How many times have you been told…….

Over the (many) years I have been involved with this hobby I have on a few occasions taken advantage of various return policies that provide the option to return within a certain time frame.  
I recently made a purchase from a company that has been in business for 20 plus years that offered me a trial period on a long time popular product of theirs.  When I informed them that I wanted to return the item for a refund I  was told that I am the first, only person to make such a request.  This isn’t the first time I have got this response either.
I find it very difficult to believe that this is actually the case, but before I make any final judgement I wanted to find out what others have experienced in this circumstance.

thanks in advance.

18 hours ago, Tokyokyoto said:

Over the (many) years I have been involved with this hobby I have on a few occasions taken advantage of various return policies that provide the option to return within a certain time frame.  
I recently made a purchase from a company that has been in business for 20 plus years that offered me a trial period on a long time popular product of theirs.  When I informed them that I wanted to return the item for a refund I  was told that I am the first, only person to make such a request.  This isn’t the first time I have got this response either.
I find it very difficult to believe that this is actually the case, but before I make any final judgement I wanted to find out what others have experienced in this circumstance.

thanks in advance.

So long as they honor their promise I probably wouldn't worry about "being the first" to return the product.

It is all part of the Psych-Ops sales game.

It is a common tactic to make you second guess your decision or think something is "wrong" with you. It might persuade you to rethink your product return decision.

The other tactic is "this is our most popular model" when you are not sure what to get or to get you to second-guess your initial choice because the seller has the motive to push their "most popular model" with herding mentality a strong persuader.

Thanks all for the replies.  

The more I think about this, I believe “plausible deniability” is what emboldens manufacturers/reps to make such claims.

On 7/27/2024 at 3:39 AM, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

So long as they honor their promise I probably wouldn't worry about "being the first" to return the product.

 

 

Well, fortunately we have laws that force companies to adhere to their sales policies.  
I could care less about being labeled “as the first”, but to me this sort of thing just adds to the ever increasing  perception that the high end audio industry is as a whole, smoke and mirrors.
 

13 minutes ago, Tokyokyoto said:

to me this sort of thing just adds to the ever increasing  perception that the high end audio industry is as a whole, smoke and mirrors.

Is this data from your longitudinal study of the industry, or just a feeling you have?

The fact that I had to use google to get the exact meaning of “longitudinal study” might in of itself answer your question.

5 minutes ago, Tokyokyoto said:

That being said Chris, and with all due respect, I believe your question in of itself feeds into the problem I am speaking to.  It bears resemblance to “but how do you know what a Stradivarius sounds like in Wigmore Hall?”  Hopefully you can recognize the parallel between the two without me having to explain but I can and will if necessary.

I'm often a bit slow. I actually don't see the parallel and do't understand what is meant by that. 

There may be something 'lost in translation' here

you said

On 7/26/2024 at 11:09 PM, Tokyokyoto said:

 When I informed them that I wanted to return the item for a refund I  was told that I am the first, only person to make such a request.  .....I find it very difficult to believe that this is actually the case,

 

10 hours ago, Tokyokyoto said:

Well, fortunately we have laws that force companies to adhere to their sales policies.  
I could care less about being labeled “as the first”, but to me this sort of thing just adds to the ever increasing  perception that the high end audio industry is as a whole, smoke and mirrors.
 

If I am reading between the lines then you are implying the company/ies are trying to guilt trip you or at least question your authenticity. It may or may not be the case but so long as they give the refund, they have fulfilled their promise.

I bought a pair of RAAL headphones, and had this experience (as I think I posted at the time, they are awesome, but I was disconcerted by the speed and a bit afraid using them, they are like a Ferrari).  I believed them when then said I was the first return--it was a new product with rave reviews, and what kind of moron returns a Ferrari? haha).  But nevertheless they completed the process with ease, just as they had promised.  They are stand up guys and I would not hesitate to purchase from them in the future

On 7/30/2024 at 3:59 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

I'm often a bit slow. I actually don't see the parallel and do't understand what is meant by that. 

