Hey TPE, just wanted to write up a quick note about something that's come up in the last few days that I feel needs to be addressed. Call this a manifesto, our philosophy or just me rambling. But I have a blog and I'm going to use it.
Basically, there's been a history of Pocketfives.com deleting references to TPE in their own free forum and banning TPE pros/founders for answering questions about TPE. I was banned for answering questions about TPE in PM. Questions that someone asked me. I have never gone on there to solicit business, injure their brand or be disrespectful in anyway. They just have a zero tolerance policy on any competitor mentions. Say something about a competitor and they delete it, and/or ban you.
That's nothing new, but in the past few days, it's escalated a bit. P5s training has hired a new product manager for their site and in their press release they stated that they are the only and best MTT-focused training site. Well, someone (a TPE and P5s member) called them out on it in their comments. I couldn't help myself, so I chimed in that I find it hard to believe that they don't know who we are since they delete every post about us. Casey chimed in as well. The posts were respectful and cordial but direct. I don't believe I crossed any boundaries at all.
Then, all posts were deleted. There is no trace on the site about the discussion. They removed the references to TPE, as they usually do.
This behavior just doesn't sit well with me. I can't stand it when I see companies try to insulate their customers from the reality of other products on the market that might be helpful to them out of fear. Can they really expect to hide from the world the fact that there are other MTT training sites out there? Why would you do that? In my opinion, it just makes you look and scared of the competitors.
The incident has made me think even more about how I feel about TPE members using other sites. Enough to write about it. So, here's what I think (and our promise to you):
TPE embraces competition. We relish it. Why? Because we believe in our site, product and community. And with that belief we feel that it can only help members if they could discuss other sites and training options. Use TPE, use P5s, use Cardrunners, use @InsideTheMinds, use HEM, use Tarot cards…wtf do we care. We can't expect that you will never try other options. If you don't you're probably not doing enough to improve anyways.
If we do our job you won't cancel your subscription to TPE because you found something else. No, you'll stay because we are helping you. Some of you may cancel, try the others out for a bit, but then come back. I can't tell you how many times that has happened. Some of you won't, but that's ok. Not every site is for everyone. If another site works better for you then you are better off there, and we will continue to focus on what we do to help those that have found TPE to be the best option for them.
So, at TPE, we promise not to censor talk about other sites. We promise to be direct with you about who we are, what we do, and what makes us different. If another site does something awesome – cool, we do what we do. Tell us about it though, and we may add it. TPE welcomes any and all feedback you have to make the site better. In fact, we have a host of new features that will launch around our 2 year birthday (in april) that came directly from customer feedback and the survey we did a few weeks ago. If we continue to improve, you'll stick around – even if other sites exist. If you leave – it's not because of them, it's because of us. And we will do the best to prevent that from happenning.
/rant
rivermen123
I wish I had saved the paragraph I wrote underneath the article where P5s claimed to be the only MTT training site around. Basically it started with “This site is great, but I get my tournament poker edge on other sites too.” Then I said that when P5s claims there’s no competition, it’s insulting the intelligence of their customers, and at the end I added something like, “hopefully competition helps you make each subscriber into a true poker x-factor.” Just so I didn’t look like a total shill…
rivermen123
I subscribe to every training site out there. TPE is #1 ainec.
cousteer
The ol’ territorial pissings from a paranoid ‘competitor’… Surely it boils down to customer satisfaction as a function of product quality. TPE is definitely setting the benchmark for MTT-centrics. Keep evolving guys, I’d take the censorship as a clear compliment and acknowledgement that you have indeed turned the nuts!
Killingbird
I love this quote so much: ” If you leave – it’s not because of them, it’s because of us. And we will do the best to prevent that from happening.”
This is a mantra that all businesses should live by.
1derer
<3
RonFezBuddy
Just posted this on twitter “Spoke with Jeff @P5sTraining and he’s a nice guy in a tough spot. Not really his choice to censor. /rant over back to making TPE great.”
I’ll include that he did reach out to me after the debacle (in a PM on P5s that I didn’t see till the evening). He’s a pretty stand-up guy and the censorship seems to come from others.
Destruval1
Just joined TPE. I follow TPE and most of the coaches on twitter (as I was looking at joining a training site to further my poker career) and as a result of following the pocket5’s censorship issue i signed up.I loved the way you guys handled the whole situation. I just knew it was the best place for me to improve my game.
Killingbird
Stoked to have you on board sir!
hapetimes
in my experience with only a few training sites… TPE > pokerxfactor > cardrunners > the rest of the field > p5’s
badabing78
TPE>everything 🙂
byski
This post was one of the many deciding factors for me to join. Integrity is hard to find nowadays.
isaacjames
Just saw this, As someone in the business world, I can see who the true professionals are. way to go TPE.
JohnnyFish71
good article,ive been a member about 5months and just starting to read more,videos and everything else..great site i have time now to improve thanks alot tpe,all class.
Duck
I recently renewed my TPE membership. I did not let it lapse because I was not happy with the site. I have watched so many videos that I realized there were too many voices in my head when I played. Needed time to calm the mind. That said, I shipped a 10,000 guaranteed on Bovada for $2300, as well as a $4000. 1st place In a live tournament. Thanks TPE you have definitely helped my game.