Are these Vloggers just a scam? SOL or Shmee etc? (Vol 2)

[jimmybell]

waremark said:

Nothing to do with age. As Shmee commented it is the older folk who can afford them who watch his supercar videos. The wider car community is in fact a number of communities with different interests. And it depends what you want to watch a car video for - to see the details of the kit etc, watch Shmee, to be entertained, watch STG or JWW, to have an analysis of the handling watch one of the traditional journos, and to watch fettling of cheaper stuff or dangerous driving watch a Youtuber I don't know about because I'm not part of the community interested in that stuff.

Meh, recently i've found myself turned off by all the supercar vids, whilst everyone does a reasonable job of acting excited and passionate, i struggle to believe it when you're in 100 different new supercars a year. It may also be a product of having so much automotive news coverage now that it's saturated and less interesting/exciting - which is perhaps why OneTakes etc have such longevity as an idea because the content is so varied and customised. Shmee ever considered duping this idea? I imagine you'd do a better job than Mr LLF.

If anything seeing a load of youtubers getting VIP access to cars i might want to buy puts me off them more than attracts me to it. You'd hope a customer putting ~£200k down on a car might get the same/better access than someone who has no intention of buying one beyond feigning interest in doing so to borrow it to create their content, but i guess that's the reality of brands using the youtubers to get publicity. That said, Lamborghini sales did impress me (as did the car), despite the Pangbourne dealership being a mecca for junk collection videos with random members of the public awkwardly clapping for people they don't know.

I'm not sure how Shmee can determine 'people who can afford the cars watch the videos' (or was that your determination?) unless youtube has some salary/wealth fields on profiles i wasn't aware of. Perhaps it's more likely that younger audiences simply prefer the junky 'lifestyle' videos, who knows.

[Munka01]

limpsfield said:

Thanks for that - very interesting watch. His brother does most of the talking which surprised me and seems to be the driving force behind their main business. An honest discussion.

Yeah that surprised me to be honest, from the Youtube videos Tom comes across as the more outgoing brother but the interview appeared to show the opposite.

Seems that Tom is astute enough though to realise what works online and has tailored his content to get the most engagement.

[Punio]

Munka01 said:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=559772...

Interesting interview with TGE and his brother. Answers a few of the questions asked here.

Both clearly intelligent lads who have made it by working hard. Not sure how you can knock them to be honest.

It's very clear the work ethic that has been instilled in these two and their commitment to their business. It's something definitely lost in translating that across on Youtube, which is a shame, as they are ostensibly on screen a pair of lads larking around when in fact their anything but. Good interview.

[Burwood]

Munka01 said:

limpsfield said:

Thanks for that - very interesting watch. His brother does most of the talking which surprised me and seems to be the driving force behind their main business. An honest discussion.

Yeah that surprised me to be honest, from the Youtube videos Tom comes across as the more outgoing brother but the interview appeared to show the opposite.

Seems that Tom is astute enough though to realise what works online and has tailored his content to get the most engagement.

Including the promotion of various Binary/Bitcoin get rich quick schemes which are nothing but Scams. In the long term, operators like this come unstuck. Comes across as a dodgy wide boy.

[Munka01]

Burwood said:

Munka01 said:

limpsfield said:

Thanks for that - very interesting watch. His brother does most of the talking which surprised me and seems to be the driving force behind their main business. An honest discussion.

Yeah that surprised me to be honest, from the Youtube videos Tom comes across as the more outgoing brother but the interview appeared to show the opposite.

Seems that Tom is astute enough though to realise what works online and has tailored his content to get the most engagement.

Including the promotion of various Binary/Bitcoin get rich quick schemes which are nothing but Scams. In the long term, operators like this come unstuck. Comes across as a dodgy wide boy.

Eh? Have you watched the video? I don't know many dodgy wide boys who are a qualified Barrister/Solicitor's.

Got any links to them pushing binary/bitcoin? I don't recall this.

[johnwilliams77]

Munka01 said:

Eh? Have you watched the video? I don't know many dodgy wide boys who are a qualified Barrister/Solicitor's.

Got any links to them pushing binary/bitcoin? I don't recall this.

Wow, you're really in love with them. It's interesting that Tom who seems to be the biggest keyboard (banned from this thread!) warrior is the one who comes across most shy and reserved compared to JE who I have never seen giving much hate online / instagram.

[ashleyman]

I watched the video and was surprised at how quiet Tom came across. He didn't seem to answer the questions in the same serious way that James did.

