Super important.

Loyalty, honesty and integrity are core values @ Liquid Audio, and reflect how I care for and support my customers, what I stand for, and my approach to life. Proud of that.

I supported a customer in getting this guy banned from StereoNet. I’ve helped many deal with shonky repairers, RF’d gear and deadbeat sellers. I educate the hi-fi community with more free articles than anyone else I’m aware of and advocate for improvements to benefit all. I even support people like YouTuber Stephan Fischer, who was sued for reviewing DCS lithium batteries:

I’ve made customers tea and coffee, and spent hours of my time advising them. No other non-retailer does this, and it’s gratifying when people I’ve helped ‘send it back’ via recommendations, reviews, equipment bookings, even beer and wine, as the best ones do!

Occasionally, though, people I’ve helped:

• Mislead the hi-fi community with fake stories or dishonest advertisements
• Waste or attempt to steal my time
• ‘Forget’ the help and inspiration they’ve received
• Engage competitors for equipment we specialise in or helped them with
• Use businesses that copy/steal my work, even Hall of Shamers

This is the same type of person who visits a hi-fi store and buys equipment they’ve auditioned and wasted staff time with from online undercutters for a few bucks less, and who uses my hard work but takes their business to a competitor.

Behaviour like this was such a problem at one point that it precipitated a fundamental shift in how I engage with the public, garnering overwhelming community support. I’m pleased to say that it is rarely a problem these days due to those changes.

I don’t know anyone who enjoys having their time wasted or goodwill abused, and I’m certainly not one. I’m focused on loyal, appreciative customers, and they are cherished as much as the equipment we care for.