Spoiling the ship....
I am always amazed by people who will spend lavishly in one area but then refuse to spend a fraction of the amount on a sensible precaution.

Case in point; this is an Audio Note IoII Phono Cartridge- it costs £2650 (yes really).
www.audionote.co.uk/products/analogue/cart_ioii_01.shtml

Many years ago whilst still in retail, I sold an IoII on the strength of a demonstration of our shop unit. The bloke who bought it was well known as a hard driver for bargains (which I don't take issue with per se) but eventually settled on £2200 with his old cart coming in for trade- a good deal all round really. What happened next was ridiculous.

"Right" says I, "the cartridge will turn up next week. We would suggest you let us come round and fit it."

"What will it cost me?" said the miser

ME;"Well you've spent a lot of money with us so we'll waive the installation costs but it'll cost the congestion charge plus any parking costs to bring it over in the van." (total cost about £7).

HIM "I've spent over 2 grand with you lot, I've put a cartridge on before, I'll fit this one as well."

ME "I stress this is a bit tougher than normal- it is really easy to damage these."

HIM "I'll be fine- I've spent quite enough with you lot. Give me a call when it comes in and I'll collect it."

ME "Well you're the boss but let me know if you change your mind."

Needless to say he didn't and came in a few days later to negotiate on the cost of the £800 retipping after he squashed the stylus after a botched install.

A fine £7 saved there matey.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 21:05, 7 replies)

oof!
i don't know what that is, but loll cartridge?! LOL!
(gin'll fix it, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 22:05, closed)

Its the device that actually drags the needle through the groove of a record
Two and a half grand is high but not outside- an Io LTD is nine grand (I've never seen a real one).

And yes it does look a bit like LOL.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 22:25, closed)

2200 order...
... and wont cover seven quid.

Thats a cunts game
(edgyandcrazy, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 23:08, closed)

I have to admit....
that I was doing the clenched fist pulled into chest saying "Yess!!!" through clenched teeth thing. Sometimes focussed smugness is the only thing to do.
(tinypod will never learn. Ever., Thu 23 Oct 2008, 23:14, closed)

Woah there cowboy!
£2000 to play a record? What's wrong with a CD player?
(brainwrong, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 9:04, closed)

Far more than £2000 my friend
In order to actually play the record, you also need arm, record deck itself, phono stage and for this particular cartridge a step up transformer (not as cool as it sounds). This happened a little while ago but I think the miser's deck was about £7k all up.

It does however sound and look a hell of a lot cooler than any CD player.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 9:13, closed)

It's a bit like spending £1000 on a diamond and gold pendant for the missus
and hanging from a £3 chain.
(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:29, closed)