EEVblog #751 - How To Debunk A Product (The Batteriser)

[akohler]

IndieGoGo don't care. Several people already wrote to them about this (including me).

How about writing to some of the media-attentioni that Batteriser sources : wmur9, factitup, techhive, appleinsider, zmescience, daily-star, geek.com, digitaltrends. engineering.com, geekygadgets, bgr, yahoo, cnnmoney, macworld. pcworld, techxplore, dailymail.com, PRNewswire

We could write them saying, "Remember those guys? Look at them now."  Perhaps some bad press will get their attention.

[station240]

Maybe they should win the inaugural EEVblog Shonky Product Of The Year Award?

Fixed, remember there is no product in this case.

Dave remember these guys (sums up the Batteriser people)

[quad]

More and more people are getting tired of this...

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

More and more people are getting tired of this...

"Bob, This may not be a scam but we would never know it from the lack of info you provide. You could sure benefit by retaking Communications 101 and Customer Relations 101. You obviously majored in and got a PhD in Bullshit with a Minor in Dodgeball. Perhaps you should consider another job – maybe campaign manager for Hillary Clinton or Press Secretary for Barack Obama! "

Special from the group, I don't necessarily agree with the selection of politicians but conveys the message!

[Fungus]

Batteroo are still receiving awards?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-executives-honored-prestigious-frost-120000324.html

Somebody needs to write to the editor ( estefany.ariza@frost.com ) and tell them.

[akohler]

Somebody needs to write to the editor ( estefany.ariza@frost.com ) and tell them.

I did without reply.

I still say we contact all the media outlet that Batteriser sources. If we can embarrass Batteriser, perhaps they will be more motivated to produce results.

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

"Bob, This may not be a scam but we would never know it from the lack of info you provide. You could sure benefit by retaking Communications 101 and Customer Relations 101. You obviously majored in and got a PhD in Bullshit with a Minor in Dodgeball. Perhaps you should consider another job – maybe campaign manager for Hillary Clinton or Press Secretary for Barack Obama! "

Someone watching the indiegogo comments didn't like this one in particular.....now deleted. Wonder who that could have been? lol

[akohler]

Someone watching the indiegogo comments didn't like this one in particular.....now deleted. Wonder who that could have been? lol

People spewing insults and vulgarity are just creating noise for those legitimately voicing their concerns and grievances. I do find them entertaining and funny, but I'm sure they discourage Bob from responding.

[Halcyon]

Someone watching the indiegogo comments didn't like this one in particular.....now deleted. Wonder who that could have been? lol

People spewing insults and vulgarity are just creating noise for those legitimately voicing their concerns and grievances. I do find them entertaining and funny, but I'm sure they discourage Bob from responding.

I'd hardly consider that insulting or vulger. Bob should be thankful this guy didn't use more colourful language. I thought it was quite witty to be honest, I might not have been so tactful. Although if it did push a button with Bob, then it had it's desired effect.

[akohler]

Oh?:

" You obviously majored in and got a PhD in Bullshit with a Minor in Dodgeball. "

[Halcyon]

Oh?:

" You obviously majored in and got a PhD in Bullshit with a Minor in Dodgeball. "

I think "You sir, are a naughty man" doesn't quite have the same punch to it.

[akohler]

I think "You sir, are a naughty man" doesn't quite have the same punch to it.

I'm saying that "punch" may discourage Bob from communicating with those politely asking for an update.

I'll admit it, I am enjoying the Bob-bashing, but I feel bad for those people who invested $400k in the Batteriser. We should find ways to encourage Bob to improve his communication, for the benefit of the Batteriser supporters.

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

I'm saying that "punch" may discourage Bob from communicating with those politely asking for an update.

Promised an update for over a month now. Punches don't travel back in time.

[EEVblog]

I'll admit it, I am enjoying the Bob-bashing, but I feel bad for those people who invested $400k in the Batteriser. We should find ways to encourage Bob to improve his communication, for the benefit of the Batteriser supporters.

It's clear Bob doesn't want to communicate.
No amount of encouragement is going to fix that.

[Halcyon]

I think "You sir, are a naughty man" doesn't quite have the same punch to it.

I'm saying that "punch" may discourage Bob from communicating with those politely asking for an update.

I'll admit it, I am enjoying the Bob-bashing, but I feel bad for those people who invested $400k in the Batteriser. We should find ways to encourage Bob to improve his communication, for the benefit of the Batteriser supporters.

I often find companies response to clever and witty insults and criticism, especially when it's made publically on their Facebook, Twitter pages etc...

As Dave said, Bob has no intention of responding nor does he have even the slightest intention of providing updates with any substance to it. IGG backers, critics and even members of this forum have been nice enough to Bob, he deserves everything he gets coming to him. Unless of course he can deliver on his promises, apologise for the poor customer service and on-going delays or at the very least, throw his hands up and tell everyone "we were wrong and didn't think this through" and offer some kind of refund (if there is any money left) -- Neither of those things will happen.

