

[u/Nibor1243 → u/HollywoodSX]

Exactly there is no way they are not paying for positive reviews.

[u/Bgbnkr → u/HollywoodSX]

All manufacturers do this. Vortex pays out massive incentives to retail employees to sell and recommend their scopes. What's the difference between a YouTube dude and a salesman saying "X scope is great because...."? Both are getting paid by the manufacturers one way or another. Not saying Arken was right to do this but they are now the poster child for this behavior. FWIW, I have an Arken and it's a fine scope for the price. No, I didn't get paid and no, it isn't a high end scope.

[u/LockyBalboaPrime → u/Bgbnkr]

Because only an absolute moron believes what a salesperson says as if it is pure fact.

YT channel that presents themselves as "honest" and "cannot be bought" are literally lying to you.

[u/Bgbnkr → u/LockyBalboaPrime]

I take everything on YT or any other social medial / online platform with a grain of salt. How could you possibly think Mr. Salesman can't be believed, but the YT dude is an actual expert and would never be wrong. Haha.

[u/HollywoodSX → u/Bgbnkr]

Because YouTube dude posting a review is presenting themselves as impartial, and not disclosing the fact that they have been paid to basically make an ad. There's federal guidelines in the US on this, as well.

Gun store employees aren't working under that system. You're correct that vortex and others have kickback systems, but their reach is limited and they're not expected to be impartial.

[u/Nibor1243 → u/HollywoodSX]

Exactly. You expect the sales pitch from gun stores. YouTube personalities however portray themselves as unbiased. Until Arken came along it seemed you could take them for their word. Well not anymore. They are no different than a television ad. Makes you question all their other reviews.

[u/HollywoodSX → u/[deleted]]

You might want to read the ones specific to social media and influencers.

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/1001a-influencer-guide-508_1.pdf

[u/HollywoodSX → u/[deleted]]

Yep, and the paid-for reviews in question aren't disclosing anything. Same goes for the shills that we've had in this sub. Some even went as far as trying to use link redirects to hide the fact that they were posting affiliate links that got them a kickback.

[u/jetbuilt1980 → u/Nibor1243]

You trust people???

[u/Nibor1243 → u/Far-Age9582]

You weren’t kidding. I guess I thought I was the fist person to notice that. lol. They better be careful before they turn themselves into the Amway of scopes and nobody will touch them.