How Not To Sell A Receiver

[admin]

Recently I completed a series of articles comparing entry level, $500, and $1000 receivers. Beforehand I wondered how accurate are the specifications on the manufacturers websites? I'm not talking about the power ratings, we know those are mostly rubbish. I'm talking about the list of features. The number of inputs, the DSP modes, the compatibility, or even the chips used. Can you trust them? Are they accurate? Are they even complete? In my recent experience - No. Here's a short list of some of the things I found when trying to create a useful comparison document for our readers.


Discuss "How Not To Sell A Receiver" here. Read the article.

[smurphy522]

Nice Rant Tom.

I have to agree with everything especially the mis-information part where a Manuf. states that a specific chip or feature is being used only to find out after the purchase that was incorrect.

"Sorry to you consumer.....thanks for buying our product though". As for the features which a product may have but is not listed..that's just so stupid. The Marketing guy (or team) responsible should be let go. Period!

P.S. I knew the Onkyo 808 has HDMI-pass through in stand-by since my model several levels below it does. Funny Onkyo does not mention it specifically for any of their 2010 line up. All of them from thew 308 on up have it...take a look at the front picture and you'll see the (pass through light near the left power button). Go figure?

[highfigh]

Recently I completed a series of articles comparing entry level, $500, and $1000 receivers. Beforehand I wondered how accurate are the specifications on the manufacturers websites? I'm not talking about the power ratings, we know those are mostly rubbish. I'm talking about the list of features. The number of inputs, the DSP modes, the compatibility, or even the chips used. Can you trust them? Are they accurate? Are they even complete? In my recent experience - No. Here's a short list of some of the things I found when trying to create a useful comparison document for our readers.


Discuss "How Not To Sell A Receiver" here. Read the article.

Have you ever thought of contacting the FTC over these? If it's not as it's described, they used to go after the manufacturer or seller, if it happens enough times, or it's serious enough. OTOH, they already pulled the teeth of the power ratings that were set in the '70s, so I guess all they can do now is gum the perpetrators to death.

[Bret19]

Tom,

If it makes you feel any better, I extensively used the $250 & $500 articles you wrote. I decided to buy a receiver and speaker package for my parents for Christmas. It was an absolute nightmare figuring out the features a receiver has and does not have.

Even with your great articles, I still had to download manuals. After downloading manuals and not finding the information I emailed the vendors. I also cursed and yelled when Yamaha made me fill out an account form to download a user manual. Everything you said is so true, and it really made shopping for a receiver a crappy experience.

By the way, the number one feature I wanted in a receiver was nearly impossible to figure out over the web and requires contacting customer support. I wanted a receiver that displays the volume of the receiver on the TV over an HDMI cable. It is beyond my comprehension why any AV receiver would not offer this feature (maybe someone could enlighten me as to why anyone would buy a receive without this feature).

Denon, if you are listening you lost a sale because I would have to spend $800 to see the volume display on the TV.

[GranteedEV]

pfft, who reads receiver feature lists.

I'd just go for the brand that subjective magazines say is the most warm and fuzzy

[Puppetz]

Nice rant. A bit random, but I have a possible answer for the question "Why exactly do they have a line with a feature and a dash indicating it doesn't have it?" This may have to do with the fact that many companies now let you compare various models. They may need to include the line with the dash to get the comparison to sync up for all of the particular features. Granted, I can see this as an explanation for dashes showing on feature lists displayed on company websites. But if you download a .pdf spec or feature sheet of a particular model, it shouldn't show features with dashes.

[jliedeka]

Nice rant, Tom. When I upgraded my receiver a few years ago, I looked everywhere for info. In addition to manufacturer sites, I looked at AV publication web sites, consumer review sites and forum posts. Maybe marketers are just used to stupid consumers that will buy whatever the guy at the big box store recommends. Audioholic people seem to be in the minority.

Jim

[smurphy522]

Nice rant. A bit random, but I have a possible answer for the question "Why exactly do they have a line with a feature and a dash indicating it doesn't have it?" This may have to do with the fact that many companies now let you compare various models. They may need to include the line with the dash to get the comparison to sync up for all of the particular features. Granted, I can see this as an explanation for dashes showing on feature lists displayed on company websites. But if you download a .pdf spec or feature sheet of a particular model, it shouldn't show features with dashes.

Most likely to get prospective buyers to realize there is that feature available on a higher end model (possibly).

[KEW]

Maybe marketers are just used to stupid consumers that will buy whatever the guy at the big box store recommends. Audioholic people seem to be in the minority.

Jim

This is true, but I think you also have to factor in the marketing mantra -
"A confused customer is a profitable customer!"

[highfigh]

Nice rant. A bit random, but I have a possible answer for the question "Why exactly do they have a line with a feature and a dash indicating it doesn't have it?" This may have to do with the fact that many companies now let you compare various models. They may need to include the line with the dash to get the comparison to sync up for all of the particular features. Granted, I can see this as an explanation for dashes showing on feature lists displayed on company websites. But if you download a .pdf spec or feature sheet of a particular model, it shouldn't show features with dashes.

That's a master list of features and eliminates the need to make a separate list for all of their models. Think of it as a menu where they check off what they want to show. Yes/No may be more helpful for some but a check mark and a dash work just as well if the purpose of each is shown.