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.
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.