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
i don't think there is an audiophile attitude, rather there are ways of selling expensive depreciable assets, such as cars, boats, tvs, furniture, etc.

some people are supercilious, opinionated, and mean. it's a matter of personality and is not unique to audio.

i would not single out audio as a hobby that is conducive to rudeness .

what you call an "attitude" has no correlation to a representative of a sub group of the population.

what is to be gained by highlighting the boorish behavior of human beings?
rather than being critical, as we all have faults, it's more useful to cite the positive experiences associated with our hobby.
All of the responses reinforce my reasons for buying at Amazon, J&R, Audio Advisor, Music Direct, Crutchfield, Blue Jeans et al...... All are Snob-Free zones. But, Amazon recently decided to collect taxes for all the 'anti-tax' politicians here in Texas, so I might drop them.
i have been to highly respected[?] sales training over the years and the technique of the "take away" was taught at several of them. if you have never heard of it the salesman tells the customer he would show something in the other room BUT it probably is more than you can afford, understand. the desired effect is to make the customer get all blustered up and say well I CAN. what a poor way of selling things. i have never sold anything using this psychological manipulation. there are some very poor audio salesmen out there...
The takeaway is taught in lots of sales jobs but won't work on the informed. What do you mean I can't afford it? I'll show you. Yeah, when I buy from someone else. Always go into a shop and make sure you out dress everyone there. Now you are the snob in control, and let them know you will not be lead to the place they want you to be. I've been asked to leave by lots of new car dealerships, but everyone of them eventually called me back because they had a new and better deal. Sorry, but I'd rather pay more to someone else, just to keep the money out of your hands. Maybe next year, if I'm not too busy. It works!
08-27-12: Rok2id
All of the responses reinforce my reasons for buying at Amazon, J&R, Audio Advisor, Music Direct, Crutchfield, Blue Jeans et al...... All are Snob-Free zones. But, Amazon recently decided to collect taxes for all the 'anti-tax' politicians here in Texas, so I might drop them.

Same for me, three times this past month I got to Amazon check out page and killed the purchase. The tax they charge is due to Amazon having an office in Dallas County. As you probably know, if a company has an office in Texas they must collect sales tax.

Still, they ignored the rule for several years and only recently after threatening to pull all operations out of Texas (and dismiss all their employees) came to some agreement where they owed nothing for past sins but must collect from now on.

Amazon is frequently good pricing but this past six months or so I've found better offers elsewhere, even before tax.