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Quinn
03-25-2005, 09:21 AM
AV123 is now paying comission to those that give home auditions. http://forum.av123.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7918

Lee Bailey
03-25-2005, 10:04 AM
AV123 is now paying comission to those that give home auditions. http://forum.av123.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7918


Heck, I'll audition my Ascends for free.

I think part of their reasoning is due to the high cost to the buyer for the shipping. There is a site called AudioEnvy (http://www.audioenvy.com/default.asp) that provides a user directory for Rockets, Swan, SVS, and Adire speakers. The idea is that you can find someone near you to listen to the speakers you are interested in. Too bad there is no link there to email the site owner, to add Ascends to the list, as well as the HSU products.

jimsiff
03-25-2005, 10:17 AM
Interesting concept. Whatever floats their boat. Personally, I'd rather sit down and chill with a beer showing off my Ascends to a prospective buyer without the pretext of a payoff for my efforts. I believe that the value of what Dave & co. have done for us is much more than the cost of our speakers. If a little of my time helps them make another sale, so be it.

curtis
03-25-2005, 10:31 AM
Too bad there is no link there to email the site owner, to add Ascends to the list, as well as the HSU products.

That is something that has been talked about for at least two years....the owner does not do it for some reason.

I've said it before, through the auditioning of speakers, I have met some very nice people, and experienced new music. With that, and products that I am very happy with, that is plenty of incentive.

I'm with Jim, I don't need anything more from Ascend to audtion my speakers.

bikeman
03-25-2005, 10:33 AM
I don't think it's sad at all. If handled properly, it could be a very good business move. I spent almost two decades as a retail manager and one thing that often frustrated me was getting owners to take risks and try new ideas. Mark Schifter is a risk taker and idea generator. I could work for him with enthusiam.
I don't own any AV123 products. I just admire him as a business person.

David

Eddie Horton
03-25-2005, 10:35 AM
Can you imagine what kind of ruckus this will cause on HTF and AVS? Talk about marketing. It's going to taint every recommendation of AV123 products and get threads locked left and right.

curtis
03-25-2005, 12:09 PM
Can you imagine what kind of ruckus this will cause on HTF and AVS? Talk about marketing. It's going to taint every recommendation of AV123 products and get threads locked left and right.
I tend to agree.

Not sure if many of you remember when the old Ascend forum went up.....something that Smokey and I put together(most Smokey) with only Ascend's blessing and nothing more. Some Rocket/AV123 owners were upset and said that I should show my "affiliation", eventhough there really wasn't any.


I don't think it's sad at all. If handled properly, it could be a very good business move.
I guess the question would be, what is "properly".

bikeman
03-25-2005, 12:55 PM
"I guess the question would be, what is "properly"."

To be determined. Im sure Mark is well aware of the downside to this program. AV123 is already taken to task on AVS and HTF on a regular basis. This will take that up a notch but that wouldn't bother me too much.
As far as auditioning for free, that will still be how most of it gets done over there and over here. They're not changing how things are done. They're just adding another facet. An AV123 owner might take offense to not getting a credit but I believe that will be the exception, not the rule.
I looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. This is my idea of a spectator sport. http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

David

Kpt_Krunch
03-25-2005, 01:55 PM
hmmmmm, that's very interesting news indeed. I should tell my friend who bought some Rockets, though my guess is you would only get money for purchases, and not auditions per say.

bikeman
03-25-2005, 03:35 PM
"my guess is you would only get money for purchases, and not auditions per say."

No money is involved. Those who are selected for the program will receive a 5% credit good towards AV123 products based on sales. 50 people will be selected to participate in the program based on location, AV123 set-ups and I'm assuming knowledge.
If internet direct is to grow, auditions would be a big plus. AV123 is trying to make that much more of a reality. If this is the right stategy for AV123 remains to be seen.

David

jermy4
03-25-2005, 03:47 PM
Can you imagine what kind of ruckus this will cause on HTF and AVS? Talk about marketing. It's going to taint every recommendation of AV123 products and get threads locked left and right. I actually makes a bad first impression when someone who has never heard of these companies before sees behavior like I have seen on AVS & HTF (with regards to marketing). The 2 that I saw over and over again were AV123 & SVS.

