Getting to be a Pet Peeve..."Partial Reviews"

allenk4

allenk4

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I really enjoy the AGO Forum and have learned so much from the Members. I tend to rely on the excellent reviews of Senior Members when making purchases.


I really dislike what I will call a "Partial Review"


If one of the most important qualities of the product being reviewed is longevity...why even post a review until that variable can be reviewed?

In My Opinion, any review of a Wax, Sealant or Coating should at a minimum include:

-Longevity

-What was your maintenance routine?
--Please don't complicate things by topping the coating being tested with anything that will affect the results

-Ease of use

-Cost per application

-Cure times

-Can it be topped?

-Resistance to soiling

-Does it "Fill"?

-Does it "Clean"?

-Hardness/Abrasion resistance

-Does it attract dust?

-Does the applicator and/or microfiber have to be thrown away after? This should be included in the cost per use.

-Beading Shot

-Subjective eval...is it "Glassy", "Warm", etceteras

-What surfaces can it be used on...Paint, Glass, Wheels?

-Does it stain trim?

-Special prep required?

-UV protection?


Am I just being a Hard Ass?
 
Because we all get excited about this detailing thing obviously. So, who wants to have all these pics and great info (minus durability) and not share it?

I say post away, then return and update so the thread gets bumped back to the top anyway. I've seen many reviews like this and just subscribe for the update. No biggie.
 
There is a difference between a review and a comprehensive year long study. Most people just do not have time for that.

Reviewing a movie doesn't mean you have to write a book about it combined with months of research into similar movies and their effect on society.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
I usually don't have cars I work on around long enough to capture all the data you listed but I do agree more data is better.

I also find I'm much better at writing a how-to article than a review article. Not sure why, just comes natural. At the same time, I find others are much better at writing reviews.

I guess that's what's so great about the human race, we're all different. We all have strengths and weaknesses...



:)
 
Just my opinion, but I for one appreciate any review, regardless of the level of detail, which represents a sometimes significant effort on the part of the poster.

Any tidbit of information on a product I'm considering or haven't previously used before is valuable to me. :xyxthumbs:
 
This is the review that made me post:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...emical-guys-second-skin-6-hybrid-coating.html

It is by AGO staff and promises a follow-up.

I admit, I would be a terrible reviewer, because I could never leave a coating completely alone for the duration of the testing.

I do appreciate any review, but I hope the initial post can serve as some form of guidance for future reviews regarding all the questions that we all have when making an educated purchase decision.
 
VP Mark said:
There is a difference between a review and a comprehensive year long study. Most people just do not have time for that.

Reviewing a movie doesn't mean you have to write a book about it combined with months of research into similar movies and their effect on society.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
Click to expand...

I agree, but if the movie cost $100 and promised that it would last a year...that would be relevant


One is a subjective opinion...movie...the other is an objective evaluation of a stated product claim..."This product will last 12 months".
 
There are so many variables that affect durability.

-How was the surface prepped?
-Temperatures when applied and temperatures throughout its life.
-Drying agents? (Wax boosters, actual spray waxes/sealants)
-Weather
-Location
- and whatever else I'm forgetting..

It's so hard to predict or perform an accurate test that you just need take the product claims, average the consumer claims and take that information for what it's worth.

*Your other expectations seem perfectly normal to me. With that said, I always appreciate some sort of unbiased review regardless if it's in depth or not. I always learn something from a review either by the OP or other comments when I haven't used that product yet.

*Reviews take some time for the reviewer; I've done a few and it can be time consuming writing something up.
 

As someone that has done my fair share of reviews I understand what you are saying. But for some products you want to use and review them ASAP. Realistically for some of the coatings and waxes that are out you wouldn't be able to write a review until 2+ years later if you wanted to have all of the info you listed. That just doesn't work most of the time.


But it is very important to always do the follow up work when testing "long term" products...


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-cquartz-ceramic-quartz-paint-protection.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/54420-product-review-carpro-dlux.html


 
I think some of the reviews could be better as well.

