I understand what your saying. I still hang around the forums and still talk about topics of products I've purchased from other companies, the classifieds, etc and such though nothing directly related to Mark anymore. I still have some friends (most of which I have directed to this thread and the one at AVS) and they have now also stopped purchases at AV123. We were still looking at used AV123 speakers (mainly because I wanted to ninja them) but after the warranty fiasco forget it.
Given everything that's happened, why even condescend to grace that forum with your presence? Yes, I'm sure you've got friends, but friends don't have to keep coming back to the same old odious place. Doing so lends a stamp of imprimatur that's not warranted.
From what I understand, most people that frequent the forum that have been there for as long as I have (2 years~) either don't believe its true and its just false rumors spread by bitter folks, Mark has somehow redeemed himself and made up for everything hes done and is paying the price in karma with his so called medical condition, or they just don't care. I think they know that if they directly bring up these things they will get just the banhammer. Ignorance is bliss, right?
There's no false rumors and if some are bitter, theyve earned right. With some people, he's redeemed himself with them finally getting their speakers in that respect. And for some, that will be all they care about. Others will get their speakers and spit at the very mention of that odious name.
With respect to many though he's not redeemed himself with their particular needs. A person who got conned into converting what he was owed into store credit and finds he can't cash it in for either money or product he wants or expected to see isn't satisfied. Sean, from the various posts he's made here and elsewhere, took it up the arse and is seeking legal recourse. The dozen or so people who ponied up $6,000 each for a fart in the wind product that was supposed to have Arnie Nudell weaving whatever magic he has aren't happy because they can't get what was promised or their money back. The raffle recipients who got nothing or next to nothing and found their dying friend, dying father, and very ill daughter used as nothing more than fish bait, how will they find their justice and closure?
My question to you Chu is you seem to have the biggest issue with MLS. Why? What did he do to you? Or is it just the fact that what hes doing is incredibly wrong and immoral and you feel the need to spread the word to the audio world? Hell, I don't even know if your even into audio since all your posts seem to be in the steam vent. You even have a dedicated website about MLS. Thats some dedication.
The biggest issue is with MLS because as I see it, he's the ring leader. That's where the buck stops (pun and no pun intended). I can tolerate a reasonable amount of screw ups. Happens all the time with the absolute best of companies. What has occurred over the years are more than screw ups. They're more than bad business decisions. And I'll tell you there's far more than have graced the public air space. The raffles were the tipping point for me. The more I got into the whole raffle fiasco, the more I learned about other stuff. I thought to myself, what was the one raffle that he couldn't possibly have messed up on? Of all the people in the world, who's the one person he wouldn't toss out into the pod as crab bait? I figured that was his granddaughter. So, through the assistance of others, an inquiry was made to the Ballet Nouveau where she danced and perhaps still dances. After a somewhat long wait, a reply came and it indicated that of the 30K said to have been raised, only $7,500 made it's way there. There were I believe 2 raffles for that organization. The first occurred in 2004. No record by them was found of any donations made in and around that time period. The second raffle occurred the following year and from that $7500 was received some time after it had closed.
I've never owned a product by them - new or used. I had a fondness for them in the beginning and have written about it here and elsewhere. I've never contributed to a raffle or supported one that they ran publicly. Because of that I've been told on more than one occasion that I have no right to object especially with the consistency and frequency that I have. I disagree. One does not have to be personally affected to raise their voice at injustices.
I've been told by some that they object vigorously to my having said I speak for the little guy and everyone who has been disenfranchised in any way whatsoever. They say I don't speak for them. Fine, I don't. But I'll still speak.
MLS has said privately to people who've worked for him (no longer though) that I'm some trouble maker who once bought a product and was dissatisfied in some manner and have harbored a grudge and vendetta for years. Outright fabrication and poppycock.
It's been said that I work for a competitor and am looking to wreak damage upon the company. I do not. I do not now, nor have I ever worked for an audio company in any way.
For me this is relaxation and find this to be an interesting reality show where the victims and perpetrators are most real. There are others I correspond with as well as having personal friends who do a significant amount of legwork on my behalf. Some may want to look at it as a conspiracy. Let them. It's nothing more than people looking to find out the truth and disseminate it. The conspiracy lies not with me. It lies in Colorado. It's not perpetrated against the company, rather the company has perpetrated it against the public.
With respect to my having some sort of ownership in the other website, DontSchifterMeBro, I have none whatsoever. I didn't start it but I do post there from time to time. I hope you've enjoyed the videos and ask for your support in seeing they get nominated for some kind of award. I'd like to walk the red carpet so long as others get to walk the green mile.
And yes, I'm into audio. Even HT. But for me talking about one's gear doesn't do it for me. Never has. I don't recommend what I own. I do though find posts by people like Sean Olive, Earl Geddes, krabapple, JNeutron, and others most informative.
