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In Reply to: RE: My Reading Comprehension Shortcomings posted by Vic D on March 23, 2008 at 13:26:22
As noted in the lengthy thread linked in a post below, Valin had accumulated over $50,000 of loaner Nordost cables over the years. When a set of Valhalla's (which happen to have traceable serial numbers) showed up on Audiogon, Nordost bought them to find out where they came from. They turned out to be cables loaned to Valin for review purposes.
Valin made up some lame story about loaning the cables to a friend who then sold them. Nordost then demanded that Valin return all of the cables they had loaned over the years. Guess what -- Valin didn't have *any* of the cables, presumably because he had sold them all.
Instead of firing Valin, TAS loaned him the money to repay Nordost. Disgusted by this behavior, Ayre has severed all ties with TAS. We no longer advertise there, nor do we supply equipment for review.
I am quite confident that Valin has never heard any Ayre equipment in his own system. Ever. So I am equally confident that he has no idea what it sounds like. Of course, that wouldn't stop a thief from making negative comments about our equipment based on a brief listen to a totally unfamiliar system in a totally unfamiliar room....
Follow Ups:
Charles, I had read in various posts here in Audiogon about how Jonathan Valin (or a so-called friend) had possibly sold some loaner cables. I hadn't seen a full explanation about Valin and TAS's involvement with repaying the manufacturer for the sold cables. What is troublesome to me, is that TAS has decided to keep Mr. Valin as a reviewer and essentially sweep the whole affair under the rug. Granted, Valin reviews equipment that I could never afford. In the back of my mind, however, I will always think of this cable story when I read one of his reviews. Thanks for enlightening some of us as to this shady business. Dave
"Instead of firing Valin, TAS loaned him the money to repay Nordost."
If it wasn't this Valin guy who sold the cables, the fact the TAS didn't fire him out of hand has me wondering if the 'friend' wasn't also involved with TAS, and maybe the money 'loaned' to Valin wasn't part of the proceeds from selling the cables.
If it was just Valin I can't see how he would be retained after such gross misconduct AND be pulled out the sh*t.
Best Regards,
Chris redmond.
Wow! If this story is true, and I have no reason to doubt the always-credible Charles Hansen, it IS time to cancel my recently renewed two-year subscription to TAS, unless TAS does the right thing. We should all be watching.
... maybe someone should document the provable facts (loan dates, models, serial numbers, "for sale dates", etc) and circulate these to:
- All US & Canadian audio manufacturers (asking if anything similar occurred)
- All US/Canadian/UK Audio/HiFi magazines/e-zines (warning to watch out for this)
- All internet Audio forums (additional leverage)
:as well as copying in both TAS and JV on the distribution list and advising all addressees that copies have also been filed with the Fraud Squads in the cities where TAS and JV are based, requesting an investigation.
Two possible outcomes:
1) TAS continues to defend JV (in which case TAS will probably "go under")
2) TAS decide to drop JV like a hot potato (more likely scenario)
From my perspective there are a few serious concerns about this type of behaviour (both the hijacking of loaners and the use of reviews to exact revenge against complainants):
a) However you phrase it, it is indeed "Grand Theft Audio"
b) Most high-end manufacturers (unlike electronics giants) cannot afford to take a knock on the bottom line
c) Tacit acceptance by writer's employer encourages continued occurrence
d) Use by a writer of magazine reviews to "exact revenge" is "abuse of media power"
e) Hiding behind the First Amendment to limit recourse is morally and ethically repugnant
f) Unless there is a concerted effort by all to stop this, it will continue and even spread
Charles, I agree with your sentiments, but don't think you've taken things far enough...
DevillEars
< < maybe someone should document the provable facts (loan dates, models, serial numbers, "for sale dates", etc) and circulate these > >Well, this incident was widely circulated at the 2007 CES by the cable company in question via conversations. (I wasn't there, but JA's post linked below substantiates this.)
< < Two possible outcomes:
1) TAS continues to defend JV (in which case TAS will probably "go under")
2) TAS decide to drop JV like a hot potato (more likely scenario) > >You missed the actual outcome. (This incident occurred over a year ago.) TAS swept everything under the rug. Nobody (besides Ayre) seemed to care very much. Same writers, same editors, same readers, same advertisers (less one).
< < Use by a writer of magazine reviews to "exact revenge" is "abuse of media power" > >
I agree. (Note that TAS is not the only "magazine" to do this. If you search the archives you will see where the online "magazine" written by Arthur Salvatore dumped all over the Ayre C-5xe because we caught them apparently trying to sell a unit purchased by a manufacturer on accommodation.)
< < Charles, I agree with your sentiments, but don't think you've taken things far enough... > >
Well, I've taken it much farther than anyone else in the world. I've told the story to the general public (on this forum). I've sent a letter to the publisher informing him that we would drop our advertising unless there were substantive changes made. (He politely informed me that it was an internal matter that had already been dealt with.) We followed through with our stated intentions. I'm not sure what more I could do, and even if there were something, it's not clear that it is my place to do so. After all, it wasn't my equipment that was stolen.
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