There were also points were James seemed to look frustrated with Toms answers as if Tom was saying the wrong thing.

I'm probably way off the mark here and I'm sure that Tom loves LDNM as much as James does but it wouldn't surprise me if he just didn't have the drive to do it full time and likes the structure of a 9-5 with regular money + all the influencing perks.

Very interesting video though. For all the stick they get, it seems like they've got their heads screwed on and are trying to just make the best of what they can.

[pincher]

ashleyman said:

There were also points were James seemed to look frustrated with Toms answers as if Tom was saying the wrong thing.

Where was that? Not saying you are wrong - I was more listening to it than watching it, as I was working at the same time. Would be interesting to go back and look.

Agree that it was an interesting insight into the pair of them though.

[ashleyman]

pincher said:

ashleyman said:

There were also points were James seemed to look frustrated with Toms answers as if Tom was saying the wrong thing.

Where was that? Not saying you are wrong - I was more listening to it than watching it, as I was working at the same time. Would be interesting to go back and look.

Agree that it was an interesting insight into the pair of them though.

I watched it last night so I might be wrong. It was when they were talking about Tom's job and being financially secure, then the bits about EmojiFresh and winning touch etc.. and then I think right at the end when they talked about Tom quitting his job and moving to full time LDNM and James answered for him.

I dunno... perhaps I'm wrong but thats just the vibe I got. I was doing the same as you though, working on something and had it playing on my second screen.

[e30m3Mark]

Gravelwood have a couple of nice cars but this whole dealership advert / borrowing stock is a bit tedious. Mind you, not as tedious as SOL who's obsession with exhausts is a tough watch.

Haven't watched the TGE video but don't recall anyone calling him (or his brother) thick? Awful fashion sense maybe, although subjective anyway, but I thought anything negative was pretty tongue in cheek.

Fair play to QueenB and congrats I guess? Certainly a huge improvement on the series of short programs ''on demand'' where she judged some truly awful cars. Best modified - a hanging Capri of some sort. Anyway, just proves hard work and sticking at it can pay off.

[emicen]

ashleyman said:

pincher said:

ashleyman said:

There were also points were James seemed to look frustrated with Toms answers as if Tom was saying the wrong thing.

Where was that? Not saying you are wrong - I was more listening to it than watching it, as I was working at the same time. Would be interesting to go back and look.

Agree that it was an interesting insight into the pair of them though.

I watched it last night so I might be wrong. It was when they were talking about Tom's job and being financially secure, then the bits about EmojiFresh and winning touch etc.. and then I think right at the end when they talked about Tom quitting his job and moving to full time LDNM and James answered for him.

I dunno... perhaps I'm wrong but thats just the vibe I got. I was doing the same as you though, working on something and had it playing on my second screen.

I took it more as just a slightly poorer interview on his behalf. He almost came across as not really interested in being there and I thought James’ looks were more flashes of exasperation at Tom not full engaging.

I watched some of Tom’s content today having only previously watched a couple of shorter videos:
- he’s an entertaining guy, some of his watch videos were really interesting as well
- fk me Archie can be annoying
- it’s somewhat ironic how often he says he doesn’t do click bait titles when he blatantly does

[johnwilliams77]

emicen said:

I took it more as just a slightly poorer interview on his behalf. He almost came across as not really interested in being there and I thought James’ looks were more flashes of exasperation at Tom not full engaging.

I watched some of Tom’s content today having only previously watched a couple of shorter videos:
- he’s an entertaining guy, some of his watch videos were really interesting as well
- fk me Archie can be annoying
- it’s somewhat ironic how often he says he doesn’t do click bait titles when he blatantly does

Perhaps thats due to him being up till 2am watching porn / responding to trolls then up at 0630 to get to the office?

point 2 - understatement. But I think these videos don't portray the real person too well.

[emicen]

johnwilliams77 said:

Wow, you're really in love with them. It's interesting that Tom who seems to be the biggest keyboard (banned from this thread!) warrior is the one who comes across most shy and reserved compared to JE who I have never seen giving much hate online / instagram.

I haven’t followed the thread well enough to witness that bit, yet another occasion it sucks the PH search function is so poor. Sounds like it could have been entertaining

[johnwilliams77]

emicen said:

I haven’t followed the thread well enough to witness that bit, yet another occasion it sucks the PH search function is so poor. Sounds like it could have been entertaining

The search function will not find deleted posts.

