Dear TM,
I feel directly concerned by your post, and as such feel it necessary to answer your allegations:
The reps etc are OK with me, because we shouldn't believe anything they say, as they are trying to sell something that is expensive and unnecessary in the worst economy we've had in 30-60 years.
Speaking for myself first, if you shouldn't believe all I say, then my role here is really put in question(s). Actually, and I have said it many times, with the risk of repeating myself and becoming boring, I DO NOT CARE being here or not and I could honestly be better elsewhere, with more fun and much less aggressive attacks against my person (not that I find your post aggressive). But I am staying, not because being asked by Sinar, I repeat it, but because I believe in something called "true and open information" in a non-biased place, IMO. This is not the case very often, to be able to speak freely without being censored.
If you believe that I (speaking about me, but I understand that other reps are pointed at as well) am trying to sell, then it is your absolute right. There are many others who do take the information I am able to provide here and can make use of it for whatever reason. I am not a "fan boy", like I was called recently, simply because I do not need Sinar. I am working for this company since more than 18 years now, I love my job and the people I have got to know all over the places and do appreciate what I have learnt from some of them at its just value. But I do not need it. If tomorrow it is over, than there will be other things to do, other things to learn, and my life will go on. I am not married with any company, if I feel it necessary to leave a forum like this one or another, then I will do it, without asking and waiting to get the OK (or not). I have actually done it, leaving another forum, and some here know the very reason of this decision. When I joined first this forum, 2 years back, I was not really aware what would be my role and how it would be perceived. With the time I have learned what it is, and I have come to appreciate it and to learn and evolve in this field where there is always something to learn.
I am asking nothing in return, and certainly not to buy the product I am speaking about. I am obviously glad if this is the case and if I could contribute to a sale, and that is absolutely understandable. But I couldn't care less and if I have sleepless nights, it is certainly not because somebody has bought something else or because I have not reached a "target" with my "sales pitch".
The only thing I could wish, is that one respects what is given and the persons for what they are, without the continuous attacks and aggressive words meant to destabilize those persons.
Whatever Frank is doing is much less offensive than that Foto-Z guy's unceasing, shrill Sinar/Rollei guarilla marketing. I hope Sinar is paying him. Otherwise its just pathetic. I assume he isn't getting paid.
I can answer this without any problem: "foto-z" is not at all sponsored by Sinar, not in any way. I know Graham by means of email communication and he was featured (but not paid for) in one of our latest "Sinar Newsletter". I can also say, that we certainly not have a budget to sponsor photographers and have them speaking for us in return. So it must be pathetic for some, but I know that "foto-z" has never given any false information nor tried to convince anybody and that he knows the products he is using. If it can help somebody then I find it remarkable, if many think that he is simply here with an agenda, then it is fine too, for me.
Best regards,
Thierry