Audiophilic Discrimination?

[Thomo16]

Hi guys, I'm new-ish here.

Do you guys think there is some form of discrimination against younger audiophiles? Recently, I've been trying to sell my sub and speakers. I have received some emails of interest, however, ONCE I tell them I'm a college student their replies completely stop. This has not happened on just one occasion too. I can recall at least 4 or 5 occasions. I understand that "kids" are more likely to play music and movies at higher volumes, especially college "kids" who are stereotypically known to party all day and night, but enough to completely lose interest seems ridiculous. I take great care of my audio system. I don't even let people touch my gear. I'm especially anal about my speaker position as anyone who knows me would know. >=D

I am reminded of one specific occasion at Ken Cranes. I went there to audition some B&W speakers (only place I know around). The only thing I got there were the glaring looks with eyes that blatantly say "don't touch anything." So, I just left. It's true younger "kids" don't have much money, but glaring at someone like that is just rude. Maybe I just had bad luck with my experiences. I'm sure there are great people out there who are more than willing to accommodate younger audiophiles.
I guess I'm just here to blow off some steam. But, I'm sure we can all agree some of these things are true.
I just want to sell my speakers and subwoofer. Are my goods inferior in someway?
Need money for school . If only it weren't for school, then there's nothing stopping me from upgrading my system instead

Incase anyone is wondering. My system consists of:
Jm Labs Cobalt 806S Bookshelf Speakers
Powered by Panasonic XR-57S receiver
and the power comes from my Hsu VTF-3 MK2 Subwoofer

ps. ignore anything that makes no sense, I'm just a bit mad.

 

[jamie2112]

I agree that younger "audiophiles" don't get any respect. I have seen the same thing you are talking about in a myer emco in Dc. That is stupidly bias, what just because you are young doesn't mean you don't love audio. Screw those kind of people. Your money is as good as anyone else's. I would sell your stuff on here or audiogon. I guess you shouldn't tell people who are interested you in school still

 

[rtcp]

I've encountered the same thing. (I'm 19)

I was at a hifi shop once, and I asked if I could listen to their nicest system(B&W 802Ds with Classe gear, not really that amazing as far as audiophile gear goes), and they wouldn't let me touch the volume knob. And that was after I spent $1000 there.

But I suppose if the typical audiophile salesman is someone who will legitimately try to sell you snake oil products, they're probably the sort that would stereotype young people.

It is frustrating though, especially since we have none of the money but all of the ears.

 

[Sheep]

I'm 20. I've found the best way to counteract this is to be the bigger *******.

SheepStar

 

[Thomo16]

haha sheep, I'll keep that in mind, although I'm not that type.

Yeah. It's so frustrating sometimes. Well, I'm out of the hi-fi game for awhile. School is eating away at all of my money. To think of the gear you could buy with the amount of money one year of school costs.

 

[mike c]

Yeah. It's so frustrating sometimes. Well, I'm out of the hi-fi game for awhile. School is eating away at all of my money. To think of the gear you could buy with the amount of money one year of school costs.

think of the money you'd earn with just a college degree ... to buy all the gear you want

 

[MDS]

think of the money you'd earn with just a college degree ... to buy all the gear you want

That's what I'd say too.

While there is no excuse for looking down on people because of their age or appearance, it does happen. I'm not a teen anymore by a long shot but I'm sure I'd get the same treatment at your more snooty establishments..but I'd just laugh. If you think you can guess my net worth by the fact that I'm basically a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy and still driving my almost 15 year old car I bought in 1994...you'd be wrong - way wrong.

 

[Djizasse]

LOL

There's something I like to do when I see the salesman is "suspicious". I just throw him some specs on the gear I'm looking and even some comparisons with other equipment. That seems to make him look elsewhere, or, if he is really into audio, make him more interested in showing stuff.
You can also throw him lot of questions, just to tire him.
Another option is: get a suit

 

[Seth=L]

Any high fidelity shop and it's sales crew should know that a large part of customers that want to buy audio don't drive fancy cars, wear expensive clothes, and are typically younger. For these boutique stores to think you won't buy there stuff because you are young and don't wear what they expect an "audiophile" to wear are going to lose a lot of business. Every person that walks through the door in these shops is a potential sale, you would be a fool of a salesman to think otherwise.

I always like to share my knowledge when I enter shops of this magnitude. One thing that attracts their attention is to discuss specific products that are competitive with the store's products. They are more apt to attempt to sell you something if you mention their competition, who wants to lose a sale to Magnolia Hi-Fi (Best Buy's high end shops)?

 

[trnqk7]

I experienced this too at a couple of shops-most places in STL seem to carry B&W and are sold by either older gentlemen or "preppy" (for lack of a better word) 30-40 somethings. Most of them didn't want to give me the time of day. I finally found a shop that would and invited me to listen to everything, demo their custom rooms, etc. Guess who I bought from . I'm in my mid 20's and I think this has a lot to do with that kind of treatment. And several of these places did lose potential sales-not that they even know it

Shop around-not just for speakers, but for service as well. Service means a lot.

 

[Midcow2]

I would give you respect ..

Thomo16 sorry you are getting that response. I respect muscians and audiophiles and really too me, age is insiginificant. On this forum some of the younger members are very, very astute as far as audio equipment and I tend to listen to their experience, views and opinions with a lot of respect!

And by the way I am an old f*rt.

