I called Richard Vandersteen

FWIW, I met/talked to him at CES, and he was fairly engaging, affable, and patient in his discussion and explanations. And the room was pretty busy at the time.

I had decided to quit posting here a short time ago. Since I am the one who brought this topic up I am going to come out of retirement to add my further thoughs on this matter.
I am very happy to hear that many of you have had a different(read good)experience in your dealings with Mr. Vandersteen. If you read the other thread though, you will also find many who share my experience. I do get the feeling from many of you that these people who share my feelings on the matter somehow deserved the treatment they received. I do think that the products merit the praise that all of you are giving them. I would not have bought them myself if I didn't agree with that.
I do think however that this is a reflection of a larger problem we have in our culture. Richard Vandersteen is a celebrity in our small circle of audiophiles. I do think that we hold celebrities to a different standard of behavior. Look at the athelites and actors who get away with things you and I would never be able to. Mike Tyson rapes women, beats people up out side the ring, and he is still alowed to walk around free to persue his career. Although I am not aware that Vandersteen has bitten anyone, I am happy that it was a phone conversation. Maybe the Tyson analogy is too strong, maybe Richard is more the Dennis Rodman of the audio industry. He behaves badly but since he works so hard and has "personality problems" we'll let it slide. Anyone ever seen Richard wearing a dress? Why shouldn't we be able to expect him to behave in a civil manner just as we would expect this from anyone who isn't held in such reverence. So Richard Vandersteen is the shaman of speakers, the masia of sound, the keeper of the sacred truth. Oh, don't upset the delecate genius! Come on! All of this pandering to poor Richard is makeing me ill. Just because the guy make a great speaker dose not justify him not being held acountable for his behaviour. The guy just makes speakers, he didn't find the cure to any desease. The guy isn't Van Gough or Jackson Pollock, at least their eratic behviour wasn't directed at their patrons. Maybe if Richard cut his ear off?
I just had a simple question. I was not expecting it to be a big deal. I didn't go into the conversation being demanding or upset. I have since written Mr. Vandersteen a polit letter asking if there is some way I can get information in the future without having to call the factory or waste some other dealers time. I hope he has a constructive suggestion.
I do think that most of the above posters missed the point entirely or else you are just huge suck ups & brown nosers! Sorry if I offended the Richard Vandersteen faithful, and I hope that this hasn't taken time away from your handing out his speaker literature at air ports.

Wow Maxgain, some real issues there. I too stopped righting here for awhile. But came back cause I enjoy the interaction of audiophiles like yourself. I don't hang out in airports, especially now that they aren't the safe place in the world. And I don't think Richards personnality is justifiable. But being a police officer as I am, you do incounter many personnalities and some just like Richard. By all means he could definely work on his social skills, but apparently he spends his extra time on his subs. Note I didn't say speakers cause I have listened to them and I'm not impressed with them(no offense, to each there own), but he does make fabulous subs. If he was rude to me on the phone I might let it go cause I don't know what kind of day he may have had, but if I met him in person and he was rude I'd probably tell him to go F#%* himself. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and always attempt to be curteous even when they're rude. I don't consider myself a brown noser for buying his product, hell its a good product. Just cause the man is unsocial I can't deprive myself of something so good. Why call the receptionist for a doctor's question. Call the source and don't waste time. If you don't like the personality, did you like the answer? Quick story: When I was much younger I work in a very elite spa in Fl. where all the wealthy people vaka'd. Some I remember, one guy owned one of the largest steel companies in the U.S, another was a famous painter and one was the owner(female) of a style magazine and all of them I remember as being extremely rude, but I still buy products made of steel, enjoy art and my wife buy's a magazine here and there. So I guess my needs exceedes my interaction with these people. Note: Met Sugar Ray Leonard... nice guy.

One person said he has met him in person. Probably out of his element to. You're at work in your deepest thought, with the phone intruptions 200 times a day you try to readjust your mind just to answer questions and be somewhat social at a time that you haven't any time. You'd be a different person outside to.
More real and likeable maybe? Like, at a party. Or are you always a party person even at work? Pete

"I do think that most of the above posters missed the point entirely or else you are just huge suck ups & brown nosers!..."

Get a grip, Maxgain. I do hope that you are able to get the information that you need, but I do think your ascribing of dubious motives to and characterizations of other participants are not accurate or constructive.

I was suprised today to recieve a call from Mr. Vandersteen today in response to the letter I had written. Although he did still seem frustrated with me, I must say that it was a very nice gesture on his part to call me. I will Apologize to him here publicly for going off about this matter. I am going to forget about the X-over for a while and just go back listening to music.

the final chapter from "The Further Misadventures of Maxgain"