Dealers hijacking the discussions

Audio Doctor,

On a supportive note:  I have no problem with dealers posting.  I think most dealers are enthusiasts like us and the fact they have listened to and have access to a wide range of gear makes a dealer's input *potentially* valuable.  I'm a big boy, I take my grain of salt when reading a dealer's post.  But I'm still happy to read them and get what I can.

On a bit more negative note, this is the only part of your post that tripped me up a bit:

Ask yourselves are you using power conditioning, power cables, room tuning, vibration isolation, air treatment/electrical field conditioning, devices, footers, before you swap components, you might be surprised to find sometimes adding an accessory or two will make your system better.

That does, frankly, sound rather pitch-man like.  The advice to try such items - one's you just happen to be ready to sell the reader. 

Looking at such advice, and some of the cables and "treatments" listed your web site, for me it's a bit like walking into someone's office billing himself as a "doctor"  only to find out I'm being pitched homeopathy or healing crystals.  But I confess I have less patience for the snake oil aspects of this industry than most others here, it seems.

Well I agree that one can just avoid reading posts as desired. I’m hearing that in general most members don’t mind so it’s mostly a personal problem. If it becomes pervasive I think many may change their mind, but then maybe not. 

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, its not a water tight chicken.

In discussion threads everyone should be talking to others like any other person would whose experience are akin, greater than or merely dissimilar from what is or has been shared., to or at the OP and or the discussion itself.

if the poster shows no form or fashion by which they could possibly achieve financial gain from their discourse on a topic, , all should be well.

Makers, dealers, distributors and other industry folk here often input vital information. Revelatory and crucial new input with great regularity and a number of these people, unless you’ve been around here for a long time, do not at all indicate they are actual dealers, designers builders, sellers, or merchants.

These vital and often necessary resources say their piece and that’s it. No invites. No PM me notes, no implication or advertising at all occurs. Unless someone in that thread ‘outs’ them as this or that, they leave their thoughts on the same level of contribution as did any non seller, non designer or non manufacturer.

That is as it should be, input or feedback from a purely altruistic tributary. Knowledge that comes from those springs will usually be well received.

I do not believe this is at all about getting input from dealers, designers, makers, distributors, etc., what so ever.

The idea one dealer says this thing is way gooder (yes, I said ‘gooder’) than that other thing, is no different than anyone else presenting his or her at times passionate opinion or EXP, and not withstanding the actual context.

Hiding behind passion is one thing. it is not hiding if as well one’s professional werewith all like therri inventory comes up which coincidentally is their proposed solution for the discussion. It is then free advertising, not passion.

Its like watching the same commercial on TV. It may start out differently now and then, but you know exactly what is coming. It gets old. Fast. Because it never changes.

The dealership which on the other hand says, you should look at xyz when you can as that is likely the best thing. I’m sorry but I don’t carry it. Will hold a lot more water with just about everyone for the possibility of gains then are absent.

If one feels this or that is indeed the better proposal for whomever, merely input that. Nothing more needs be said of your professional affiliation, location or inventory.

For a dealer or anyone else to input what they feel is aimed directly at the OP or topic of a thread is nothing more or less than what anyone else can or will do. We all have preffs, biases, notions others may or may not share. Although as individuals, we are in discussions for reasons apart from obtaining either individual awareness or financial improvement.

Well, I hope so anyhow.

Increasing public awareness is the immediate aim of advertising. Around the Audiogon community it is requested all advertising goes thru appropriate channels and is a fee based affair.

As such, for any member here Audiogon asks each of us for a fee to do that. They should maintain the same posture on advertising in threads.

Any ad for any thing is a notice saying ‘look at me’ and as well, an invitation for someone to visit, contact, or inquire of the advertiser for more info, all of which puts a sale or profit right on the crosshairs as the motive behind the motive.

If the motivation for feedback in threads carries with it any sense, inkling or possible bias, people are often intuitive enough to discern it. If not, overtures to listen to a different option at a particular or even specific retail venue the poster is closely attached, should be sufficient grounds for their input to be removed.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, its not a water tight chicken.

’duck’ tape?

https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/14443369?wid=520&hei=520&fmt=pjpeg

Sadly, Audiogon is not what it used to be. Constant shilling by dealers was not tolerated in the past. Where is Audiofeil when you need him?