Richard's hi-fi ranting 'Room 101'

[Marco]

Steve,

What do you mean by "b&t"? I did ask you earlier in the thread!

Marco.

[pure sound]

I only got involved in this thread when I felt that what I was doing and how it was being sold was being unjustly criticised. I've said what I need to say about retailers, you obviously don't have any sensible, practical or workable alternatives (particularly with regard to choosing loudspeakers). But rant away! It's your space. If & when you actually have anything worthwhile to say, I might join in again!

I can't recall the exact content of those private mails. It would've been early days. However, having seen how working with good dealers can be effective (for me anyway) its my intention to persevere with it. Exporting also helps.

rgs

Guy

[Marco]

This part of the thread was supposed to be about Chinese valve amplifiers. Look at how and by whom it was changed back to retailers!

You know what I'm on about, Richard - just keep it in mind. I'll be monitoring the content of this thread very closely

Marco.

[WikiBoy]

If you do want something to really worry about, consider deals like this one.
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/pro...s/kama-bay-amp

I just bought one. £48 delivered. Sounds pretty good. For some people it would be all they need. I'm sure more powerful versions will be along soon too.

Brilliant, I wish them every success and everyone else who makes the decision to go direct. They are no threat to me nor are you and nor is anyone, if I sell nothing from this point on it makes no difference of any consequence.

You don't get it do you?

I teach Tai-Chi for a living - NVA was re started to service old customers and trade in and upgrade, if that covers my ebay costs fine, I am not interested in employing staff, getting a factory, taking the hi-fi market by storm etc etc etc I will leave that to you

My customers are my friends. If others want to be friendly and buy my amps and cables well who am I to complain. I am small beer, I am no threat to anyone apart from conceptually to the slurpers, no one can hurt me. I have the max turnover I can cope with, 3 months ago it was more than I could cope with so the recession is doing me a favour.

[Mr. C]

Richard,


You do seem to have a serious chip the size of grand canyon regarding dealers, and how poor at our jobs we all are.
I believe bitter and twisted has been mentioned here, 100% apt
Your constant rantings relating to how its all doomed, dealers are dead an buried its all e-bay and on line.
So how would suggest to a potential customer how to choose their next speakers/ Turntable or digital replay system? Put a bid on e-bay ?
You know a quality dealer builds a rapport with his customers, understands there needs, and demonstrates products, in both a dealer and home enviroment and matches and selects the components that will compliment what the client is after.
Not a mis match off flea bay and forever disappearing in circles trying to seek that sound you like for kit swaps on kit swaps.

[Filterlab]

...but the retailers were unwilling to get off their arses and contribute...

Sorry, but is that any wonder given your contempt for them?

[WikiBoy]

Richard,


You do seem to have a serious chip the size of grand canyon regarding dealers, and how poor at our jobs we all are.
I believe bitter and twisted has been mentioned here, 100% apt
Your constant rantings relating to how its all doomed, dealers are dead an buried its all e-bay and on line.
So how would suggest to a potential customer how to choose their next speakers/ Turntable or digital replay system? Put a bid on e-bay ?
You know a quality dealer builds a rapport with his customers, understands there needs, and demonstrates products, in both a dealer and home enviroment and matches and selects the components that will compliment what the client is after.
Not a mis match off flea bay and forever disappearing in circles trying to seek that sound you like for kit swaps on kit swaps.

And takes 50% of the price of the product for the privilege of your service. No matter what you say there is *NO* excuse for this profiteering.

The fact that you are good at making the customer feel he has got something for that service is like the skill of the stage magician.

[pure sound]

I wouldn't presume anything of the sort Richard! The more I learn the more I realise I don't know. Long term it is my intention to design a full range of items & get them made out there. If it succeeds, I'll be happy. If not, so be it. Like you I have very low overheads. I just have a different, somewhat less jaundiced view of how retailing works, why people like it and why it has evolved in the way that it has. I don't regard retailers as leeches in the way that you do. They can offer a valuable service. People can take or leave it. Your alternatives so far are utterly unrealistic, that's all.


retailing. you really don't get it do you? Incidentally, do you charge people to teach them Tai Chi?

[WikiBoy]

Sorry, but is that any wonder given your contempt for them?

This was 18 years ago, I had my doubts about them but the changes happened in the next couple of years when the hi-fi manufacturing mafia stitched up the retailers with retail contracts and the nights of the long knives arrived. We lost over half of our industry at that point. I have posted many times before about it, look in the archive. Marco has been listening to one and singing its praises - Albarry, well it was bloody good but killed by illegal reatailer contracts by the like of Linn and Naim and others, and the retailers puting up with it for greed and making the change from selling "the best product for the customer" to "selling the best product for my bank balance and to meet my retailer contracts".

Nothing has changed - now it should!

[Mr. C]

Steady now Richard, you do you blood pressure no good. Your keyboard must 'sigh' with relief when you go to bed!
Your bile has poured out across just about ever audio forum in the last 12 months, have you actually said anything positive at all about the industry in general?
Or is it just negativity and dis-stain that pulses through your veins?
I suspect the 'Victor Meldrew' of the audio world is after a spot on 'Grumpy old men'