But there's some practicality to doing an early or partial review as well. We basically have a couple options with PBL coatings, for example. We can either all buy PBL and try it ourselves (which I'm sure Max would love!) or we could all sit around quietly and wait a 1 year from now to see if someone posts a review of the product.

I think the best way to do this is to have someone (or people) post early reviews of the product: cost, application, environmental conditions, steps taken, and immediate results.

For follow-up, I think the reviewer should try to include follow-up at some interval of time thereafter. Perhaps it is valuable to have the reviewer state this ahead of time.

But, people are busy and most people don't have time to be professional reviewers.

I have tried in my PBL post to provide a comprehensive test and to provide follow-up. It can be difficult to do this sometimes.

Personally I think everyone who has done a review has done so because he's excited about the product and generally want to help the community...even if his review is shotty.
 
TroyScherer said:

As someone that has done my fair share of reviews I understand what you are saying. But for some products you want to use and review them ASAP. Realistically for some of the coatings and waxes that are out you wouldn't be able to write a review until 2+ years later if you wanted to have all of the info you listed. That just doesn't work most of the time.


But it is very important to always do the follow up work when testing "long term" products...


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-cquartz-ceramic-quartz-paint-protection.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/54420-product-review-carpro-dlux.html
Click to expand...

The CQuartz Review is how I wish they all were done.

I agree that longevity is the most difficult to review, due to all the variables, but all of the others should be included on every review...IMO
 
I don't think I've ever really wrote a "true" review.

Here is another mini review. The Opti Coat that I applied on my car a few months back is still looking great and the water still sheets off when I wash it. I'll report back in a few more months and maybe in a few years I can write an actual review.

But like stated above, we all seem to have our strengths and weaknesses. So in that case I'll probably just make another video and you can just watch the water sheet off after years of application


(So stay tuned for a video in the next few years of an Opti Coated Dodge :) )
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I don't think I've ever really wrote a "true" review.

Here is another mini review. The Opti Coat that I applied on my car a few months back is still looking great and the water still sheets off when I wash it. I'll report back in a few more months and maybe in a few years I can write an actual review.

But like stated above, we all seem to have our strengths and weaknesses. So in that case I'll probably just make another video and you can just watch the water sheet off after years of application


(So stay tuned for a video in the next few years of an Opti Coated Dodge :) )
Click to expand...

I don't see a link to your Opti-Coat Review?


Looking for something like this list of observations of Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant

I use it and have had good results. Factors I observed included:

Longevity- was still beading at 6 months when I polished. I was using Optimum Gloss Enhancing Detail Spray; which may have affected the results

Application- a little goes a very long way. I used less than one ounce on a Yukon SUV. Goes on easy by machine or by hand. Wipes off very easy. Applicator and towel can be washed and re-used.

Staining- does not stain trim

Surfaces- indicated for paint. I have only used on paint.

Cleaning- appears to keep the vehicle cleaner after a rain. Makes washing much easier using 2BM. I do not use rinse less.

Subjective- very reflective, sharp, not as warm as Wolfgang Fusion

Dust- does not seem to attract dust. Much less dust that WG Fusion

Cleaners- None

Cost- FREE Sample for me.
At <1oz for an SUV
$39 for 16oz = $2.44 per application

Beading & Sheeting- in this picture the car is not clean, but still pretty good beading and sheeting is observed

WP_20140108_002.jpg
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Cure time- 45 minutes. Use "Swipe Test" as it has cured sooner for me. I have seen no problem with removal at >45 minutes

Can it be topped- Yes, I have topped with Wolfgang Fusion, but the increase in depth is not worth the extra dust collection to me

Does it "Fill"- none observed or claimed by manufacturer

Hardness/Abrasion Resistance- none observed or claimed by manufacturer

Special prep required- not when used after Wolfgang Polishes

UV protection- yes, claimed by manufacturer
 
Here is one LSP review I am doing http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...um-i-just-protected-my-car-winter-rain-2.html, but I think some things you are asking for are a bit much for a review such as:

Cost per application: There are so many variables here depending on what size of the product was bought, size of the vehicle, pricing changes over time, maybe I buy my applicators somewhere different than you, maybe I apply the product thinner than the next person. If the review says I needed 1 oz for this car and I applied it with this applicator, that is something the reader can calculate.

