Not happy with audiophoolery marketing and products? Do something about it!

[dollars2donuts]

In case you missed it, http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?10954-JPLAY-Responds-An-Open-Letter&p=240403&viewfull=1#post240403.

Complaints can be filed while keeping identity information confidential, so help preserve integrity in audio by eliminating fraudulent marketing practices.

 

[valkyrie]

Complain about what? If somebody is spending their money on nonsense - that is their business and of no concern to any other person. I know lots of audiophiles who buy stuff that is so whacky as to be laughable - but they enjoy it - they believe it helps their "sound". It makes them happy - and it doesn't threaten or harm any other person - and it provides employment to people who would otherwise be running some Ponzi scheme somewhere.

Hey - a quasi free market is a great thing - for such provides a cornucopia of goods and services - some rather looney - but so what? If some other fellow really believes that a $20,000 Nordost power cord makes a difference - then to that fellow it probably does make a difference. This is like complaining about the weather. Or denying human nature.

 

[Bruce B]

Or you could end up like an old and frustrated curmudgeon like Dave Collins!

 

[Whatmore]

Complain about what? If somebody is spending their money on nonsense - that is their business and of no concern to any other person. I know lots of audiophiles who buy stuff that is so whacky as to be laughable - but they enjoy it - they believe it helps their "sound". It makes them happy - and it doesn't threaten or harm any other person - and it provides employment to people who would otherwise be running some Ponzi scheme somewhere.

Hey - a quasi free market is a great thing - for such provides a cornucopia of goods and services - some rather looney - but so what? If some other fellow really believes that a $20,000 Nordost power cord makes a difference - then to that fellow it probably does make a difference. This is like complaining about the weather. Or denying human nature.

If someone claims their drug cures cancer, should they be able to make that claim without scrutiny?

 

[mep]

To my knowledge, one of the few claims that audio gear has never made is that it cures cancer.

 

[Lee]

Complain about what? If somebody is spending their money on nonsense - that is their business and of no concern to any other person. I know lots of audiophiles who buy stuff that is so whacky as to be laughable - but they enjoy it - they believe it helps their "sound". It makes them happy - and it doesn't threaten or harm any other person - and it provides employment to people who would otherwise be running some Ponzi scheme somewhere.

Hey - a quasi free market is a great thing - for such provides a cornucopia of goods and services - some rather looney - but so what? If some other fellow really believes that a $20,000 Nordost power cord makes a difference - then to that fellow it probably does make a difference. This is like complaining about the weather. Or denying human nature.

Well said. Wish there was a Like button.

 

[valkyrie]

but it does cure cancer

I will have you know that I resemble very closely that remark about an old curmudgeon. So there.

A good stereo, one that makes you happy and allows you to connect with the deep emotions of music - that does cure cancer - or maybe what it does is keep you from developing such a disease in the first place.

So yes - absolute quacks selling green paint, power cords and whatever foolishness is now being pushed by the lords of the magazines can, in a very inferential manner, claim that their bogus products do in fact "prevent the occurrence of cancer maybe - or at least this stuff makes you deliriously happy".

Hooray for foolishness - for such is a mark of a truly advanced culture.

 

[Whatmore]

To my knowledge, one of the few claims that audio gear has never made is that it cures cancer.

I'm not sure if you are being droll or if you've completely missed my point. I'll assume the former.

 

[mep]

I'm not sure if you are being droll or if you've completely missed my point. I'll assume the former.

Another person with no sense of humor? Feel free to assume whatever you want.

 

[Whatmore]

Another person with no sense of humor? Feel free to assume whatever you want.

I'll have you know my sense of humour (note correct spelling btw) is finely honed and superb.
Perhaps if you are finding that no one else has a sense of humour, you might consider the possibility that you just aren't all that funny.

 

[treitz3]

Guys, just a reminder.....cordial participation is a key requirement of this forum. Please refrain from such commentary toward one another, both of you.

Tom

 

[Whatmore]

Oh all right
Apologies mep

 

[cjfrbw]

Placebos for audio OC disorder are too profitable.

Why actually waste time, money and resources on expensive research and reasoned results when you can just conjure up marketing and mystique around a talisman and reel in the superstitious and wishful thinkers?

Besides, placebos do have their uses, even in medicine, but such things contribute to the endless task of picking through the BS and background noise for something valid.

In audio, it is unlikely to do actual harm beyond lightening wallets, and some guys like having all these expensive doo dads to show off with, anyway.

I do remember some kind of cooling fins for power tubes I bought years ago. They eventually corroded and actually became heat retainers rather than heat dispersers, causing the glass on my power tubes to get hot enough to actually melt the glass. I still see them sometimes on power tubes at shows.

 

[GaryProtein]

I'm surprised that a thread that doesn't teach you anything gets so much attention.

 

[j_j]

To my knowledge, one of the few claims that audio gear has never made is that it cures cancer.

Maybe not, but more than one person has claimed that MP3 and like codecs cause cognitive loss.

 

[MylesBAstor]

How do we complain about you and Ethan? Or are you just looking for attention?

Can you say troll? Second post?

 

[dollars2donuts]

OK, let's add some info:

Recent ASA busts in the audio world (rulings using "audio" search term):
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/1/Alacrity-Audio/SHP_ADJ_176028.aspx
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2011/1/Russ-Andrews-Accessories-Ltd/TF_ADJ_49597.aspx
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/9/Sailforth-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_196786.aspx

Other recent audio busts (informally resolved using "audio" search term):
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications.aspx?SearchTerms=audio#2

Typical busts are for misleading (3.1 in link that follows), lack of objective substantiation (3.7), and exaggeration (3.11)
http://www.cap.org.uk/Advertising-Codes/Non-broadcast-HTML/Section-3-Misleading-advertising.aspx

 

[SoundQcar]

I'm going to guess that dollars2donuts is the sole plaintiff in all of those "cases" lol

 

[Bruce B]

At least it's comforting to know that only audiophoolery happens in the U.K.!

 

[GaryProtein]

OK, let's add some info:

Recent ASA busts in the audio world (rulings using "audio" search term):
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/1/Alacrity-Audio/SHP_ADJ_176028.aspx
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2011/1/Russ-Andrews-Accessories-Ltd/TF_ADJ_49597.aspx
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/9/Sailforth-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_196786.aspx

Other recent audio busts (informally resolved using "audio" search term):
http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications.aspx?SearchTerms=audio#2

Typical busts are for misleading (3.1 in link that follows), lack of objective substantiation (3.7), and exaggeration (3.11)
http://www.cap.org.uk/Advertising-Codes/Non-broadcast-HTML/Section-3-Misleading-advertising.aspx

Do we care about these rulings?

If we like a product, does it matter if some regulatory agency who has no actual experience with it likes it or agrees with manufacturer claims?

I may not agree with various manufacturer's claims, but in marketing it is up to the buyer to evaluate and decide if they like a product.