What happened to the "club atmosphere" of Audiogon?


Hi Goners!

After 12 years as a member hear i have developed some questions based on my observations of Audiogon in the last four to five years...

When i joined it was a fledgling group of "music lovers" who now brand themselves, quite often it seems, as "audiophiles"! [ whatever that REALLY is...:-)
The boards were helpful, very helpful and almost never negative but like a brother [be it older or younger] discussing the finer points of a product,company, design etc...

It was known that you could score wonderful, WELL MAINTAINED audio and video products sold at a fair price and with confidence that the person who sold you that item would stand behind it!!

It was the CULTURE of Audiogon that made it so very special to me, in fact it has been on my radar every day since i joined!

I have been a seller, buyer, trader, cartridge seller and have noticed disturbing trends:
Seems if anything is mark "USED", even 5 minuted old, it should, at best, garner only 50%
Lowball offering has become rampant here,trying to then add insult to injury by asking the seller to pay shipping!
Nasty,curt e-mails without any simple courtesy and professionalism...Now i am painting with a broad brush BUT all of these negatives , and more i will not go into from this vein, have reduced this site to a "virtual close out Wharehouse" of close out merchandise or find your ads not even getting a question about your ad!!

I for one enjoy the banter with long time posters, some of who have earned my respect with they're
 witty yet insightful comments...

Has anyone else felt Audiogon's best days have come and gone if we follow the present template?
Thanks and keep the responses civil and helpful please!

128x128azjake
Yup.... I agree that it’s best days are behind it based on the deteriorating current trends that the OP has highlighted.

It used to have an honor code in a gentleman’s club arena that has now been eroded significantly IMO. This includes a disturbing increasing trend of select types repeatedly stoking the useless and irritating discussion forum "cable wars" and/or dissing expensive high end gear and accessory purchases. This hobby has (had?) a range of enthusiasts from low-fi through mid-fi to hi-fi with an equal respected standing that now has frayed that puts some on the defensive at a minimum.

Interesting that the OP highlights the explosion of too many instances of buyers now aggressively lowballing to the extreme. Sure, some will dismiss this as just business so don’t gripe about it. But then they should not expect any of "that extra mile" offerings in return either that used to be graciously and cheerfully offered by sellers and highly appreciated with thanks by the buyers in a past AGON era.

Simply put, that camaraderie is gone and too many posts have evolved into an absence of elementary etiquette normally expected -- and previously enjoyed -- as we live in a polite society. These downward spirals are not limited just to Audiogon - the other audio forums have suffered the same and worse IMO. If one agrees with the OP, the 800 pound gorilla in the room question to me, is how much of this is the shortcoming of the members to maintain a prior decorum versus any shortcomings of the moderators  to maintain and promote  the same.

Really, the point here is the very promise of the internet. A place where like minded people could come together to share interests, ideas and thoughts. Unfortunately there are those who choose to exploit all that is exploitable. It's a sad and unfortunate situation. I have purchased many items on the 'gon and have been very grateful to the sellers. I have built a wonderful system because of them. It's interesting to me that no matter what is done in life, we must always cater to the least common denominator. How did that get to be so? It happens in every walk of life.

On a more positive note, I believe there are many good people still here that love music and the equipment necessary to faithfully reproduce it. Let's strive to keep this forum a respectable place! 
I see three types of beings on Audiogon...

the "I've been doing this forever, I know more than you and you should be grateful for my input."

The middle of the road, knowledgeable, extremely helpful contributor who answers questions without snark or belittlement as well as those seeking feedback, opinions on gear match, etc. 

The troll who is looking to disrupt.

Luckily I still come across many of the middle of the roads so I do not think we are without hope. 

I keep forum and business separate. Who cares if someone throws out what you may consider lowball? You may be asking more than the market is willing to pay. I see pieces all of the time sitting and sitting and sitting and being re-listed and then sitting and sitting some more....

The best advice I have received have been over the last few years and I'm grateful for it. I don't have the opportunity to audition many brands where I live. Furthermore, it's silly to discuss expensive power cords and equipment with folks not in the hobby in my experience. Very little of them care and the ones that will listen think I am crazy for the investments that I make. So thanks to all of you for for sharing that same level of crazy.