The Real Andy
03-05-2005, 08:19 AM
On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 23:30:24 +1100, "Phil Allison"
<philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
>"Poxy"
>>A friend was at Harvey Normans the other day, purchasing a plasma screen
>>TV.
>> After they'd negotiated the price - about $4,400 for an LG highish-res
>> panel, the sales guy then suggested they purchase a special component
>> cable
>> for hooking up their DVD player to the screen to achieve the best quality
>> from their new screen.
>>
>> For demonstration, he switched the panel to split-screen mode showing the
>> same DVD title playing on each half, but connected by different cables. He
>> was attempting to imply that the marked difference between the two images
>> was due to the use of a "Monster" brand component video cable on one
>> input.
>> My friend gave me a call at the time and explained what the sales guy was
>> trying to say, and commented that the Monster side had better detail in
>> the
>> blacks and looked better than the other half. I told her that it sounded
>> like a scam and hold off for the moment - she could always purchase it at
>> a
>> later date, as he wasn't offering any great deal on the cable.
>>
>> Subsequently, I worked out that they had hooked up the component output of
>> the DVD player to one side, and the composite output to the other, and was
>> then trying to claim that the improved picture was purely due to the
>> Monster
>> brand cable.
>>
>> This strikes me as a blatantly dishonest and misleading demonstration -
>> the
>> salesman never stated that the difference in quality was largely (if not
>> entirely) due to the alternative signal format, rather he misrepresented
>> the
>> comparison with the goal of selling an obscenely overpriced cable of
>> dubious
>> benefit over a base-quality component cable.
>>
>> Why? The 1m Monster cable costs $270.
>>
>> Methinks a call to the ACCC is in order.
>>
>
>
>** Fake demonstrations have been standard practice for sales charlatans for
>centuries - door to door vacuum cleaner salesmen had them perfected over
>50 years ago. Almost any hi-fi salesman is expert at the art of creating
>biased and false demonstrations.
>
>The resident charlatan on aus.hi-fi is Trevor Wilson - but he is a rank
>amateur compared to the reptiles in shiny suits that lurk in the posh,
>up-market stores.
>
>Monster is just about the smoothest con ever - a blatant, right in your
>face scam.
>
>If a shop even sells Monster Cables - I suggest you simply walk out.
>
>Maybe tell the manager why first - if you have the nerve to.
>
>
>
>
> .......... Phil
>
That pretty, clear transclucent insulation over those fine tin plated
wire sheilds do look good though. i almost want to buy some thinking
about it.
<philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
>"Poxy"
>>A friend was at Harvey Normans the other day, purchasing a plasma screen
>>TV.
>> After they'd negotiated the price - about $4,400 for an LG highish-res
>> panel, the sales guy then suggested they purchase a special component
>> cable
>> for hooking up their DVD player to the screen to achieve the best quality
>> from their new screen.
>>
>> For demonstration, he switched the panel to split-screen mode showing the
>> same DVD title playing on each half, but connected by different cables. He
>> was attempting to imply that the marked difference between the two images
>> was due to the use of a "Monster" brand component video cable on one
>> input.
>> My friend gave me a call at the time and explained what the sales guy was
>> trying to say, and commented that the Monster side had better detail in
>> the
>> blacks and looked better than the other half. I told her that it sounded
>> like a scam and hold off for the moment - she could always purchase it at
>> a
>> later date, as he wasn't offering any great deal on the cable.
>>
>> Subsequently, I worked out that they had hooked up the component output of
>> the DVD player to one side, and the composite output to the other, and was
>> then trying to claim that the improved picture was purely due to the
>> Monster
>> brand cable.
>>
>> This strikes me as a blatantly dishonest and misleading demonstration -
>> the
>> salesman never stated that the difference in quality was largely (if not
>> entirely) due to the alternative signal format, rather he misrepresented
>> the
>> comparison with the goal of selling an obscenely overpriced cable of
>> dubious
>> benefit over a base-quality component cable.
>>
>> Why? The 1m Monster cable costs $270.
>>
>> Methinks a call to the ACCC is in order.
>>
>
>
>** Fake demonstrations have been standard practice for sales charlatans for
>centuries - door to door vacuum cleaner salesmen had them perfected over
>50 years ago. Almost any hi-fi salesman is expert at the art of creating
>biased and false demonstrations.
>
>The resident charlatan on aus.hi-fi is Trevor Wilson - but he is a rank
>amateur compared to the reptiles in shiny suits that lurk in the posh,
>up-market stores.
>
>Monster is just about the smoothest con ever - a blatant, right in your
>face scam.
>
>If a shop even sells Monster Cables - I suggest you simply walk out.
>
>Maybe tell the manager why first - if you have the nerve to.
>
>
>
>
> .......... Phil
>
That pretty, clear transclucent insulation over those fine tin plated
wire sheilds do look good though. i almost want to buy some thinking
about it.