Buying direct vs. through a dealer

[julesd68]

When I was building up my old Naim system, Geoff (at Acoustica, in Chester) used to let me take all sorts of kit home to audition first, before buy buying it, including (at the time) brand new £6.5k Naim CDS/XPS CDPs, NAC52/Supercaps, etc, not to mention my Spendor SP100.

My mother bought a very modest Naim system from Geoff years ago but was always given the five star treatment. He knew that he was never going to make a fortune from her - she just wanted a simple to use system to sit back and enjoy for her well-earned retirement.

I remember suggesting a speaker cable upgrade to Naim NACA4 a few years ago. Geoff actually drove over to my mum's house, installed the cable himself and also spent time trying some tweaks to the system. All that for little more than 100 quid ...

[Marco]

2) Your threatening, over the phone with violence, Chris Frost (an AV equipment dealer), as a result of an eBay dispute with him, involving your published sales. We do not tolerate threats of violence towards other members. I can publish evidence relating to this if necessary. You were thus instantly banned.

Richard replied:

Now quite simply this is libel and a lie, he was threatened with the courts not violence, and it did not "cause" a ban so if Danny wants to take the case if he thinks it is worth pursuing he is welcome.

No lie, so no libel. The details are here on this thread, Richard, so read them for yourself (and your actions did lead to a ban, because I was the one who implemented it): http://theartofsound.net/forum/showp...&postcount=134

From Chris Frost, on the above thread:

If you want to try ringing me again for a calm rational discussion then please feel free. I stand by what I've said. But I give you fair warning, be careful threatening people with physical violence over the telephone. You never know if the conversation is being recorded.

I've spoken with Chris and he tells me that he still has the tape recording, so you can deny it on your forum until the cows come home, but it's your word against his, and I know who I believe... Based on your rudeness and aggression towards people to date, as evidenced on this thread, and historically, I'll let others be the judge and form their own opinions

And you've got a cheek to talk about me! When the Crossover Network stuff was going on (all old hat now), I was dealing with the trauma of suffering from what would've been a fatal spinal tumour (not to mention having this forum completely deleted by an idiot) - what was your excuse with Chris? Dementia??

Anyway, you've had your ten minutes of fame now, sweetheart, so that's the last time I'll be publishing here what you've written on your forum. Job done

Marco.

[Beobloke]

I see one that I fancy on eBay from an on-line retailer (with no shop premises), who doesn't know me from Adam,

Eh? What? What's going on? How did I get dragged into this?

[Marco]

Hi Julian,

My mother bought a very modest Naim system from Geoff years ago but was always given the five star treatment. He knew that he was never going to make a fortune from her - she just wanted a simple to use system to sit back and enjoy for her well-earned retirement.

I remember suggesting a speaker cable upgrade to Naim NACA4 a few years ago. Geoff actually drove over to my mum's house, installed the cable himself and also spent time trying some tweaks to the system. All that for little more than 100 quid ...

Nice to hear. Geoff is a genuine enthusiast, as well as undoubtedly a very shrewd businessman!

Marco.

[Marco]

Eh? What? What's going on? How did I get dragged into this?

It's your fault for having a daft name! I'm just a daftee

Marco.

[Marco]

This started with you insulting my wife by email, no one does that...

I wasn't insulting your wife, Richard - I was sympathising with her, because the poor woman has had to put up with your ill-tempered argumentativeness for 20-odd years, unless you adopt a complete character change when you're in her company!!

Therefore, the "insult" was aimed at YOU, not her!

Furthermore, the comment was made in private, via email (which you chose to publish on your forum), after I'd reached the end of my tether, having been subjected to an endless barrage from you asking me to prove my version of why you were banned from AoS, which I've since done on this thread, and me seeking to avoid a pointless circular argument and us falling out again, which is precisely what has happened now, so well done!

Quite simply, you don't know when to let an argument lie and simply 'agree to disagree' - that's another one of your many 'issues'. Have you asked yourself why you're always embroiled in conflict with someone, and blaming everyone else for it but yourself?? Think about it!!

Anyway, that's definitely the last time I'll be engaging you in debate, so can waffle away now on your forum until your heart's content.

Marco.

[Yomanze]

When I was building up my old Naim system, Geoff (at Acoustica, in Chester) used to let me take all sorts of kit home to audition first, before buy buying it, including (at the time) brand new £6.5k Naim CDS/XPS CDPs, NAC52/Supercaps, etc, not to mention my Spendor SP100s.

Great dealers at Acoustica it's where I got my old Amphion Argon2s from after going into demo some Spendor S3/5 & S3/E speakers, and listening to them get blown away by these strange Finnish speakers that the dealer was enthusing about. I did like how relaxed they were with allowing us to demo equipment & no pushy tactics at all. Pretty sure Geoff is still there...

As for buying direct I don't see how, for example, NVA's model isn't ideal for people with a 30 days zero quibble returns policy if you don't like it as well as trade-ins against the value of the items should you want to upgrade.

In short you get poor direct sellers, great direct sellers, poor dealers & great dealers... so not saying much really am I?!

[jandl100]

Hi Jerry,

There'll be no "punch up" on here ... so what's the difference in me creating a similar discussion platform here, albeit temporarily?

That's fine, I just meant that I didn't want to get caught in the middle.

I have been enjoying RD's renewed forum, although once again he is subject to Keyboard Rage, which is a shame.

You contribute on the AoS section of 'Elsewhere on the Web' on RD's forum (very well and fairly, I would hasten to add)

Thanks, Marco - I'm glad to see you say that.

I think that AOS is the best forum around these days, and I am happy to say so!

[Gazjam]

Not being funny Marco, but does anyone really want to read a "tit for tat" argument between forums?
I'd be a bit hacked off it it crept into a thread I'd started.
Its Mr Dunn's sniping at others about people on other forums that leaves a bad taste in my mouth..would never buy from him because of this, even if his products are great.

...its not big and its not clever, and in my opinion AOS shouldn't go down that road.
Why not post directly over on Richards forum instead?


Not looking to argue, just saying dude...

respectfully
gaz.

[Welder]

Having read all he posts and links on both forums I wondered if this was a members only flame war and if I could interest the participants in some lessons in how to conduct a flame war without making yourselves look more foolish than you already do?

I moderate a couple of gaming forums largely populated by adolescent males who to be quite frank manage to conduct quite protracted flame wars with considerably more skill, dignity and intelligence than I’ve witnessed in these posts.

One of the great advantages of such flame wars on gaming forums is that the protagonists have the option of doing battle on an agreed map and game mode where matters of honor can be settled without loss of blood, or the threat of legal action.
This would of course mean a period of training in the use of the weapons availible and game tactics relevant to each mode and map, but I would be more than happy to provide the necessary instruction for those interested for a small fee.