take that same team of 15 employees and fly them around the country visiting a hundred consultants
There is no need to send anywhere near 15 employees. Here is an excerpt of the assortment of marketing, account executives, business development, marketing, etc. that attended this event:
If you really want product information and training, there are only a handful of employees with that. And you can do it over the phone, email or webinar, much more efficiently (for both sides).
I've been testing and evaluating equipment since I was a manufacturers rep for Bosch and a few other companies almost 20 years ago. I'm just not so arrogant as to think I'm the only one who can compare 2 pieces of gear.
We don't 'compare 2 pieces of gear' and you know that because in the comment you responded to I gave examples of the large shootouts we do, e.g., For example, Panoramic Fisheye Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotekand VMS Mobile App Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone.
We have a half dozen people doing ongoing tests, an 8,000+ sqft facility for testing, hundreds of camera models, etc.
My boss had me subscribe as he thought you were a valuable source of info, I've since shown him that its nothing we don't have in-house.
Nothing? Ok, 700+ tests and nothing.
Speaking of which, how does your boss feel that you have launched a passionate public defense of junkets?
Ever heard of Pelco University? They did 3 days of lodging and meals, on them. Everybody knows about it. Except you, I guess.
The old Pelco University from years ago? For integrators? As for Pelco's A&E event, I am not aware of what specifically it is. What's your counterargument? That we are biased for Pelco and would not report on that. Our reporting on Pelco has been critical for years - e.g., Pelco - A Decade of Decline.
So basically the industry should conduct themselves according to rules of ethics and morals as promulgated by IPVM
They can say and do what they want. We can say and do what we want. That's the basis of a free and open society.