DO NOT BUY anything from AV123

[mhawker]

, but there is also a lot of legacy information .

Yes, like this valuable post about the x-head by Larry.

http://forums.av123.com/showthread.php?t=43921

 

[gonk]

The X-Head that is no longer even offered for sale on their site? Yes, Larry's providing some useful info, alright...

By the way, the electronics page is now completely empty. The $4000 Arte Forma amp is gone, too...

EDIT: Why even provide a link like that? It reads like somebody took a review, translated it from English to German to Italian to Mongolian and back to English, and posted it on some generic blog.

 

[thenatinator]

Yes, like this valuable post about the x-head by Larry.

http://forums.av123.com/showthread.php?t=43921

I think splogging is a great way for av123 to generate new content or refresh the posts they deleted. All they need to do is replace "douche" with "really great guy", "indicted" with "given the keys to the city", and "underfunded" with "funded with extreme prodigious".

They can have fake accounts like koolaid1 koolaid2 and koolaid3. And when they delete your account you will be replaced with the next koolaid .....

 

[tesseract]

Funny, because my last post (moderator deleted) at AV12Guilty mentioned "kool-aid". This, combined with my posting here, led to my St. Patty's Day banning.

 

[gonk]

Sadly, that mess of a "review" could actually serve as justification for a special promotion at AV123 if they were still offering some related electronics. During the forum shutdown of 2009, AV123 ran a sale on the RS-850's that was based on a "review" of the RS-1000's (not the 850's) in which some random person at BestCovery.com posted a ranking of his favorite tower speakers. The RS-1000's were in first place on the list, which was enough for AV123 to run a special marketing email for the 850. The list was here, but it appears that the "reviewer" had a change of heart - the 1000 "review" is still around here, but the Salks now have first place and the Rockets aren't even on the list anymore.

 

[thenatinator]

Sadly, that mess of a "review" could actually serve as justification for a special promotion at AV123 if they were still offering some related electronics. During the forum shutdown of 2009, AV123 ran a sale on the RS-850's that was based on a "review" of the RS-1000's (not the 850's) in which some random person at BestCovery.com posted a ranking of his favorite tower speakers. The RS-1000's were in first place on the list, which was enough for AV123 to run a special marketing email for the 850. The list was here, but it appears that the "reviewer" had a change of heart - the 1000 "review" is still around here, but the Salks now have first place and the Rockets aren't even on the list anymore.

Regrettably it's better written than the majority of crap spewed by kyle. I don't think they are going to run with it because it doesn't have enough rhyming in it. Now if he had done something creative like rhymed back with black and talked about products called *******.... He might have really had something they would push.
Maybe they should do this for the next thing in the news thread.
Good news mark is back but hasn't made a peep
Better news Mark's new title is the av123 black sheep....

 

[Chu Gai]

Well, tess, you should've mentioned Tang instead.

 

[Chu Gai]

The X-Head that is no longer even offered for sale on their site? Yes, Larry's providing some useful info, alright...

By the way, the electronics page is now completely empty. The $4000 Arte Forma amp is gone, too...

EDIT: Why even provide a link like that? It reads like somebody took a review, translated it from English to German to Italian to Mongolian and back to English, and posted it on some generic blog.

Told ya the Arte Forma was gonna be going!

 

[gonk]

Told ya the Arte Forma was gonna be going!

And somehow, unlike the demise of the ELT's, I don't think the Arte Forma piece is gone because they sold out...

 

[Chu Gai]

And somehow, unlike the demise of the ELT's, I don't think the Arte Forma piece is gone because they sold out...

If we're to believe MLS, he has one of their units in his possession. I think AF had multiple 'heads ups' from a variety of sources and came to the realization that any ties with Longmont would not lead to sales nor enhance their stature in the marketplace. Maybe someone will ask a question about their sudden disappearance. It's be fun to read the spin.

 

[themonk]

By this, do you mean the indictments and all of the shifty doings?

I personally want to thank you, Monk for the tabulations you did. Way back, when I was first looking into the raffles, I started tabulating the various ones that were being run. To say it was a lot of work would be an understatement, but then I found your summary at which point I stopped. It was a great, and I mean really great, effort on your part. I was able to use it as a springboard to other questions I had and it was invaluable for finding the various threads that pertained to the particular raffles so they could be archived. I'd also like you to know that some of the charities and law enforcement found the summary useful.

Yes that is what I mean ... as well as my finding out 3 months later.

In regards to the summary, I too had questions, but at that time they were for myself and wanting to know the history of the community and the company. I saw it as the real definition of who we/they were. In a postive light of course. I suppose the recent use of the list has taken on a different meaning.

