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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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In Reply to: Ouch! posted by Ivan303 on May 8, 2014 at 09:45:10:
I did not ACCUSE Raven of fudging the dealer rule.
I merely noted that in my experience, it has been an occasional problem. In some Zen way, perhaps a "non-stocking" dealer is more immanent or transcendent than a dealer who can actually, well, demo the gear for you. But not in my world.
The fact that there was not a replacement available from ANY source may simply reflect a lack of thinking outside the box. It's not Art Dudley's job to try to get a manufacturer out of a hole he himself has dug.
But the fact that there was not a replacement available might also mean that most sales have been direct sales, which might make a cynic wonder about the reality of the dealer base that must have been claimed in order to get a review.
"We have five dealers but none of them have stock" does not TO ME sound like the inner workings of a company that is ready for prime time.
If anything comes of this, I can hope for:
1. A more cautious approach on the part of startup companies who should consider the worst case as well as a best case outcome from a Stereophile review.
2. Perhaps less carping about how Stereophile favors established companies.
When I gave column coverage to darTZeel's first product (IIRC 2004) I did my own Due Diligence, because the product at the time had no US POP and therefore was available only direct from Switzerland.
I in due course learned that darTZeel had on hand and intended to have on hand at all times a reserve supply of all the electronic parts required for future repairs, and that that reserve would be recalibrated as needed based on product sales so that if a part was suddenly discontinued by its manifacturer, the customer was protected. I also learned that the boxing with an amp inside had been certified by a third-party agency as good against a drop from a 30-inch high conveyor belt. And, in the event, darTZeel has gone from strength to strength.
All I could say was, "Continuez."
We are not always so fortunate.
BTW, a friend had a problem with a professionally-built kit with the name of a rather well-known esoteric set of companies on it, and I recommended that he send it to a third party for investigation. Some of it was the owner's fault but there also was a fuse-blowing problem that was the subject of a later factory modification, etc. Class-A, IIRC single tube, perhaps 845. Not at all cheap.
Just for fun, the EE tech put it on test equipment. At 4 watts there was 1% distortion. At full power, 10% distortion.
I myself have no interest in writing about such gear, regardless how long the company has been in business. You can get 10% distortion for a lot less money than that.
The five-dealer rule is more of a picket fence than a Maginot line. So please stop bitching about it.
JM
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Follow Ups
- WRONG. I did not. - John Marks 11:10:18 05/08/14 (2)
- five dealer rule: Whan about poor Pangea.. They have only ONE dealer.. and still sell bucketloads.. - Elizabeth 18:17:41 05/17/14 (0)
- RE: WRONG. I did not. - Ivan303 11:23:22 05/08/14 (0)
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