My intent by use of the “Wigmore Hall” reference was to point out that I think your question as to where I got my data points, whether it was intentional or not, only serves to distract from my point that I believe the industry is made up of a lot of “smoke and mirrors”

Much in the same way it is only a distraction when people use similar arguments (to my Wigmore reference) to credit/discredit the efficacy of a system to accurately reproduce whatever source is being used to play their music, when all that really matters (to me, imo) is the ability for a system to provide a certain level of “suspended disbelief”

 “ I believed them when then said I was the first return--it was a new product with rave reviews”

Thanks for the response.  I too would have been less skeptical given the nature that it was a new product at the time.  
Offhand, I can’t think of any other times in my life that I was told that I am the first customer to be returning something other than the few times related to audio component returns. (I’m not saying it doesn’t happen within other hobby/industries as well however)

3 hours ago, Tokyokyoto said:

My intent by use of the “Wigmore Hall” reference was to point out that I think your question as to where I got my data points, whether it was intentional or not, only serves to distract from my point that I believe the industry is made up of a lot of “smoke and mirrors”

Much in the same way it is only a distraction when people use similar arguments (to my Wigmore reference) to credit/discredit the efficacy of a system to accurately reproduce whatever source is being used to play their music, when all that really matters (to me, imo) is the ability for a system to provide a certain level of “suspended disbelief”

 

 

A couple addendum’s if I may since I am unable to edit original….

…

My intent by use of the “Wigmore Hall” reference was to point out that I think your question as to where I got my data points, whether it was intentional or not, only serves to distract from my point that the industry is made up of a lot of “smoke and mirrors” rather than to address the issue itself.

Much in the same way I believe it is only a distraction when manufacturers/sellers use similar arguments (to my Wigmore reference) to credit/discredit the efficacy of a component/system by dissecting and evaluating its ability to meet “audiophile created descriptors” to determine its value, when all that really matters (to me, imo) is the ability for a system/component to provide a certain level of “suspended disbelief” which also takes out any ambiguity as to whether the component(s) are worth keeping.

This is the only standard (that I can think of ) which can be used to hold manufacturers/dealers accountable to when determining whether you got your money’s worth, and where the bar should be set.

On 7/30/2024 at 8:26 AM, Tokyokyoto said:

ever increasing  perception that the high end audio industry is as a whole, smoke and mirrors.

5 hours ago, Tokyokyoto said:

My intent by use of the “Wigmore Hall” reference was to point out that I think your question as to where I got my data points, whether it was intentional or not, only serves to distract from my point that the industry is made up of a lot of “smoke and mirrors” rather than to address the issue itself.

No worries. I asked the question becuase I don't buy into your original premise at all. You mentoined an ever increasing perception, which is my point of contention. You certainly may believe this, and perhaps it's only your ever increasing perception and I mistook it for a broader statement.

When I see better and better components released at lower and lower prices each year, I can't help but think the opposite of what you believe. 

You make a great point!  

While perusing the various fora I happened upon this thread and it reminded me of this previous conversation.

The copy/paste is from the last paragraph of a post from a well respected veteran manufacturer/hobyist.

Of course there are many more like this but I just think it is of no help to ignore the reality of the state of affairs.

 https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/fantastic-service-by-mehran-farahmand-of-sora-sound.39303/page2

In our hobby where there are so much smoke and mirrors and opinions are a dime a dozen, I am completely uninterested in participating in this cacophony. If WAM Engineering can’t prove our claims, then say so. If you think my research team and I have done a bad job of proving any claim ,lay out your evidence and we will reconsider our position.

About Wigmore hall, I find it’s acoustics really cruel. Song recitals can become almost excruciating experiences, never attended concerts with string instruments though. Their own record label portrays a very sweetened version of the aural experience.