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General questions about how the loaner program works

Discussion in 'Rules, Payments, and Other' started by uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016.

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  1. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Hi -

    I am planning on taking part in a loaner program soon. I am new to this website, and was wondering exactly how it all works. Do I sign up for it in an individual thread? Do I have to pay money or insurance or something along those lines? Is there a guide to how this works, i.e. step by step, or can someone just throw out a general description - i.e., if a new headphone goes on the loaner program, how do I sign up? Sorry if this is a dumb question, and thanks for any help that anyone can offer. I am curious about a particular headphone and the only way to hear it is via a loaner program. Thanks in advance.

    Mike E.
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  2. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    See my signature. Randos/acquaintences aren't generally permitted on loaners. Friends are, but even then we tread carefully. Becoming eligible basically means we trust you and know you. Hang around the site and contribute signal and you'll get there soon enough.
     
    sphinxvc, Aug 22, 2016
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  3. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Damn. I just joined this site. Is there anyway around that rule? I've been talking with the owner of a company that produces these headphones, and he told me to come here and sample them via a loaner program. Maybe someone can contact him? We've been talking back and forth about the pair in email a few times. It might be my only time to hear these headphones, they're not available in stores, and I don't think they'll ever be sold in stores, not in the near future at least. I am also on HeadFi - I post there, and just joined this site. I also met w/ a member on this site in person once, if that makes any difference. Thanks for any info.
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  4. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Sorry, no. I'm not aware of any active loaners that fit that description. And besides...

    I see loaners like kids in a school yard playing at recess. Any adults that walk by too many times on their lunch break or peer in hungrily from outside the fence, let's just say any applications they submit to work at the school go right into the shredder.

    Not saying that's you, but... Like I said: hang out here, let us get to know and trust you, contribute signal, and loaner participation may open up.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
    sphinxvc, Aug 22, 2016
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  5. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    So even if I give you the information of the loaner program that is about to come out and have you emailed the owner of the company that still would not be good enough? I contacted him a few months ago hoping to hear a sample of these headphones I have not been able to yet. If you did want the information just to verify that I am being honest I could always tell you more about it in a private message. I don't know if he wants information about the loaner program coming out today or not. I completely understand your concern but unfortunately there is no other way for me to hear these. And I would not want to buy them and then have to return them because they were not what I was expecting, since the company is a relatively small company from what I understand and stuff like that hurts the company
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Generally, high value gear will be not accessible to non "Friends". It's a security and trust issue. The gear on the loaner program is funded by donations. We have a duty to take steps to make sure they don't get ripped off.
     
    purr1n, Aug 22, 2016
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  7. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Ok. I was under the impression that this particular headphone was on loan from the company itself. If that's the case do the rules change?
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    No. Because we are still liable to the company. We had a loaner HEX stolen and we paid dearly for it.
     
    purr1n, Aug 22, 2016
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  9. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    Head Fi is a huge site, I'd try over there. This place is a community...
     
    Case, Aug 22, 2016
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  10. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Okay I guess I understand. I might still try contacting the owner of the company himself to see if there is something else that can be done. I have already tried getting to just hear them from headfi and it hasn't worked out so far. I live in Rhode Island and not that many people around here have the headphone am looking to hear.
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  11. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Perhaps @velvetx could shed some light on this mystery?
     
    OJneg, Aug 22, 2016
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  12. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Mike check out the New England SBAFers thread. We meet every so often. I was in Bristol / Middletown yesterday

    Would also help if you weren't so vague about what you were looking to hear.
     
    JoshMorr, Aug 22, 2016
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  13. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Okay thanks for the information I appreciate that.
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  14. Kunlun

    Kunlun cat-alyzes cat-aclysmic cat-erwauling - Friend

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    HI Mike, one way around it is for you to buy the secret headphone which shall not be named because reasons. Then, loan it to us. Boom! You have participated in a loaner program.

    Problem solved, hotdogs and handjobs all around.
     
    Kunlun, Aug 22, 2016
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  15. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Hah. I dont know if its rude or something to say which one it is. I'm not sure if there is unspoken rules or anything like that. Thanks for the help though I do appreciate it
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  16. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    The loaner program here is designed to benefit our community. I work on organizing loaners by contacting companies directly or working through the distributor (so for say the Elear for example I would contact Focal). However, if we end up buying a headphone out of donations then it's property of SBAF (this happens to be the case with the Elear loaner). These are the two ways we receive loaners.

    However, when it comes to the list of people who are on the loaner list/approved that is left solely upon the "upper management." No company that I have dealt with has required us to add certain people to the list and if they did we wouldn't work with them as it creates liability. We do our best to service our community and of course the vendor (to a certain degree) but as it gets bigger it gets harder to do. When it comes to loaners it's a very very tight ship we run here as we don't want to create increased risk.

    I hope that helps and though you may not agree with this approach it helps protect us from headaches and allows us to continue these programs.

    Nicholas
     
    velvetx, Aug 22, 2016
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  17. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    I understand the reasoning behind everything that has been mentioned. I just did not know how it worked. I am going to try and find another way to actually listen to these headphones. Thanks for the information it was much appreciated
     
    uhhmike, Aug 22, 2016
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  18. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    My personal suggestion as the Focal headphones are so new is try to go to a shop that is an authorized dealer or in a few months when more of them are in circulation go to a meet. You may have to do some traveling if no one is around but ultimately that is the only way you would be able to hear them.
     
    velvetx, Aug 22, 2016
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