[akohler]

It's clear Bob doesn't want to communicate.
No amount of encouragement is going to fix that.

Don't they also have other investors --something like a $1M investor? Don't they want to sell to big-chain stores? Why not send a bunch of polite messages to the batteriser.com-sourced media-mentions like CNN money? Who knows? Perhaps they, or one of the other media outlets, will get the attention of someone Bob does answer to.

If he gets bad press, not just isolated Indiegogo diatribes, he may be more inclined to act. It's not big a deal angering some $100 contributor; It is a big deal discouraging large investors or potential buyers.

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

It's clear Bob doesn't want to communicate.
No amount of encouragement is going to fix that.

Don't they also have other investors --something like a $1M investor? Don't they want to sell to big-chain stores? Why not send a bunch of polite messages to the batteriser.com-sourced media-mentions like CNN money? Who knows? Perhaps they, or one of the other media outlets, will get the attention of someone Bob does answer to.

If he gets bad press, not just isolated Indiegogo diatribes, he may be more inclined to act. It's not big a deal angering some $100 contributor; It is a big deal discouraging large investors or potential buyers.

They'd have to run a story, saying they promoted a product without fact checking. They aren't going to print that without major incentive to do so.

The investors are almost certainly 100% aware of what's going on.

[akohler]

They'd have to run a story, saying they promoted a product without fact checking. They aren't going to print that without major incentive to do so.

The investors are almost certainly 100% aware of what's going on.

Yeah, these are the arguments I'm trying to get around.

On the story-front: Many of the stories are "Look at the cool product that they guys say they are making." They are not claiming that the product actually works

On the investor front: If they think they will not get any return due to bad press, they'll get on Bob's case.

[akohler]

To put it another way:

Everyone here is enjoying Bob and Batteriser bashing. Why not embarrass them in front of their cited media "mentioners?" We got nothing to lose.

[ChunkyPastaSauce]

To put it another way:

Everyone here is enjoying Bob and Batteriser bashing. Why not embarrass them in front of their cited media "mentioners?" We got nothing to lose.

Personally, I'm not here to embarrass anyone and won't go out of my way to do so.  Watching things unfold and discussing is fine, but not for getting involved in an 'embarrassment' campaign or whatever. I don't think they need help anyway.

[EEVblog]

Personally, I'm not here to embarrass anyone and won't go out of my way to do so.  Watching things unfold and discussing is fine, but not for getting involved in an 'embarrassment' campaign or whatever. I don't think they need help anyway.

Batteriser embarrass themselves literally every time they open their mouth. It's actually rather fascinating to watch, which I think is why so many people in the industry are so fixated on following the saga.

[akohler]

I'm not suggesting anything vulgar or unethical.

I'm suggesting something along the lines of:
"Remember them?"
"This is how they are behaving."
"This is what they are claiming"

Just be factual, and let the media outlets know that people have lost $400k on a "miracle product" that is questionable; that they seem to be taking the money and producing no tangible results.

There's bound to be some follow-up from a few of the media outlets, and get Bob's attention.

[Brumby]

To put it another way:

Everyone here is enjoying Bob and Batteriser bashing. Why not embarrass them in front of their cited media "mentioners?" We got nothing to lose.

From my perspective, the reactions being posted here are not just about 'bashing' Bob and Batteriser - they are an expression of frustration of two basic issues.

1. The product has been touted, promoted and offered as having features which are not credible to many - especially to members of this forum and like-minded people around the world.

2. The product has failed to be shipped on several occasions, depriving ALL of the opportunity to review the product and either prove or refute the claims made.

A further issue is the legal and moral problem of fraud.  Taking people's money on the promise of delivering a product and not doing so; promising updates and not providing them; ignoring complaints - and censoring them where they can; and (afaik) not providing refunds to those who have asked for them - ALL adds up to a steaming pile of @#%%!!!


Bob - if you really want this to go away - come clean or deliver your product.

If you're trying to 'wait it out' until everybody forgets - you don't know the EE brain very well.  Unanswered questions are like a stone in a shoe ... and we don't like uncomfortable feet.

[akohler]

Personally, I'm not here to embarrass anyone and won't go out of my way to do so.  Watching things unfold and discussing is fine, but not for getting involved in an 'embarrassment' campaign or whatever. I don't think they need help anyway.

Batteriser embarrass themselves literally every time they open their mouth. It's actually rather fascinating to watch, which I think is why so many people in the industry are so fixated on following the saga.

Yeah, so we get to laugh at them while they have $400k of other people's money. Their embarrassment is our amusement; I'd rather it be for something productive.

[EEVblog]

Yeah, so we get to laugh at them while they have $400k of other people's money. Their embarrassment is our amusement; I'd rather it be for something productive.

Sure, but it is what it is.
Since this whole Batteriser thing started I don't think I've met a single person who has not mentioned it to me and laughed and facepalmed. People seems to be genuinely fascinated by the stupidity of it all.