Audiophile 'Attitude'


Okay, we love our hobby: we love the music, the equipment, the esoterica, and the deranged quest for perfection the likes of which would make even the greats of classical composition shake their heads. But you've got to admit that there exists a certain 'attitude' among some of our group that can be..... difficult. Often this is sexist, arrogant, elitist, impatience, and so on. I think this would be a fertile ground for interesting stories, some humorous and some just jaw dropping. Would anyone like to share? Remember, there are many stories about those other folks outside the hobby who don't get our brilliance and force us to painfully tolerate their ignorance, I'm talking 'bout the other side: WHEN
AUDIOPHILES GO BAD!

I will gladly start: when my wife and I decided to sell our entire Vandersteen home theater (this is different tale of audiophile arrogance, btw) we started looking for a new brand and a new sound to replace my
formerly beloved Vandys. My first 'target' was Martin Logan. It just so happened that there was a ML dealership less than a mile from where I lived at the time in Champaign, IL. Wonderful I thought! So my wife and I toddled over there.

Now it should be noted that my wife has become quite an audiophile herself. She wasn't this way when we met, but she has become fairly well educated in matters of audiophillia, she has an excellent ear, and she is a brilliant woman (she is a vice president for Bank of America after all). So we choose much of our equipment together.

So we go into this ML dealership with about four CDs In hand to get a brief audition and ask to hear some MLs. Instead of going straightaway to letting us listen the salesman decides he needs to try and 'sell' us on the MLs, the very speakers we'd come to hear in the first damn place! So after tolerating his drivel for a few minutes my wife's asks a question. Instead of answering her, he answers me.... then he turns to my wife and, while pointing to that screen with holes that MLs have on so many of their speakers, he says, "now this isn't here so you can hang clothes to dry."

It honestly took me a second to realize what he had just said and I think my wife wafinally looted. After a couples seconds I said, "well, I guess we won't want these speakers then." And we walked out. We also scratched Martin Logan off of our list. No one treats my wife that way.

Okay, your turn....
aewhistory

Showing 2 responses by french_fries

Once upon a time i was browsing at my favorite local high-end emporium, and the sales manager came over and asked that in a few minutes, a gentleman and his attorney from South America had made an appointment to stop by, and they were "temporarily" closing the store so he could do some shopping. and then
the time had arrived, and two well dressed men came in. the store owner was front and center to shake hands and do the introductions, and i nodded and smiled as i went out the door.
it was no big deal, but it was a big store and i would not have been in the
way in any case. but the atmosphere of "there's guy-A with $,$$$ and then there's guy-B with $,$$$$,$$$" gave me a bit of an inferiority complex.
another time a guy drives up in a new Porsche 911, walks in to the store,
"grabs" the latest pair of Transparent speaker cables ($10K at the time) from the waiting salesman, tells him he'll bring them back on Monday, and drives off in an rush to make his next stop.
i didn't think to ask if i could borrow them next...
WHAT IF no one ever took the time and trouble to demonstrate the "current state of the art" components to a serious and inquisitive customer? sure, there might not be a sale that day or even that year, but someday he/she gets settled in an apartment and wants some great sounding music. they've been working for awhile and saving up, and their dream is finally going to become reality. If the retail business can't recognize and nurture this type of customer then this is a real tragedy. SO if you're ("aloof salesperson") not too busy, recognize the enthusiasm coming from the future potential fanatic (me for example) and bring him into "the room",
sit him down in "the chair", and play toccata and fugue in D minor....