This is actually what drew me towards Ascend. You don't see people marketing them constantly. There is just more class to the posts from Ascend owners.

I had a chance to put 4 different pairs of speakers to the test in my room. They were all direct competitors (one of the competitors is mentioned in the thread) ;) you can guess which ones I preferred.

Kpt_Krunch
03-25-2005, 03:47 PM
Ok - that makes sense, and knocks my friend out of contention. Almost like having commissioned salesmen, though based on product rather than cold hard cash. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out - can't blame Mark for trying!

Eddie Horton
03-25-2005, 03:51 PM
I don't doubt that it will be good for their business. Schifter seems like a pretty savvy guy. I just can't wait to see what happens on all the forums.......

Newbie looking for speakers: "What kind of speakers should I buy with a $2,000.00 budget?"

Rocket owner: "Buy some Rockets. They are great."

Non-Rocket owner: "Oh great...here come the shills."

Rocket owner: "Your Mama's a shill."

etc. etc. etc.

I just don't think much good will come of this on the boards regardless of how much better MLS's bottom line looks.

curtis
03-25-2005, 03:57 PM
Too funny!!

The bottom line......what motivates you to promote and market the equipment you like.

By the way...Axiom has a similar program, but it isn't "selected" people...it is anyone that has Axioms.

jermy4
03-25-2005, 04:00 PM
The bottom line......what motivates you to promote and market the equipment you like.I'm the one guy in those "recommend speakers for $XXXX.XX" threads that recommends listening to as many speakers as possible and pick what they like.

curtis
03-25-2005, 04:17 PM
This brings up some interesting thoughts.

When someone comes into my home to listen, I give them the control to listen to what they want and how they want. I make it a point not to offer any of my thoughts unless asked...and even when asked, I am careful about being biased. I have seen how the power of suggestion works with this audio hobby of ours, and I don't like it.

One person that visited my house for a listen had previously visited the home of someone else that owned another internet direct brand. I had been to that person's house before with my Ascends twice and actually know the owner fairly well....so he knows full well who I am and where I live....he had been to my house as well. Anyways, the person that was at my house for a demo said the other internet direct brand owner remarked that the Ascends were bright and that he didn't know anyone in the area that had them for demo.

Left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. That said, I hate to say, but I think the commission program will fuel more of that type of behavior.

Lou-the-dog
03-25-2005, 05:53 PM
I wonder if this approach will "really" increase the number of auditions and resulting sales. I mean, those people willing to become "partners" are already Rocket owners and are more than willing to audition their speakers for free and no strings attached. What will this change...really...will these partners now be out on the street dragging in some poor fool and performing hard-sell? I don't think so. They definitely won't be able to actively market on the forums for the previously mentioned reasons. I dunno... from my standpoint I see more negatives than benefits for now. AV123 has already stood a pile of controversy...probably mostly uncalled for...and I think this will only add to the fire. For some reason I think this approach is something that mostly any other online company could pull off...but not AV123.

Randy

Quinn
03-25-2005, 07:54 PM
One person that visited my house for a listen had previously visited the home of someone else that owned another internet direct brand. I had been to that person's house before with my Ascends twice and actually know the owner fairly well....so he knows full well who I am and where I live....he had been to my house as well. Anyways, the person that was at my house for a demo said the other internet direct brand owner remarked that the Ascends were bright and that he didn't know anyone in the area that had them for demo.

Left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. That said, I hate to say, but I think the commission program will fuel more of that type of behavior.

Wow!! and I already had a poor opinion of that person.

metalaaron
04-07-2005, 09:28 AM
mark has expressed his disinterest of the reaction online and that he plans to focus on other things. rocket partners will also have access to a closed section of their forum - partners only. wise.

i would wager a more aggressive approach than audioenvy.com. i would expect debut searches through av123.com for the 50 certified partners. still, a search for rocket products on audioenvy.com could now yield a graphic (star or some sort of eye catcher) next to the search results ... with the corresponding products of interest that signifies "certified rocket partner" or "certified rocket showcase" or something to that effect which in turn links you to av123 domain. the approach has huge potential for av123 to grow which i believe is their plan not only nationally but also internationally.

the reaction online is yet to be seen...