Audiogon Grading Scale - the gold standard?

Its not the grading scale, its the grader. No one could ever describe this as excellent on any kind of objective basis. Sorry you got taken. Your are right, artani is wrong. I've always found everything on this site to be as described, and have had some minor quibbles on ebay, but nothing that remotely approaches this. Bummer.

I feel for you. I can only begin to guess how far your jaw dropped and how heavy your heart was when you took them out of the packaging. Expecting to get something that is "mint" and ending up with something like that is truly a heartbreaking experience. Assholes like that ( pardon my French, but i think that word applies here ) should be made to eat ( literally ) the products that they misrepresent. After all, they taste "excellent". Sean
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Fam, I too read the new "auction" you posted for these speakers, and I can't believe your seller described them as anything other than "sounds great, looks terrible." Yet I noticed that even w/all your disclosures, you still had a bid! Here on Audiogon, the grading scale is not a "gold standard." At various times on this site, I have found my eyes and grading abilities questioned. I have had two occasions, selling a tuner and later a SS amp, where I graded the items as excellent, meaning that with close inspection, and even a digital photo that I posted w/my ad, I could see no scratches, dings, or other marks on either of these units, yet both buyers saw what they considered "scratches" on the top plate once they got their items. The differences were amicably resolved, but I learned that even when you post a digital photo someone may see something in the flesh that you never did, and could not, see. Now, I have just described what I consider an honest difference in either opinion or visual acuity, I don't know which. But there are definitely cases where a seller misrepresents the condition of his/her item for sale even here. Don't trust a 10/10 rating unless the unit is literally still sealed new in its box. The most scrupulous sellers rate an item 9/10 if the box has been opened even just to inspect the unit to make sure it is what they think they have to sell. In the case of speakers, scratches, nicks and damage to the finish and/or grilles are very noticeable and must be disclosed! But marks on the black anodized finish of electronics are sometimes hard to see and are subject to very different characterizations and estimates of seriousness among honest people. Your seller was dishonest. I hope you get reimbursed. I would seriously consider returning the speakers to him even w/out reimbursement! just to make a point. With a copy of the text of your new auction, of course.

Last week I saw an ampifier here on Audiogon that interested me. The manufacturer of the amp has been out of business for years, yet the amp was rated 9/10. I called the phone# in the ad as it was a west coast dealer selling a used amp. The person who answered the phone was very upset and nasty when I questioned the age of the amp. Although he sells thru Audiogon, he stated that he does not agree with the rating system and will not adhere to it. If he has an old item in what he feels is mint condition he gives the item a 9/10 as if it were less than 3 years old. Naturally I did'nt buy the item but the incident has made me reluctant to purchase via Audiogon.
Dennis

Dennis: I must convey I've found the Audiogon community as a whole is composed overwhelmingly of the most forthright individuals I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. If you are considering to trade audio stuff anywhere, I'd have to opine Audiogon is "the gold standard." The notion that the particular seller you mention so much as states he "will not adhere to it [AGS]" warrants his getting the permanent boot, IMHO. For such being the case, if he is allowed to continue to conduct business here, it would seem someone is inevitably going to be defrauded.