 

[gonk]

If we're to believe MLS, he has one of their units in his possession. I think AF had multiple 'heads ups' from a variety of sources and came to the realization that any ties with Longmont would not lead to sales nor enhance their stature in the marketplace. Maybe someone will ask a question about their sudden disappearance. It's be fun to read the spin.

If Mark had one, I wonder who will get a screaming deal on it at his next yard sale?

In regards to the summary, I too had questions, but at that time they were for myself and wanting to know the history of the community and the company. I saw it as the real definition of who we/they were. In a postive light of course. I suppose the recent use of the list has taken on a different meaning.

Shining light on things is beneficial more often than not - even when the light reveals undesirable facts. Even without you present to know about it at the time, your summary was around to provide a useful overview of the raffles. By itself, it presented a positive picture. Paired with separate facts about the disposition of the collected funds, it ended up painting a very different picture. I'm sure Mark would claim that the less flattering picture (the one that shows him to be a lying thief) is not the real definition, but at this point such a claim would be difficult to accept in the face of many, many facts suggesting otherwise.

 

[T2T]

While VA321 removed the Arte Forma products from their Web site, they didn't fully edit the section to remove the mention of it.

Source your system with some of the best pre-amps, amplifiers and phono stages made - by AV123, and Arte Forma.

http://www.av123.com//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=42&Itemid=37

And, to view that forum -- wow! Very little activity other than the classifieds keeping the forum on life support. Well, that and the thread on the LS-4s.

 

[Jed M]

And, to view that forum -- wow! Very little activity other than the classifieds keeping the forum on life support. Well, that and Larry D.

Fixed it for you.

 

[richeydog]

While VA321 removed the Arte Forma products from their Web site, they didn't fully edit the section to remove the mention of it.



http://www.av123.com//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=42&Itemid=37

And, to view that forum -- wow! Very little activity other than the classifieds keeping the forum on life support. Well, that and the thread on the LS-4s.

Yesterday I posted in the LS4 thread and today I find out it has magically disappeared. I didn't realize the extent of the heavy handed moderation over there.

I resonded to Mr. Big's post here saying that he shouldn't buy anything unless it was in the warehouse and ready to ship(I was being too nice actually, i should have said don't buy anything in advance from them cause you'll never get your product).

Are they still taking prepays?

 

[Chu Gai]

A Dearly Departed Post

Back on 2/9/09, MLS posted the following on AVS which garnered much attention and praise on at least one other website. I believe it was talking about Jongaro whom you'll recall had involved Colorado agencies in getting his monies back. Some may not recall that MLS had poked fun at Jongaro by having a thread titled, DON'T THINK TWICE BEFORE U BUY - the "official" jongaro B Stock Sale . You can find the thread in Google's cache. Now, here's the post.

Appreciate all of the posts... thanks...

In the case of the sale named for the customer it was actually a bit of a spin on words and that both he and I agree it was warranted and acted upon in a fun-like way that everyone actually enjoyed...

The OP in question is a very nice guy - and both he and I actually found we have a lot in common. I guess in some respects I was as upset as he was with BMF being so late... I want this product out in a very real way... and in fact... it's going to happen later this year... I will also tell you this... The PASSION that this gentleman showed is coveted here at av123 - so much so that I invited him (and he accepted) to be one of five beta testers we will have for the BMF-1... I reiterate... I really like this fellow - and I'm really "on terra-firma" with him.

I also read about the x-s loudspeakers in another thread and I'm very pleased to report that a US based manufacturer has agreed to make these enclosures for us... We have 800 woofers, tweeters and (400) x/o's here and ready to install... The time frame has been set for June - and I wouldn't bet against us being ready in time... $129 (per pair) will be the price in a beautiful Powder Coated (lightly textured) Black... I have the finish here - and could post some nice pictures for those interested...

I have been absent from this - and really ALL forums in these days as we have invited many of our key vendors to participate in some of the re-engineering (remodeling if you will) of the av123 "engine"... My key China-based vendor just left town (for Napa, lucky guy) after staying for 5 days (Super Bowl too) - and we moved forward on all fronts... He loves all of the new ideas we are acting upon here - and sees the progress in the area of CS as something critical for our continued good success... No spin here, we plain sucked in some areas in 2008 - and 2009 will bring a ton of change...

Our dear friends and partners from Colombia arrive tomorrow - and we'll be working with them also on this "re-engineering" as well... Everyone here is committed to working through our problem areas as quietly and effectively as possible. I am posting to our forum when I feel it is warranted... The folks from Harmon just left an hour ago - and next week should bring our 1st shipments... We are excited about this addition to our family - and equally so with XINDAK... We have some of their product already here going through testing...