Can it be topped?, Special Prep?, UV Protection? : That kind of stuff is usually in the product description or directions. How can I review it's UV protection?

Resistance to soiling: Does that just mean resistance against what we pickup from driving on the road? If so, that would be evident in a durability update.

I think a review can be sufficient just by stating:
How the surface was prepped.
What the product is like to work with.
How it was applied/ removed.
How much product was used.
How it beads and more importantly sheets.
A durability update.

Mostly everything else can be calculated by the consumer or from reading the product description or directions.

Every review doesn't need to be a research paper.

This is just my opinion, but with that said, I do agree that too many reviews promise pictures or a durability update, etc. and then nothing ever happens.
 
I think another problem with updates is that when we wash our vehicles, we will want to top it off with something, else the detail just doesn't feel complete, at least that is how I feel. When we top our vehicles with lets say a spray wax/paste wax over a sealant, the update of the sealant is pretty much shot because you aren't seeing the durability of the sealant anymore. You will be seeing the result of the wax you just applied on the next wash.
 
I agree: "too many reviews promise pictures or a durability update, etc. and then nothing ever happens."

Regarding the rest, I believe that all a reviewer can do is assume the reader knows nothing about the product and include as much information as they have access to; either by their own personal experience with the product or noting the information within the review as being supplied by the manufacturer.

For example: I used 25ml of Permanon Platinum on my 2012 Camaro? My cost of application was $9 (100ml cost me $25.99)

Just thoughts about the information I find helpful in the complete reviews found on AGO.
 
It's probably better that there isn't longer term followup, since that would create a false sense of validity. Reviews are generally subjective not objective, and we're left with using vague adjectives that mean different things to different people, when we describe our opinions of the results.

Plus the reviewer's points of reference won't be the same as yours. They've used different products previously, and with different prep and technique, that form their point of reference for the words they choose to describe their results.

It's also a sample of one, with many variables. The reviewer's paint/trim/interior material types and condition are different that yours. Their surface preparation and technique may be better (or worse) than yours. They do intermediate cleanings with different products at different intervals and different methods than you. They drive more (or less) than you. They may or may not have an enclosed garage to store the vehicle when not in use. Their weather and environmental exposure (which might be the single biggest factor) is different than yours. etc. etc.

So every review is biased to some degree. To have an opinion you have to have a bias (unbiased opinion is an oxymoron), but all the above things bias the results even if not a conscious bias. You can try to be neutral (which is different than unbiased), and not go overboard with flowery adjectives and fairly extreme statements as if you're a paid spokesman for the product.

Still, every review is useful in its own way. Maybe not to a given person but it's surely useful to others that are at different points along the experience curve. Good photos help a lot too, but lots of photos alone does not make a review good.
 
I agree with the above that some portions of a review are subjective, I hope we all understand the difference.

Too often the objective valuations are left out. Just tell the reader as much as you can, based on your particular experience. No one here is asking for a complete, comprehensive review, but in almost every review; you will see the following questions posted in rapid succession:

1. How much product did you use?
I used 1oz on my _______

2. Can it be "topped"?
I didn't top it, but the manufacturer says, "yes"

3. Does it stain your trim?
It did not stain my trim

4. How long does it last?
Not sure yet, I have only had it on the vehicle for a month and I use a QD at every wash. It's still beading at 1 month. Manufacturer claims 6 months. Here is a picture.
 
Partial reviews are bad, but framed bias reviews from manufactures or their representatives are the worst! Ones with near perfect condition paint that is somehow painstakingly brought back to life with glowing review of the product.
 
SonOfOC said:
Partial reviews are bad, but framed bias reviews from manufactures or their representatives are the worst! Ones with near perfect condition paint that is somehow painstakingly brought back to life with glowing review of the product.
Click to expand...

I agree, especially Chemical Guys.

Some of their products and prices are very good. I really like EZ Creme and Citrus Wash n Gloss, but they go way overboard sometimes.
 
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