Well, I know this journal has gone by the wayside some time ago... such is life. However, I did just have a bit of an experience I wanted to share. Like anything, there are ups and down, and when it comes to "reviews" more often than not (especially on other products and services outside of our realm of bodybuilding) there seems to be a likelihood for the negative to persist and permeate the overall tone. However, with that fact iterated, I want to preface this by saying I have always been more (read: much more) than fair and supportive of A CERTAIN COMPANY'S - before, during, and after my stint doing online representation for them.
I've been a user of their RANDOM NONDESCRIPT HAIR LATHERING BALDNESS PREVENTION SHAMPOO product since it was first released on their website, quite literally, from day one. Since then, much like all of their product offerings, there has been several shipping-flow and availability issues come and go. Most recently, I was running low on shampoo and planned to purchase well in advance to remove the risk of running out - but little did I know, those issues were still prevalent and highly active at the forefront of A CERTAIN COMPANY'S business operation. Even months in advance, and for the subsequent months leading me up to this review, I was still unable to avoid the dreaded out-of-stock plague that seems to be an ongoing epidemic for as far back as I can remember.
As a result, moments ago I just stocked up on hundreds of dollars worth of shampoos and treatments from A CERTAIN GLOBAL WEBSITE THAT OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM FRYING PANS TO ART SUPPLIES, since I fear and feel as though A CERTAIN COMPANY will never have their inventory issues re-calibrated and remedied. During my time spent as an official online representative for that company, although it was far from an experience totally ruled by pessimism or confusion by any means, I always come back to two things that give me pause and stand out in my mind while in reflective contemplation. The first flashback is ruled by the collection of redundant promises given to us on multiple forums as each random product would run out of stock; the 'next' re-order was said to be 'super-ultra-mega-massive' ultimately eventuating the 'stock flow' being forever cured.
Secondly, something that casts a shadow of shrug-and-sigh over my hindsight, revolved around winning the CERTAIN COMPANY'S sponsored 'Ultimate Dream Cycle' contest posed to all the members over a month-long fiercely competitive battle to engage conversation and bring new members. I spent all month devoting my efforts and talent writing, finally being announced the winner! I was elated, and beside myself with encouragement to continue the ongoing gospel of CERTAIN COMPANY'S superiority and all out awesomeness. The contest spelled out the rules and Grand Prize from the beginning as being able to devise and receive, you guessed it, the ultimate dream cycle - as a generous reward for the contributions toward the betterment of the forum. Months later, between several 'soft reminders' for the remuneration, I had given up, and decided to be a gentleman carrying-on and simply trek on in my responsibilities as a rep. Fast forward another hefty chunk of time into the future, and I came to find one or two vials of what I believe was GHRP of some sort, in my mailbox.
What's the moral, the takeaway, the point? Well, I can assure you it isn't my intent to mindlessly bash an otherwise good company that struggles repeatedly with what might be called growing pains, or to paint an inaccurate picture of a company that some may wrongly arrive at the conclusion I somehow feel 'jaded' by (I'm the one who stepped away from the company, and forum scene, on good terms as a personal decision). I am merely illuminating a well known facet of economic ebb and flow - supply and demand, and consumer migration. There was a demand, because I believed RANDOM NONDESCRIPT HAIR LATHERING BALDNESS PREVENTION SHAMPOO was a very decent product, however, there was not a supply. After holding my breath for what felt like an eternity, even visiting the forum to create a new thread asking about availability and receiving no detailed feedback I could base my purchasing decisions and delays on, I chose the path of much... much less resistance. I found greener more predictable pastures of product shipment and service, on A CERTAIN GLOBAL WEBSITE THAT OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM FRYING PANS TO ART SUPPLIES. I even purchased more saw-palmetto extract and a kilogram of raw caffeine powder, to ensure I wasn't missing a beat in efficacy when it came to combating pattern androgenic-perpetuated thinning. I always add in more of the active ingredients anyway, but didn't want to start totally from scratch by just buying pure Emu Oil.
I hope my thoughts and sincere objective reflections are read as the articulate and honest sharing of experience as they are intended to be. One thing I believe we, collectively, lose sight of writ large in this specific lifestyle and tireless pursuit of muscle by any means necessary, is that we are not beholden to the industrial construct for health and self actualization, they are by the nature of capitalism and the free market, affixed to us as a matter of thriving or withering corporately. I too once involved myself in the endless charade of carrot-on-a-stick chasing, believing the next supplement release or announcement, would miraculously establish my anabolic ambitions in stone as a success, expedited through nutraceutical usage. What I've found during my decade spanning insatiable quest for a formidable and awe inspiring physique be it in the gym or in the world as a working man and a consumer, is that nothing will ever replace the fork and knife as your most profound utilities of progress, and lastly that there is no substitute for predictable, adaptive, and customer-concerned service.