We will re-open our forum once we are done with the "remodeling"... The lights are on - but the curtains are drawn closed while we work on some of these key issues... As I have said before... we don't need sales - what we need is to better address some of the CS issues that have plagued us last year... The good news is that progress on this front is moving nicely - even faster than Lynn, Suzanne or I had expected...

More when I can... It's been a very busy time here getting ready to make LS-9's (in quantity) as LS-6's are moving nicely at last... Here's some new comments about these that just came out... http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue41/ls6.htm

All the best...

mls

I just thought I'd share this post because, well because of how much of it really wasn't true at all and to contrast it with how things are today.

 

[T2T]

I just thought I'd share this post because, well because of how much of it really wasn't true at all and to contrast it with how things are today.

There's only one problem. I'm stuck here at work, where we don't have showers. Just reading through it left me feeling quite slimey. Yuck!

 

[Chu Gai]

Oh, and in the post I made earlier, you'll see that MLS was looking to start importing/selling amps from Xindak. As we all know by now, that never happened. Well, some time ago I was informed as to the real reason why that never transpired. Seems that Mr. Pu had heard MLS was looking to do a deal with Xindak and he wound up talking to the principals over there to give them a heads up with regards to MLS's business practices and his history of (non)payments. That effectively ended matters.

 

[gonk]

Yesterday I posted in the LS4 thread and today I find out it has magically disappeared. I didn't realize the extent of the heavy handed moderation over there.

Since they have never formally explained their policies on forum moderation, it's no surprise you failed to realize the extend to which they are "managing" their forum traffic. It's the whole reason their little scheme works even a little bit (although it only works a little, since most people can figure out at least in general terms what's going on with the company).

Back on 2/9/09, MLS posted the following on AVS which garnered much attention and praise on at least one other website. I believe it was talking about Jongaro whom you'll recall had involved Colorado agencies in getting his monies back. Some may not recall that MLS had poked fun at Jongaro by having a thread titled, DON'T THINK TWICE BEFORE U BUY - the "official" jongaro B Stock Sale . You can find the thread in Google's cache. Now, here's the post.

I remember that sale. I also remember thinking that I'd be deeply, fundamentally pissed if I were Jongaro and a company used my customer service problems as the butt of a joke like that. In hindsight, maybe the joke was on Mark as much as it was on Jongaro. There were lots of "remodeling" tasks that not only were still not done when the forum re-opened but are still not done today, about ten months after it started to re-open.

 

[Jed M]

Yesterday I posted in the LS4 thread and today I find out it has magically disappeared. I didn't realize the extent of the heavy handed moderation over there.

I resonded to Mr. Big's post here saying that he shouldn't buy anything unless it was in the warehouse and ready to ship(I was being too nice actually, i should have said don't buy anything in advance from them cause you'll never get your product).

Are they still taking prepays?

I think they are just trying to remove all "old timers" from the forum who aren't 110% in lockstep with them. Did you notice they just erased John's bathroom remodel thread? What did that have to do with any indictment talk? I think they are just trying to send a message to the few people who still hang out there that won't absolutely get on board 100% no questions asked. Reasoned, realistic comments are no longer tolerated. The kool-aid needs to be dripping from your orifices to stand a chance over there now.

I remember that sale. I also remember thinking that I'd be deeply, fundamentally pissed if I were Jongaro and a company used my customer service problems as the butt of a joke like that. In hindsight, maybe the joke was on Mark as much as it was on Jongaro...

I remember that as well. Thats when I really started getting off the wagon. For the previous year prior to that sale it was getting ugly, but it was still pretty split and I was on the side that was becoming skeptical of the whole operation. It was that sale where I remember I quit rationalizing Mark's behavior and said this guy isn't really a screw up, he is actually an a-hole. Now I bounced back and forth really up until last September on who and what Mark really was, but that was really the first time I viewed him in that kind of light. Instead of the innocent victim who is always over his head trying to "help", I started seeing a real dark side to him. I felt really bad for Jongaro. I remember him screwing people over on promises over the years (Jeffery Mercado *I think, could be someone else* being promised to be the first to compare the LMC-1 or King Deezie being promised a trip to Lucid, etc) but I always chalked it up to him being absent minded and too busy that it slipped his mind. It always kinda bugged me how he would just leave these guys holding their hats, but I never thought it was because he was a jerk. After that Jongaro sale I saw somebody who made promises he never intended on keeping just to quiet dissent. He went from somebody who had too much on his table who tried to give us the earth and the moon to a slime ball who lied and sh*t on people to get his way. Like I said, it was about a year of evolution, but that sale was the start.