Where are the dealers?

[neilrr]

If you ever mention forums to dealers, they say "oh no, not the dreaded forums, don't believe a word you read on them".

They think the forums are a waste of time. The reason for this is that we seem to know more than them about their products........

Do you honestly believe that to be true?

I frequently see advice on MB forums that is just plain wrong.

 

[MD5]

I think it would also be interesting to see the other side of the coin, and how much idiocy the dealers have to put with, but that would be deemed to be unprofessional, so it's a lose/lose situation for them.

 

[Dryce]

He claimed not to be a reader of motoring forums, which surprised me.

I've met quite a few journalists through work and I've always been surprised by how switched off a good proportion of them seem to be. Quite the opposite of what you'd expect.

Product orientated journalism (eg. cars, cameras, hi-fi, software) tends to parrot a given line. Particularly where there are several big vendors combined with advertising. Vendors control access to preview vehicles and consumer products - they can choose who gets and who doesn't.

Sports and political journalism even more tainted.