Thin Line Between Critique and Courtrooms: A Dialogue on the Recent Audiophile Drama

I worked at place that got negative reviews and got sued also and lost. They are still in business. So I say that is not true. If you think this way, you should not be facing any customers, because your ego can’t deal with a bad reaction.

You are putting onus on the reviewer, not yourself. You blame the reviewer, not what is made. I worked in QC/QA for a long time so I know about commercial products.

Just because a review is negative, does not mean it isn't deserved.

@botrytis While I agree with most of this, your statement about what I'm doing or how I deal with customers isn't correct nor does it describe who I am.

Most of the negative reviews I've read that were undeserved were not about my products. For example (one I've already given), Gryphon: the reviewer wanted them to give him a very expensive set of amps. When they didn't, he published a negative review. I was there in the room at CES when he threatened them.

Again though, your last statement is not what I was talking about.

Wow so many people eager to take a swing at Eric at Tekton. Kinda like the Salem Witch trials. Every man, woman and child throw a rock at the woman going through the gauntlet.

from the Op” And crucially, what does this mean for the future of honest, independent audio reviews?” I have not seen one. I am always skeptical of YouTube reviewers and some admit it’s a part time job for them to supplement their income. I don’t pay attention to these reviewers, honestly. But I COULD SEE where they can hurt a company who makes the product they review.

@2psyop I couldn't disagree more, based on what I have read. Tekton had provoked it, people (here) have been reasonable and pretty soft on Tekton. He kept throwing rocks at the window until he broke it and he didn't stop there, he went around the house and broke all the windows. We are just acknowledging it.  

@2psyop ,

Wow so many people eager to take a swing at Eric at Tekton.

Yep, guilty as charged. I’m always willing to call out arrogant bullies and that is how this man consistently acted. I have never denigrated his speakers as I’ve never heard them, nor have I ever denigrated his company or employees. As for the rest of your post, I don’t think you would have replied the way you did if you gleaned the facts of the case. Then there’s the laughable attempt at Tekton damage control that just threw napalm on the fire. He’s shot himself in the feet so many times while back peddling when his bullying threats set off a firestorm of negative press I don’t think he’ll ever need to buy another pair of white New Balances again.

I can’t stand bullies like Eric. Those low blow tactics are why the world is so nuts these days. Everyone’s trying to threaten lawsuits and as a result, we have to deal with all these absurd laws and regulations. Eric knows what he was doing, making absurd demands like a self righteous fool. He knows it backfired and it did because he’s a hothead. Can’t stand those types.

Whatever Eric does or does not do will not affect people who don’t have or don’t want his product. Most people here have made up their mind already and many long ago. If anyone was bullied by Eric I would be willing to take that into consideration when forming my own opinions of him. I have his product and have done business with him and my experience was positive. It seems to me that the majority of people here are just going by what’s heard and what they don’t like. Is there a legal action taken? I heard what Erin posted and he has every right to his opinion since he has interacted with both the man and his product. Seems like he has a point and if legal action is taken against him it will hurt him and Eric both. I don’t see how other people will be affected by this since like I said before… I don’t place much value on reviews. If bullying is the real concern here and is taking place, Eric will suffer the most I am sure…

Tekton Goes After Erin & More

Just saw this guy for the first time and thought it was funny.   

It’s funny because it’s true! This is an entirely self created debacle. 

Whatever Eric does or does not do will not affect people who don’t have or don’t want his product.

@2psyop Well sure it does. I don’t have or want his products, but I’ll now never recommend his speakers to anyone whereas before I had for people looking for his type of speaker. That’s the effect it’s had on me as I’m sure it has with many others here as well.

It seems to me that the majority of people here are just going by what’s heard and what they don’t like. Is there a legal action taken?

You clearly haven’t read the string of damning emails Erin shared above, and it is you who are uninformed here — go read the emails. And that there’s been no legal action completely misses the point. Immediate legal action was clearly threatened by Eric without working with Erin to mitigate the situation though Erin was very willing to do so, and that’s the critical point here. So Eric will lose business due to his egregious actions and rightly so IMO. In this case there will eventually be justice, just not by going through the courts. In any event, as a result of this fiasco I doubt Eric will be so quick to threaten litigation again, which would be the one good thing that could come of this if that’s the case.

Well stated. 

How does one become so arrogant that they fail to see the consequences of their actions? Were they bullied? Did they fall under the spell of a warped mentor? Was it their unloving father/mother? Have they learned to communicate this way from the internet or political examples? Are they pagans with no regard for Christian teachings? Are they Christians with no regard for any other beliefs? Or do they not listen or heed the lyrics of most of the music we love? 

agree with soix..,.plus any manufacturer attack on a reviewer affects us all in some way...and I keep returning to Eric’s video where he repeatedly denies suing anyone, but does state he threatened litigation, then gives a bizarre definition of litigation...watching the videos and seeing Eric’s emails is a must to understand this...l also have absolutely no connection to Eric or Erin or Tekton...

@kykat 

he has a point and some good reviews of BS reviewers. It's amazing that Erin got in trouble for objectivity while these 300K subscriber reviewers have so little substance, you can have a drinking game for middle schoolers every time the reviewer says anything useful.

The bigger YouTube channels are going to stay low key on the subject since they are involved with getting gear from various companies they don't want to compromise. 

Is audio one of those products that needs to be "sold"? Meaning is it the hype from reviews and salesmanship that gets people to buy? If you don't scream loud enough will anyone pay attention? Likewise, if there starts to be a lot of negative press, will that guarantee you go out of business?

The Audiophile Junkie has a new video on new FTC rules which prohibit, among other things, unfounded or groundless legal threats along with false public accusations in order to remove a negative review. Worth a watch plus going to the FTC to look at the new rule. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P461PEyoEkg

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2024/08/well-pay-you-give-our-new-rule-good-review

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials