Comments on: I Will Never Buy Another Monster Cable

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:11:11 +0000

I'll never buy monster cables again. I bought them once years ago, and they were 4x more expensive and I couldn't tell the difference. And I don't like to support companies that are complete jerks. They don't know the word "monster".. It's in the dictionary with a definition that isn't "ridiculously expenses cables made in CA for pretentous people who probably can't tell the difference". And they don't have to win a law suit. Their suit against Monster Mini Golf may drive them out of business just in legal expenses.. They are scum...

By: TheSilentDrummer

TheSilentDrummer — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:56:40 +0000

So, I just bought a Stereo 1/8" to RCA cable this weekend, care to guess which one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4888866&st=MOnster&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1051806268853

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hosa-Stereo-Y-cable-Mini-Male-Two-RCA-Males-333055-i1128939.gc

So what's the difference? The Hosa cable I at a local music store sale cost $3.75 (that is including tax). It comes in an ass-nasty container (red and brown... ewww) that simply says "Specialty Cable 3FT." on the front. The Monster Cable looks very fancy, and it clearly states that it is a "Monster iCable for the Apple iPod". Since we invoked to big three big names (Monster, Apple, and iPod.... oh, we probably should also consider that it is being sold at Best Buy), it looks fancy, and we gave it a very specialized task to perform, it sells for $30.

If we get past the vomit-inducing aspects of this, it is quite brilliant. If I wanted to make a lot of money selling cables, I probably would do what Monster is doing: targeting the vast majority of people, the uneducated masses who are influenced such things as packaging and well-known names and too ignorant to be shopping around for an equal quality and purpose good that costs less.

So really what I am trying to say is this: apart from suing everyone, Monster has done no wrong in they way they sell their products. If stupid people want to pay more for a substitutable product, they can go ahead (I mean, it makes me feel good about my purchases even!). It's no different than drugs. I personally haven't/don't plan on shooting up anytime soon, but I think that if someone wants to get high in the privacy of their own home, they have the right to do so.

By: mark

mark — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:58:53 +0000

I agree about never buying their cables. Too expensive by far and the company has an arrogance about their products which is rubbish. I've been in sales & marketing for years and know that they are far to 'up their own arse' to know that they talk shit.....

Cheaper, better cables by other companies and far less rubbish packaging which is a waste and not very green..

I hate them too

mark in UK

By: cranksandbeans

cranksandbeans — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:03:14 +0000

There's a great post on consumerist.com about how Monster tried to sue a small independently owned cable company for infringing on some of their patents. As it turned out, the owner of the small cable company had retired as a lawyer specializing in patent law in order to start his cable company. Man, you should see the letter he wrote to Monster in response to their cease and desist letter. Here's a link:

http://consumerist.com/tag/cease-and-desist/?i=380082&t=monster-cable-threatens-the-wrong-small-cable-manufacturer

There's also tons of other Monster-bashing articles over at consumerist.com as well. My favorite: "Do Monster Cables Sound as Good as Coathangers?"

By: brandondrury

brandondrury — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:21:58 +0000

I think you hit it on the head with the Bose comment. Bose is considered the gods of fidelity to the masses. Their marketing approach is genius.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:18:57 +0000

Monster Cable has the same sort of name recognition as Bose and Kleenex. We've all heard the questions from the uninformed who ask "Does it sound as good as the Bose?" when clearly it does or "Need a Kleenex?" while holding a box of Puffs. Those same sorts use Monster as the generic term for something perceived to cost more than the "gimme" cables that come with most electronic components. There are countless cables out there that cost less or are similar in price that sound better than Monster. Go to any higher end specialty hi-fi store than Best Buy and Circuit and you'll find them. And you can become informed by sales staff that knows and cares something about music and how it's supposed to sound as opposed to high school age kids that know all the ins and outs of the latest Grand Theft Auto game. They'll say "Of course it sounds good; it's Monster." Give the independents a try; they'll be a revelation.

By: MoonMan

MoonMan — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:39:05 +0000

Monster cable is AUDIO MYTHOLOGY - no one should be buying it anyway! See also: "contact enhancers", "digital ready" headphones, etc.

By: TheSilentDrummer

TheSilentDrummer — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:51:21 +0000

See, something that has been coming up is lifetime warranty. I simply don't abuse my stuff enough to need something like that. I always coil them nicely, tell people to step over them, and treat them nicer than my second cousins.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:20:33 +0000

Do what I do, make them yourself! It's cheaper and you have quality control. Good luck on their big PR stunt. Anything to make a buck since the company is going under.

By: David Poe

David Poe — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:39:25 +0000

You can't own a word you didn't create. The word "monster" was around long before Monster Cable was. Further, the use of the word in movie titles or otherwise does not devalue their Monster Cable brand in any way.

I will boycott.