Origin Live :-(
I called up Origin Live earlier today to make some inquiries about their new Onyx tonearm. I shared with the person who answered the phone (apparently, it was Mark Baker) the lower price I could get it for in Singapore.
BIG MISTAKE!!!
He immediately went into a rant about how unfair the dealers are to him by undercutting his prices and won't be selling items to such dealers. He then blew me off by saying that he doesn't have the time to entertain my call as he was preparing for a hifi show where he expects a long line of people just eager to get to his products. What a piece of work, huh?
As a customer who has set himself a budget, one would go about looking for the best value. This is done by comparing prices at various outlets. With the Internet, it is now possible to do this comparison across the globe instead of confining the search to a particular geographical location. The decision from whom to purchase would then be a factor of price and what's included in the package, e.g. shipping.
The pricing policy that Origin Live has offered its dealers/distributors has obviously allowed the dealers across the globe to set prices that turn out to be more attractive than what they can offer and this they will do to draw customers into buying from them. It's called the free market.
It's just inconceivable for a manufacturer to take out his frustration on a potential customer who has taken on the added expense of an international phone call to clarify certain things. By sharing the information, I also had provided some excellent feedback and market intelligence regarding the prices of a manufacturer's product across the global market!!!
I was heavily influenced by the reviews of Origin Live's products, especially the tonearms and decided to invest without an audition. After this episode, I'm better off keeping my money and going elsewhere.
Here's an idea to those manufacturers who seem to think their products are the bees knees. It's called ALTERNATIVES!!!
Just an idea, ya know.
An International Buyer
Just console yourself with the fact you dodged a bullet, Origin Live tonearms are junk anyway. The only company I know who can take a Rega arm and make it worse plus charge for the step backwards.
And besides in a hobby where sound quality is paramount why would you buy off the internet anyway without hearing it? I would never put 100% (or 50% faith) in the opinion of someone else's ears when handing over my money for ANY hifi!
Yep, that's what i've heard a lot, too.
Spend your money with Audio Origami, instead.
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Just console yourself with the fact you dodged a bullet, Origin Live tonearms are junk anyway. The only company I know who can take a Rega arm and make it worse plus charge for the step backwards.
And besides in a hobby where sound quality is paramount why would you buy off the internet anyway without hearing it? I would never put 100% (or 50% faith) in the opinion of someone else's ears when handing over my money for ANY hifi!