 

[rnatalli]

Just buy internet-direct stuff

 

[emorphien]

I didn't do much "higher end" shopping until I was 22 or so, but I never had issues with our local audio specialst stores. They were helpful, enjoyed chatting and showing off gear. One did try to pitch $6k cables our way which was pretty ludicrous especially considering I was and am a student. I imagine if some see a very young looking person they might think you're just there to see the shiny toys and some stores might not mind, others may.

Definitely unfortunate, I know someone who went to a Mercedes dealership in his weekend jeans and white t-shirt and they wouldn't give him the time of day. So he bought his fancy expensive car somewhere else.

 

[EYEdROP0]

I know exactly what you mean. Im only 17 years old, and I get looks from older guys all the time whenever I look at their sound system. Some of them arent even true audiophiles but make it seem like they are. Then again, I can relate to these older folks. I have an 18 year old friend that is "into" audio, yet doesent run his speakers on the correct ohms, let alone place them correctly. He plays his JBL's loud, and they are blown. But he doesent want to belive it Also, many of the car audio "enthusiasts" I meet have a sony xplod with a 1200 watt amp and stock 6x9, door speakers, etc.... THey think their system is better than mine. Dumbasses....

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi guys, I'm new-ish here.

Do you guys think there is some form of discrimination against younger audiophiles? Recently, I've been trying to sell my sub and speakers. I have received some emails of interest, however, ONCE I tell them I'm a college student their replies completely stop. This has not happened on just one occasion too. I can recall at least 4 or 5 occasions. I understand that "kids" are more likely to play music and movies at higher volumes, especially college "kids" who are stereotypically known to party all day and night, but enough to completely lose interest seems ridiculous. I take great care of my audio system. I don't even let people touch my gear. I'm especially anal about my speaker position as anyone who knows me would know. >=D

I am reminded of one specific occasion at Ken Cranes. I went there to audition some B&W speakers (only place I know around). The only thing I got there were the glaring looks with eyes that blatantly say "don't touch anything." So, I just left. It's true younger "kids" don't have much money, but glaring at someone like that is just rude. Maybe I just had bad luck with my experiences. I'm sure there are great people out there who are more than willing to accommodate younger audiophiles.
I guess I'm just here to blow off some steam. But, I'm sure we can all agree some of these things are true.
I just want to sell my speakers and subwoofer. Are my goods inferior in someway?
Need money for school . If only it weren't for school, then there's nothing stopping me from upgrading my system instead

Incase anyone is wondering. My system consists of:
Jm Labs Cobalt 806S Bookshelf Speakers
Powered by Panasonic XR-57S receiver
and the power comes from my Hsu VTF-3 MK2 Subwoofer

ps. ignore anything that makes no sense, I'm just a bit mad.

People discriminate about all sorts of things, and age is just one of them. People also discriminate against very old people, so that will be something you can look forward to as well, unless you die prematurely (another possibility to look forward to!). Old people are often judged to be doddering old fools, who know nothing about any technology from the last 40 years at all. With some, this will be true, but it is certainly not true of all, and it is plain bigotry to assume it to be true when you first encounter an old person.

I suggest not going to stores where you are treated like crap. But if you want more respect at stores, you may wish to dress in a way that commands more respect. You did not say what you were wearing when you went into the store; they say "clothes make the man", and, of course, this is another way in which people discriminate against each other.

I think you would find that if you were a woman, people would tend to treat you even more like you knew nothing about such things as audio equipment or, indeed, pretty much everything else. With the condescending way that I have seen some morons treat my wife, I wanted to bash them with something big and heavy, but I refrained from doing so, which is better for me personally, but is not doing the world any good.

So, the best thing to get out of all of this is to try to stop judging people on superficial appearances (because if you do such things yourself, then, aside from not being very nice, your complaints are pure hypocrisy), and don't spend your money in shops where they do. And, as you have already been told, don't tell prospective customers that you are in college, as that is irrelevant to the equipment, and you are interested in selling it to whoever will buy it, not only to someone who is not a bigot.

 

[Pyrrho]

I'm 20. I've found the best way to counteract this is to be the bigger *******.

SheepStar

You don't really think that being a bigger ******* is a very good goal, do you?

I think it is better to simply shop elsewhere, as giving your money to bigots in such cases simply supports bigots who do such things.

If you are interested in teaching them something, it may be worthwhile to have a word with their boss about their behavior. Of course, you may have been treated like crap by the owner, in which case shopping elsewhere is simply your best bet. Wasting time with morons and getting upset only hurts yourself.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Age discrimination like that is sad, but it's also shortsighted and stupid. You audiophiles grow into old audiophiles, if their interest is nurtured. Who will a person buy from in the future? Certainly not from the guys that looked down their noses at you and treated you like crap.

 

[Sheep]

You don't really think that being a bigger ******* is a very good goal, do you?

I think it is better to simply shop elsewhere, as giving your money to bigots in such cases simply supports bigots who do such things.

If you are interested in teaching them something, it may be worthwhile to have a word with their boss about their behavior. Of course, you may have been treated like crap by the owner, in which case shopping elsewhere is simply your best bet. Wasting time with morons and getting upset only hurts yourself.

It's not a goal. And I wasn't referring to just HiFi Stores treating me like crap (I don't usually go to HiFi Stores anyway). Anyone that tries to disregard my opinion simply because I'm young, will get the same treatment.

SheepStar