Originally Posted By: Kino MIf you step back and take a look, the night calling forum here is about 99% of Kirsch pimping Bering mostly and once in awhile Pulsar products because thats the vast majority of thermal optics Nightgoggles sell. Kino, really 99% of all the posts on the Night Forum are me "pimping" Bering stuff?
I started by sharing coyote hunting videos same as you do, DoubleUP, V223, 6mm and many others. Based on those videos, and the way I represented myself on Predator Masters, Night Goggles approached me with a potential prostaff position. Why not help out a reputable company that helps Predator Masters, it seemed like a Win-Win. What I post really hasn't changed.
My title with Night Goggles changed this year, but what I do has not. I have always held to the fact my role would not be a commissions role. I am sure financially I would have been way ahead by taking a commission. This is another reason I wanted to change my role to Product Specialist because Prostaff people often get associated with a term like "pimping." I test any thermal that Night Goggles or any thermal company will send me. I kill coyotes and share videos, and I do product reviews. I have attempted to help a lot of people on this forum, and other forums when many didn't even buy a thermal from Night Goggles.
Bering Optics happens to be a company that sees the value in my testing as I have used many different thermals and can provide them a lot of feedback. It also helps out Night Goggles as I get a chance to gain experience using a lot of their different thermals. Does Night Goggles sell a lot of Bering products because I test a lot of them, write reviews, and create coyote videos, sure it does. Just as when I was shooting a Flir PTS536, Night Goggles sold a lot of those as people saw the product in action. Besides what thermals I test, the majority of the videos I produce are from the thermals I purchase myself. My hard-earned dollars have purchased many Bering products because I do feel they provide a tremendous value. I welcome the chance to test any thermal manufacturer's products. I will give them a fair chance, run the same tests I do with Bering thermals, and provide an update to thermal company, Night Goggles, and to the PM community. If their products review well, I may end up buying some of those also.
One of the first things I heard is when Korey joined Night Goggles, he was now going to push the most expensive brand they carry. Why, because this is usually what happens with many Prostaff type positions. I have tried to stay consistent in my testing and the products I use. Part of virtually everything I do for Night Goggles is what type of solutions and knowledge can I provide to help the coyote hunting community.
Somewhere along the line, me trying to provide assistance has turned into "pimping" and according to some (not Kino's remarks) making excuses for Bering Optics. What I provide aren't excuses but experience after assisting I would have to say thousands of thermal users with questions on thermal technologies. Do I take offense to the word "pimping", I do but it is a free country and Kino can say what he wants. It seems by following it up by saying I am honest and knowledgeable guy makes up for the rest. I sincerely hope what I provide to this community is considered a lot more than pimping. This is not a "Kirsch needs to prop himself up post because he feels sorry for himself." It is unfortunate the same community I spend a lot of time trying to support, isn't always supportive back but that's life.
Night Goggles and I continue to support the PM community. As for why other companies do not, I can't speak to that. Now, I need to go pull some videos from my thermal from last night and get back to editing video footage.