The Headcase Stax thread

[grawk]

Sure, but you're still asking others to commit fraud for you, and some people look askance at that.

I also have the option to circumvent it whereever possible.

Believe me, that's a very popular sport here, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone here that's considering tax circumventing a crime.Even the members of the government do circumvent their own rules, and our establishment is master of inventing loopholes mainly for themselves.

[n_maher]

I also have the option to circumvent it whereever possible.

And I have to option of not being a party to your circumvention of those laws and regulations, especially when it puts me at risk of not being able to properly insure a package.

[PFKMan23]

And I have to option of not being a party to your circumvention of those laws and regulations, especially when it puts me at risk of not being able to properly insure a package.

Especially if that means if there's a problem you'll be asking for your money back (and most likely, I'd be out an item.)

[Cosmopragma]

And I have to option of not being a party to your circumvention of those laws and regulations, especially when it puts me at risk of not being able to properly insure a package.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't underinsuring the buyers risk especially when he asks for it?

The seller does already have the money so where's the problem?

[grawk]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't underinsuring the buyers risk especially when he asks for it?

The seller does already have the money so where's the problem?

1) You certify on the customs form that you're telling the truth

2) You could tell paypal that you never received the item, and paypal would refund your money

3) Some people don't like lying.

[Cosmopragma]

1) You certify on the customs form that you're telling the truth

So what?

It's not illegal for you to underdeclare the value.Period.

2) You could tell paypal that you never received the item, and paypal would refund your money

Your Paypal is definitely another Paypal than my Paypal.

At my Paypal the seller has to prove he has shipped the item.That's it.

In the end it boils down to the question whether the participants in a deal are trustworthy or not, and the seller is in a far better position to defraud the buyer than vice versa anyway.

3) Some people don't like lying

Well, most people don't like lying, at least I hope so, but everyone has lied often during his lifetime when it was necessary.Might be a cultural gap, but for us who are living under the rule of the daylight robbery called european socialism circumventing the robbers is an unquestioned necessity and no crime at all.

[grawk]

So what?

It's not illegal for you to underdeclare the value.Period.Your Paypal is definitely another Paypal than my Paypal.

At my Paypal the seller has to prove he has shipped the item.That's it.

In the end it boils down to the question whether the participants in a deal are trustworthy or not, and the seller is in a far better position to defraud the buyer than vice versa anyway.Well, most people don't like lying, at least I hope so, but everyone has lied often during his lifetime when it was necessary.Might be a cultural gap, but for us who are living under the rule of the daylight robbery called european socialism circumventing the robbers is an unquestioned necessity and no crime at all.

I guess we all keep our own counsel. I wouldn't commit fraud for some wanker who wants to avoid taxes.

[Dusty Chalk]

As a seller, it is fiscally irresponsible to put the buyer at risk of being out both his money and his product. I don't know about you, but I want my buyer to receive his merchandise -- underdeclaring it is just asking for trouble.

[n_maher]

I've heard too many stories of Paypal siding with the buyer (go read about the engagement ring that got stolen on Head-Fi) to want to even have to worry about under-declaring, under-insuring, etc. Sorry if that rubs some folks across the pond the wrong way.

[grawk]

As a buyer, I wouldn't want to be like akwok, so I'd never ask someone to underdeclare for my benefit.

[Nanoha]

As a buyer, I wouldn't want to be like akwok, so I'd never ask someone to underdeclare for my benefit.

Haha, that is great.

[PFKMan23]

ROFL

[Cosmopragma]

I guess we all keep our own counsel. I wouldn't commit fraud for some wanker who wants to avoid taxes.

Fortunately this is a free market.You don't have to sell to me and, frankly, from now on a deal between us is extremely unlikely anyway.

Nevertheless I do hope that your inability to comprehend a simple concept ("fraud") isn't a sign of brain cancer.

Unfortunately I don't understand the term "wanker" since they didn't teach me slang in school and my dictionary doesn't contain it either but derived from the context I guess it's kind of a synonym for street smartness and if so : thank you for the compliment.

[Nanoha]

Nevertheless I do hope that your inability to comprehend a simple concept ("fraud") isn't a sign of brain cancer.

Unfortunately I don't understand the term "wanker" since they didn't teach me slang in school and my dictionary doesn't contain it either but derived from the context I guess it's kind of a synonym for street smartness and if so : thank you for the compliment.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wanker

Definition 5 is most appropriate in this situation.

[grawk]

Fortunately this is a free market.You don't have to sell to me and, frankly, from now on a deal between us is extremely unlikely anyway.

Nevertheless I do hope that your inability to comprehend a simple concept ("fraud") isn't a sign of brain cancer.

