A Plea For High-End Audio Manufacturer Honesty and Transparency
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
- Start date
Mi
Like all of you, I have run a large business in other industries. One practical thing we have done in those businesses is to establish "Rules of the Road" by publishing our "best practices". We also provide a high level of technical and service support to our distribution partners.
Our policy, in general, is that whichever qualified channel partner brings us the opportunity is the one we choose to work with on a particular project, provided they maintain regular communication about the project's progress. We believe this minimizes conflicts for our partners and enhances the quality of actionable information and services received by the consumer.
As my friend and colleague Elliot knows well, the entire industry has become increasingly price-sensitive, with many buyers making purchasing decisions solely based on price. Unlike earlier times, when we predominantly had brick-and-mortar full-line dealers, we now have online sellers, distributor-direct sellers, and manufacturer-direct sellers. On some items, this can benefit the consumer because increased competition can lower prices. That said, when spending large sums on a system or component, a seller's knowledge, trade-in policy, and willingness to let you try before you buy have become increasingly important. Ron's plea for more transparency is a good one. For members expecting more from sellers than price, I believe this will encourage openness and pay measurable dividends.
One final note, conflicts of interest abound in all businesses. Reviews and endorsements are crucial aspects of marketing today. They help identify lesser-known products and narrow the field of possible products worth investigating. Over the years, I have come to know the views and opinions I can rely on, and I suspect that many of you have as well.
Mike, PK, Ron et al.
Like all of you, I have run a large business in other industries. One practical thing we have done in those businesses is to establish "Rules of the Road" by publishing our "best practices". We also provide a high level of technical and service support to our distribution partners.
Our policy, in general, is that whichever qualified channel partner brings us the opportunity is the one we choose to work with on a particular project, provided they maintain regular communication about the project's progress. We believe this minimizes conflicts for our partners and enhances the quality of actionable information and services received by the consumer.
As my friend and colleague Elliot knows well, the entire industry has become increasingly price-sensitive, with many buyers making purchasing decisions solely based on price. Unlike earlier times, when we predominantly had brick-and-mortar full-line dealers, we now have online sellers, distributor-direct sellers, and manufacturer-direct sellers. On some items, this can benefit the consumer because increased competition can lower prices. That said, when spending large sums on a system or component, a seller's knowledge, trade-in policy, and willingness to let you try before you buy have become increasingly important. Ron's plea for more transparency is a good one. For members expecting more from sellers than price, I believe this will encourage openness and pay measurable dividends.
One final note, conflicts of interest abound in all businesses. Reviews and endorsements are crucial aspects of marketing today. They help identify lesser-known products and narrow the field of possible products worth investigating. Over the years, I have come to know the views and opinions I can rely on, and I suspect that many of you have as well.
Last edited:
Elliot G.
Dealer - Bending Wave
its always been an axiom that people want the best product, with the best service and the best price! So now choose two out of three.
I personally think the clients were better served through brick and mortar but what do I know
You are entirely correct (assuming that you have chosen a truly competent dealer. As you well know they are not all equal). My main dealer will be flying in and spending 3 full days at my home tuning my system at the end of August. No recent huge purchase (less than 50k). They just believe there are some things they can do for better sound. There is no substitute for this kind of long term relationship and it’s why you get what you pay for.
I agree that working with a trusted dealer with a high level of expertise is the ideal circumstance for a buyer. Some are great, some are just selling boxes.
As for conflicts of interest, they occur in any business, but seem particularly prevalent in audio for some reason. A conflict is not inherently troublesome as long as its disclosed. Undisclosed conflicts are a completely different matter.
As for conflicts of interest, they occur in any business, but seem particularly prevalent in audio for some reason. A conflict is not inherently troublesome as long as its disclosed. Undisclosed conflicts are a completely different matter.
I choose best product & best price at purchase and best product & best service afterwards!
I've been doing this too long to believe you do.
I have no issues with dealers being on this forum and believe it helps to know who they are.
Pleas for honesty would sound less mawkish if WBF required all dealer members to "disclose clearly and conspicuously the fact that they are dealers." Why not? Wthout deeds your words are empty.
Well, then, answer in detail all of the questions I enumerated meticulously in my reply to your post.
Last edited:
Very true Tim.
Hi Ron
Is it a requirement of WBF for dealers to be disclosed and easily identified on laptops and all phones accessing WBF.
If dealers do not follow WBF standard rules on disclosure, they should be banned.
Agreed. Yes, they should be banned if they don't follow the rules of disclosure.
You sound like you're stomping your feet.
Nah. They are infantile fatuous questions seeking only to argue at a low level. Instead I'll repeat what I wrote so you know what your questions are arguing against ... buyer responsibility ... which strikes me as ludicrous. But, click bait.
In the 23 years i ve been involved with the audio industry ( customer , hobbyist/ small manufacturer ) whatever you wanna call it , i never had a big issue with a manufacturer / manufactured product .
I did have some nasty experiences with certain Hifi dealers though .
Not many , most of them are good luckily.
Same as reviewers all nice people never had a issue really.
Just avoid the BS
Last edited:
After being given the opportunity to correct their disclosure.
It strikes me as odd that a dealer would not want to be known to the greater audience. I suspect those that do not disclose prefer to be thougt of as general forum participants or hobbyists, or maybe they want to avoid WBF fees. Maybe they are hobbyists. I understand that but there are ways to participate as both, for example: providing useful product information about their own and other products, pros and cons, setup advice, etc. -- all that without constant glad-handing and subtle but continual efforts to market -- or worse, dissing competition or alternatives.
While I deal mostly with manufacturers and distributors, I've found very little practice from dealers the OP attempts to address.
Please refresh your memory of the first sentence in the TOS. Not part of the rules, the very first statement.
Then tell me if your post is in line with the goals of your own co-owned forum. There is no need for posts like this and this is an example of the toxicity within posts that is pulling people away from the WBF.
We are better than this. All of us.
Tom
Then tell me if your post is in line with the goals of your own co-owned forum. There is no need for posts like this and this is an example of the toxicity within posts that is pulling people away from the WBF.
We are better than this. All of us.
Tom
Elliot G.
Dealer - Bending Wave
there are very easy ways to differentiate what a poster is.
Just make the color of the post one color for a civilian, another for a manufacturer, a third for a dealer etc.
I do believe however that the rules should be enforced equally.
Please don't make me bring in Judge Jennine LOL
Just make the color of the post one color for a civilian, another for a manufacturer, a third for a dealer etc.
I do believe however that the rules should be enforced equally.
Please don't make me bring in Judge Jennine LOL
Why is debate interpreted as toxicity by you?
As for the disclosure part and all of that, I do not believe you truly want to expose all of the people who are acting as promotors on this forum. It will get very uncomfortable.
Hello, @pk_LA. My comment above was directed at a specific comment made by a member, who has since self deleted their post. Debates, even heated ones are a healthy part of the discussions. Right up until the point to where the posts turn rude, confronting and toxic toward another member or group of people. That part is unhealthy for everyone involved and is contradictory to the forums goals.
Tom
Thank you - I appreciate the clarification
Simple. Just replace the fashionable VIP/Donor, Well-Known Member, Founder Member, Industry Expert, New Member by Dealer, Manufacturer, Designer, Distributor or appropriate.
Just give the dealer who doesnt disclose his affiliation a fine .
Fom the proceeds we can do a lottery , the dealer in question has to provide the bonus prize on top of that.
Fom the proceeds we can do a lottery , the dealer in question has to provide the bonus prize on top of that.
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |