What's with all the vitriol for Hodinkee?

The Timeteller on YouTube has a number of videos about the brand. Basically, there is an aire of elitism and non inclusivity is what his point of view is.

Yeah, I've really stopped going to them for content because I feel that their content is not for me, a non-rich collector who like homages. In other words, the snobbery has increased.

Well they banned me from comments merely because I pointed out how patronizing all the simp comments were for some rando "tee hee, I'm girl and I collect watches too!" article. I don't know, I never really knew them in their heyday before they became conflicted whores that sold the stuff they reviewed. Cara Barrett is the originator of the loathsome "all watches should be unisex" or whatever trope, and she hasn't apologized for that yet. And she had that unimpressive Parchie child's watch line, which properly got blown away by @Blokparty because they put some effort and inspiration into their product. Also, the site does frequently read like a caricature of trustafarian "good-life" wankery, and I remember the champagne socialist guy they had. Can I just say that they are the Howard Stern, or maybe the Garrison Keillor, of watch journalism?

They went from an independent watch site to ADs that sell pre-owned watches and offer watch insurance and other luxury goods

Exactly like that idiot teddy!

That surprised me as well. I was critical of that watch as representing all these unnecessary collaborations. Everybody is “collaborating” with other brands by just putting out something they already make in a different color then counting on name recognition to sell units. I guess it’s good business, but I think it’s silly and I wish they’d spend their time making a better product or something truly new.

Beyond that, I don’t really care, so I was surly to see all the Hodinkee hate. I’m guessing they decided to start cashing in more aggressively and that bothers people.

Enthusiasts do not like to be burned. It was once a site catering to the broad marketplace, then after an injection of cash and an acquisition later, they moved pretty far upmarket and the site turned into a lifestyle blog while becoming an ad for their own store(s). Throw in the fact they acquired C&C and fans got bitter.

Fwiw

I reckon Teddy is totally upfront about his conflicts of interest and declares them loudly at the start of his reviews.

I'm more concerned about "independent" watch reviewers who get given watches to review And KEEP then declare that this couldn't possibly affect their review.

This is the same as payment.

No human is totally immune to conflict of interest. And getting paid to review a watch is likely to affect the review.

Agree. It's kind of absurd, especially given the fact that the new Timex has nothing to do with Hodinkee anyway. People seem very intimidated by them. I may never buy a watch they write about or sell, but that doesn't make me afraid to learn more about cool watches through their articles.

Part of it may be the preponderance of folks on here who swear by their Casios and Seikos and cheap homage divers. Clearly not Hodinkee's target audience. Doesn't really explain the vitriol, though.

It's like the old joke about how many rockabillies does it take to change a lightbulb?

Ten...one to change the bulb and nine to say the original was better...

HODINKEE has evolved from watch nerd central to a become a lifestyle magazine in the mode of a GQ...hey I don't blame them...you don't make a lot of money catering to a narrow market niche...they launched on the back of the watch community, but have moved on to the more lucrative world of men's/women's fashion/lifestyle...much more ad revenue and certainly more display ads for the magazine...

Kudos to them for following the money trail...

But that's why watch nerds have abandoned them.

Yeah, they lost me at the whole, "letting someone wear your watch is like letting them bang your wife" level of creepiness. We're talking watches here. They can keep the Eyes Wide Shut stuff to themselves.

This was the moment when Hodinkee jumped the shark.

A fair point, but they have writers and articles that are more budget minded. But there is also the part: " Every collection needs a Submariner/ Royal Oak" 😅

I disagree on your impression of Teddy the polo bozo. His reviews are overwhelmingly biased more towards the stock he sells & brands he wants to carry. He acts like he’s some kind of style guru & his stock is curated on his expert opinion, but what makes that child’s opinion worth a toss? The fact he picked up his mums handycam & pointed out the window of his daddy’s corner office while talking about an orient bambino? Or the fact he’s so small he shops at Gap kids & saves a fortune on sales Tax? He’s an annoying social climbing sycophant, (Kevin O).

Laugh!

Tell is what you really think!

What utterly brilliant tosh!!

God save me from utter wankers!

Hodinkee is primarily a sales site. It seems many of their reviews praise what tell are selling.

Nothing against merchants but they are not neutral. I don't hate them but don't value their opinion that much either.

Teddy being upfront with his profit motive (and his smaller wrist) is why I keep coming back.

I also think that his store selling more budget friendly brands keeps him from going full upmarket.

I'll still reference some of their older, like much older articles. Especially back when they were releasing content about WR, interviewing interesting people, value proposition etc. Once elitism started creeping in and they became very heavy handed with weirdly pushing politics I kinda tuned them out.

It seems Worn and Wound has started heading that direction too. I don't really blame either company, they still have to make money. But I mainly follow sites like that to read reviews and look for watches I've never heard about, or interesting horological history.

Hodinkees most recent article about not buying an auto under $1K for "reasons" illustrates why I don't really read anything new from them anymore.

Yeah, that's the one. That's awful. Makes them sound like a trenchcoat diddler. Good Lord. Let's not make watches pervy. Please.

I agree with you that W&W appears to be heading that way.

That was Fratello that wrote the “$1K” article you’re referencing.

Yup good catch my apologies. It's kinda not good that they got lumped in too, cuz I knew that one...🤐😅

No worries. It’s easy to get them confused. Blurred lines and such.

I’ve been at this for a while now and seen many come and go. From guys on YT reviewing crap homage watches to these younger watch guys coming out of the woodwork now claiming to know more than others about this or that brand. I just don’t understand this whole Hodinkee nonsense at all. They’re just trying what every other online .com has tried. No fault for that, however they don’t know any more than anyone else. If you’re resting on their knowledge alone, shame on you.

Sometimes you don’t know what you need until you see it 😂