[Davey S2]

e30m3Mark said:

Gravelwood have a couple of nice cars but this whole dealership advert / borrowing stock is a bit tedious. Mind you, not as tedious as SOL who's obsession with exhausts is a tough watch.

Haven't watched the TGE video but don't recall anyone calling him (or his brother) thick? Awful fashion sense maybe, although subjective anyway, but I thought anything negative was pretty tongue in cheek.

SOL holds himself out as a self styled exhaust expert yet when his Murcie was up on a ramp the mechanic had to point out to him where the valves were and what the back box was. I very rarely watch him anymore as its just tedious.

Not watched the TGE thing yet and it may put them in a good light but I just can't watch them. Main issue is they just don't do very much with their cars.

I watch a fair bit of Youtube at around 3am when I'm up feeding our 6 month old and have just been watching some of Joe Achillies vids from the Petrolhead tours and they're really very good (probably because they remind me of the trips I used to do before the kids came along ). Proper enthusiasts doing proper driving and he isn't up his own arse. The TGE stuff on the other hand just isn't my bag.

[ashleyman]

emicen said:

ashleyman said:

pincher said:

ashleyman said:

There were also points were James seemed to look frustrated with Toms answers as if Tom was saying the wrong thing.

Where was that? Not saying you are wrong - I was more listening to it than watching it, as I was working at the same time. Would be interesting to go back and look.

Agree that it was an interesting insight into the pair of them though.

I watched it last night so I might be wrong. It was when they were talking about Tom's job and being financially secure, then the bits about EmojiFresh and winning touch etc.. and then I think right at the end when they talked about Tom quitting his job and moving to full time LDNM and James answered for him.

I dunno... perhaps I'm wrong but thats just the vibe I got. I was doing the same as you though, working on something and had it playing on my second screen.

I took it more as just a slightly poorer interview on his behalf. He almost came across as not really interested in being there and I thought James’ looks were more flashes of exasperation at Tom not full engaging.

Yeah, this is what I mean!

[pincher]

RobDown said:

John you are clearly very bitter man (boy?)

But you posted an accusation earlier of Tom about pushing dodgy crypto. Then when someone queried this you dodged the answe by insulting them

Now I’m no fan of Tom, in fact I can count the number of his videos I’ve watched on one hand. But I do recall him falling out with some guy (Anshin or something like that) in part I think because the latter was doing some dodgy FX scheme

So John, rather than being abusive. Show is some evidence of Tom pushing a dodgy scheme. Or can i suggest you stop making things up before the moderators, or worse still lawyers, get involved

I think you may have your posters mixed up - am pretty sure that it was Burwood who was talking about bitcoiny stuff;

Burwood said:

Including the promotion of various Binary/Bitcoin get rich quick schemes which are nothing but Scams. In the long term, operators like this come unstuck. Comes across as a dodgy wide boy.

[johnwilliams77]

RobDown said:

John you are clearly very bitter man (boy?)

But you posted an accusation earlier of Tom about pushing dodgy crypto. Then when someone queried this you dodged the answe by insulting them

Now I’m no fan of Tom, in fact I can count the number of his videos I’ve watched on one hand. But I do recall him falling out with some guy (Anshin or something like that) in part I think because the latter was doing some dodgy FX scheme

So John, rather than being abusive. Show is some evidence of Tom pushing a dodgy scheme. Or can i suggest you stop making things up before the moderators, or worse still lawyers, get involved

Crack on with the lawyers. Good luck with that one.

[Munka01]

johnwilliams77 said:

Munka01 said:

Eh? Have you watched the video? I don't know many dodgy wide boys who are a qualified Barrister/Solicitor's.

Got any links to them pushing binary/bitcoin? I don't recall this.

Wow, you're really in love with them. It's interesting that Tom who seems to be the biggest keyboard (banned from this thread!) warrior is the one who comes across most shy and reserved compared to JE who I have never seen giving much hate online / instagram.

Ha not sure why you have so much beef towards them.

You're ok with people criticising, yet anyone says anything remotely positive and somehow I am in love with them? Why does it matter to you so much?

Personally I saw his posts on here as a bit of banter and 99% of Tom's content is harmless, I don't don't feel the need or want to have any beef towards them.

Are we only allowed to be negative about vloggers on here? If so maybe we should have another thread for those that just want to discuss vloggers and content we like?

I have better things to do than get upset by people on and content I can quite happily ignore.

Your posts come across as jealous and bitter.

[anonymous-user]

Looking at the state of TGE on a few recent videos I find myself wondering if he has a mate called Charlie lurking in the background somewhere.