| | Curt June restores vintage audio equipment. He has a web site where he freely shares rebuilding information in text and pictures. You can find out more about him on our Service Sources links page. In 12/2007, he posted this message in 70sAudioMindset Yahoo Group in a thread that developed about free manuals scans being posted everywhere. |
I feel it is strange how folks feel that the cheaper a product the better... and that nothing is better than free. Well, this is exactly why our jobs are moving offshore.
Every time you opt for "cheaper" (or free) you have to think of the impact that has on that industry. Yes... it does have an impact. No one is an island. The smaller the industry, the larger the impact. If you drive the profit from and industry, soon all you will be left with is junk. Jobs, creativity, quality, availability, innovation, service, and diversity will all go out the window because people leave the business.
There is a point of "principle" here. If some one is providing a quality service, product, etc... they deserve to be supported (even though it cost a little more), or we risk losing that service. This goes for any business, not just manuals. I work on a lot of audio gear. I use a lot of manuals. Most of the manuals I use I could dig up for free. But I have to ask myself... is this what I want for the future of service manual? Spotty availability and poor quality? I think not. Rick provides a needed service for those of us that use manuals.
Lets use our heads here... as long as we let our pocket books dictate our ethics, more (quality) jobs and services will disappear. I don't mind spending a few extra bucks to prevent this.
Rick... thanks, keep up the good work.
Curt
Rick (StereoManuals owner) posted this reply... Curt,
Thank you. That is well said. In fact I may borrow some of your words and reuse them. The "nothing is better than free" (or cheap as possible) philosophy is wrecking havoc throughout our economy. There are many views one could take and I suppose argue endlessly about whether it's ultimately a good or a bad thing. One thing I do know, most folks stand back and cheer for free or cheap till it affects their job... till their industry goes away... till they are in their 50's or 60's and find themselves back in school trying desperately to get education or training in hope of finding some new career.
Best regards,
Rick
http://www.stereomanuals.com
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