The GOOD DEALs and INTERESTING find thread!

[Stickman]

I wish more would do that. Youtube is filled with shills. There are some guys that seem more trustworthy than others, but hard to tell. At the least they should acknowledge any relationship/sponsorship.

We need more like you.

I try to point out periodically that I pay full price for very little aside from ammunition (sadly), and that I work with lots of MFGs as well as marketing groups. I still base all my comments off of my own training and experiences, but I'm sure there are people who think that makes me a shill. Thankfully, I think I've helped enough people and done this for long enough that my track record speaks for itself. If people don't want to listen, or can't understand, thats on them.

[Disciple]

For the desperate PSA has Tula .223 for $0.70/ea. Horrifyingly that's the best price I have seen on the trackers for a while.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/tula...-ta223550.html

[Diamondback]

50rds Winchester steelcase 115gr 9mm FMJ for $30 at OpticsPlanet?
https://www.opticsplanet.com/winches...50-rounds.html

Wouldn't be my choice, but in these times thought somebody might be desperate enough to need this.

[Diamondback]

I try to point out periodically that I pay full price for very little aside from ammunition (sadly), and that I work with lots of MFGs as well as marketing groups. I still base all my comments off of my own training and experiences, but I'm sure there are people who think that makes me a shill. Thankfully, I think I've helped enough people and done this for long enough that my track record speaks for itself. If people don't want to listen, or can't understand, thats on them.

Still, the fact that you are paying something is different than getting freebies. Something similar that happened to me, I once had a client that needed me to do an RCA on an issue with their product line where one batch of miniatures was a size mismatch to the previous and they were going to comp me a full set of that release, and I insisted that they wait until AFTER I'd finished the analysis since my study samples needed to be full-price-out-of-pocket to avoid conflict of interest. (Their engineer didn't understand that you can't just take a drawing on your screen and hold a ruler up to the screen for measurements, because Windows by default scales everything to 85% actual size.)

[vandal5]

50rds Winchester steelcase 115gr 9mm FMJ for $30 at OpticsPlanet?
https://www.opticsplanet.com/winches...50-rounds.html

Wouldn't be my choice, but in these times thought somebody might be desperate enough to need this.

These are on Back order now.


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[Arik]

50rds Winchester steelcase 115gr 9mm FMJ for $30 at OpticsPlanet?
https://www.opticsplanet.com/winches...50-rounds.html

Wouldn't be my choice, but in these times thought somebody might be desperate enough to need this.

It's been on backorder since like October. I ordered a case and keep getting updates on pushed back dates. The last email just said "unknown"

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[1_click_off]

I thought everything was on backorder from optic’s. At least that is what they always tell me AFTER I have placed an order with them!

[Stickman]

Still, the fact that you are paying something is different than getting freebies. Something similar that happened to me, I once had a client that needed me to do an RCA on an issue with their product line where one batch of miniatures was a size mismatch to the previous and they were going to comp me a full set of that release, and I insisted that they wait until AFTER I'd finished the analysis since my study samples needed to be full-price-out-of-pocket to avoid conflict of interest. (Their engineer didn't understand that you can't just take a drawing on your screen and hold a ruler up to the screen for measurements, because Windows by default scales everything to 85% actual size.)

There is a question among photographers whether paying for something to promote it is a realistic concept. At least I should say, there is a question among upper end photographers. When you figure my rates, anything I take pictures of is putting a cost on the product. Is it ok to pay for a part through time, training, and expenses by way of promoting the company and making them money? OR... should everything be bought at full retail from a shop without knowledge of the company?

There are pros and cons for both argument, but I sleep well knowing that if I have a product, I will always "pay" in one form or another. Hopefully that makes a little sense. I know that I bring a value to whatever I shoot pics or write about, which is why I try very hard to only work on projects that are rock solid. Its also why I try to write about additional things aside from just latest, newest product. For example, I just got done cutting foam and am ready to shoot pics for a thread regarding how to make your gear more comfortable. By keeping a mix of things, and answering questions to help people, I think it keeps most people understanding where I'm coming from.

[Diamondback]

In my case, the RCA was for both them and the customer community, and I needed to show the purchase receipt so the community would have that clarity. If something's going to be subjected to Destructive Testing, then I'll happily let the client comp it because it's known that only scrapmetal will be coming out the other end.

In your case, Stick, that comes to a question of role, contract photographer vs. independent reviewer. Partially paying for services on the former is one thing, but if I'm going to be keeping a sample on the latter I pay my own way. (That set of miniatures had been intended as a gratuity for my years of service helping bulldoze a path for them in the research department.)

[Stickman]

Fair enough, has anyone seen ammo prices getting normal or stabilizing? If anything, I've only seen prices getting worse.