Unfortunately I don't understand the term "wanker" since they didn't teach me slang in school and my dictionary doesn't contain it either but derived from the context I guess it's kind of a synonym for street smartness and if so : thank you for the compliment.

fraud /frɔd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[frawd] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

?noun

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud; election frauds.

1. wanker

2345 up, 224 down

While "to wank" means "to masturbate", the term "wanker" is seldom if ever used in British slang to denote "one who wanks". It is quite wrong to infer from somebody's being a wanker that they in fact wank (and vice versa), but of course, fair to assume they do in any case. Herein lies the genius of the insult: if you call someone a wanker, it's probably true, but only literally.

...

5. wanker

473 up, 148 down

A complete tosser. Someone who makes

as little effort as they can possibly

get away with.

In British English that's what "wanker"

means - it does not literely mean

a masterbater (though doubt he is one).

6. wanker

330 up, 131 down

Someone that thinks they're 'cool' but in reality is a total knob jockey.

A smug, satisfying real English term to call someone you intensely dislike without resorting to the word "cunt"!

No worries about you not buying from me, I don't trade in the level of goods you do, so it's not an issue.

[boomana]

I guess this practice is the norm with used gear, but I was surprised to learn how common it is. I had a hard time selling my old Minimax and one pair of headphones because only overseas buyers were interested, and I was unwilling to to underdeclare the value. Though I was upfront about it from the first communication, it seemed no one actually believed what I said, ignored it and kept assuming it was negotiable because that had been their experience, though I couldn't have been clearer. It was the everyone is doing it defense. My reasoning was based on an unwillingness to get burned with insurance if something went wrong, yet I was even accused by one guy in Israel of being anti-Israeli. I wasted way too much of my time messing with those pms. Bah.

[Jon L]

I was even accused by one guy in Israel of being anti-Israeli.

That's just priceless

[Cosmopragma]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wanker

Definition 5 is most appropriate in this situation.

Thanks.

Next time I'll pretend not knowing the meaning of another term from the top 500 list of most used everyday words, lets say "fuck".

Might be even more entertaining.

[postjack]

I can tell pretty quickly if the international buyer is one I would like to deal with. If I receive a PM like:

"hello how much for ship to aus thx"

I don't even bother replying, they can kiss my 4 pages of HF feedback havin' ass.

[Dusty Chalk]

blah blah friggin' blah

Wanker.

[Cosmopragma]

Wanker.

Thank you.

You are so cute.

[Tachikoma]

I can tell pretty quickly if the international buyer is one I would like to deal with. If I receive a PM like:

"hello how much for ship to aus thx"

I don't even bother replying, they can kiss my 4 pages of HF feedback havin' ass.

Australian buyers don't usually need to underdeclare when buying from overseas, since their customs leave anything under AUD$1000 well alone =P

When people don't under-declare when shipping to Malaysia, it is very likely that I'll end up needing to bribe the customs officer in charge (well I haven't, but most do apparently) to not have to pay 30-40% of the declared value in tax.

[mapstec]

uuhm, Stax anyone?

Seriously, I have no problem with a "bit" of customs / taxes when buying new gear...

but something in between 20 and 40% seems inappropriate

Add to that that I do not see why a used goods transaction inland is free and a used goods transaction across a border is not...

Anyway now that we have defined a word that has nothing to do with headphones and might or might not describe the pastime of one or more users in the forum, can we talk about Stax, please?

Pretty please?

_________________________________________________________________________________

I am wondering if I need to do any kind of service on the SR-5?

Does it make sense to take them apart and clean them inside?

And if so, can someone point me to a guide for doing so?

Thanks

[spritzer]

Those that haven't payed 70-100% in import taxes shouldn't really be commenting on this. Am I going to pay 70% on my new 8k$ CDP? Not a chance in hell but it looks like things are going to change here soon.

Well, I had payed 1070 Euros including the costs of return shipment for the repair, and Rudi threw some very nice NOS tubes in for free in order to temper my anger after he had realized that threatening me wasn't the best idea.

Compared to the prices of Stax amps in Germany I wouldn't exactly call it nuts especially when you take into account that I was able to sell it for 1140 Euros about half a year later via ebay.de.

The sad part is he can price his amps this high because of the crazy Stax prices in Europe but there is no reason why they should be so expensive. The parts quality and build quality in the Rudistor amps is much worse then the penny pinched Stax amps and their only saving grace is a slightly better tube compliment...

I am wondering if I need to do any kind of service on the SR-5?

Does it make sense to take them apart and clean them inside?

And if so, can someone point me to a guide for doing so?

Thanks

To open up the SR-5 you remove the pads by pulling them off (they could be held in place by two pieces of adhesive) but should come off easily. There are 3 screws underneath and once they are gone the housing splits in two. I see no reason to open them up as unless you want to clean them properly and then stay far away from the drivers...

[mapstec]

Thanks spritzer,

in that case I will refrain from opening them.