usedto
Lunatic Member
Thought some of you might like this story.
I just bought a pair of Khorns (see the Klipsch forum) I have wanted a pair since the first time I heard a pair in 1979, and waited until now to look. I recently spotted a pair on a semi-local CL. The asking price ($1800) was more than fair, but more than I was willing to pay at this time. I let the ad sit for a week, then sent an email and asked if they were still available. There was a phone number, but I preferred an email for the time. The reply was "yes", so I sent another email. I explained that although the asking price was fair, the most I was willing to pay for a pair was $1000. I didn't want to waste their time, but if they decided to sell them for that amount, I'd be interested. Three days later (Friday) I got the reply that they would accept the offer. I then called to make an appointment to see them.
Teri (the seller) then told me that the speakers had been bought by her late husband, who had bought them as floor samples from a stereo shop in the valley (Fresno) some 10 tears ago. She had recently done some re-modeling of the home, and they just didn't fit in. The were stored in the garage. We agreed to meet Sunday, which was also my 29th anniversary, so the wife and I took the seats out of the Tahoe, and headed on the 2 hour drive to Murphys, in the heart of gold country.
When we got there, I pulled into a gas station to call and tell her we were there. She sort of sounded hesitant on the phone. She said that her boyfriend had come over and hooked them up for the demo, and it started to bring back memories of her late husband and his love for the speakers (as well as how good they sounded), and was having second thoughts about selling them. My heart sank. She then said she'd come get us and drive up the hill to her house.
We wound up a hill on a gravel road that on anything but the driest of days would require a 4WD to access. When we got to the top, it was amazing. The garage door was open, and the Khorns were there. She then told us that her late husband called in the "ten thousand dollar house with a million dollar view". That was an understatement. The view outside was spectacular!! The house had since been re-modeled, and there was a back porch that overlooked the town and valley down below. BREATHTAKING to say the least!! She took us into the house and showed up the room where their entertainment center was, and she was correct. There was no good place for the speakers. She again commented on the Klipsch sound, and how she would miss it. I told her that I had Cornwalls and KG4s, and she was welcome to come to our home and have a listen whenever she happened to be in the area. She said they came through Tracy frequently, so she would.
Her boyfriend, Todd, showed up with his two black labs, so we adjourned to the garage for the demo. About 30 seconds of "Hotel California" is all we needed. I already knew how good they sounded, but I was really surprised that wifey even opened her eyes at the sound. I think it was about then that Teri realized that we were serious about the speakers and would appreciate them the way her late husband did, and said to take them. I paid her, and she told us she had to leave to open the shop, so Todd stayed to help us disassemble them, wrap them, and load them in the back of the Tahoe. She then wanted us to stop by her store. Since we were going to spend the rest of our 29th shopping in the foothill towns, it worked out great. After we got them loaded (a real chore), Todd loaded up his labs and we headed back down the hill.
I could tell she was a little teary about seeing the speakers go. Her late husband started off making motorcycle seats, then graduated to building complete motorcycles. They opened Murphys Motorcycle Company and decided to set up business there. Since his passing, it is now a clothing store dedicated to "bikers", and Teri now runs it, as well as her regular job. Todd told us as we were walking to the store that Teri's husband had been gone for about three years. He was working on his "million dollar view" with a tractor, and it rolled over on top of him. I have several farmer customers who have had the same issue, and it's a tough situation to swallow.
The shop is a hoot. Main street in Murphys is the tourist center, and all of the shops are gift, antique, etc. common to those areas. Murphys Motorcycle Company sells clothing, and is shared with an importer of Australian wines. Due to BATF and other issues, they cannot sell wine there, but do it through mail order.
Every good clothing store needs a mannequin, and Murphys Motorcycle Company is no exception. I don't remember if Teri told us who actually bought this one, but they dressed it and set it on the sidewalk outside the front door, as most of the local shop keepers do. Well, it seems it raised a few eyebrows, especially with one shop owner down the street. Not wanting to cause too much discontent with the other merchants, Teri decided to just move it inside. I convinced wifey to take a few photos with her phone just for kicks. She resisted, but eventually caved in for me. Here it is:
Anyway, we had a blast on the trip, got some great speakers, and met some really special people that we will not soon forget. I also got a MMC T-shirt, and sent Teri some items from my store that might do do well in hers, and hopefully we can keep in touch.
We finished our little tour, and got home about 5PM. I just moved the speakers into the house, and came out to the office. There was a message on my answering machine. It was Teri. She had called about 30 minutes after we had left for her place that morning to tell me that she had changed her mind. You could even hear it in her voice. If we had waited just a bit longer, we wouldn't have gone, and probably wouldn't have met. I guess meeting us and finding out they were going to a good home made the difference.
I have spoken to her since then, and sent her a photo of the Khorns in their new spot. She plans on coming down for a listen to the Cornwalls some day. I'm glad it worked out that way.
So if any of you are ever in the area, stop in and check out Murphy's Motorcycle Company Tell Teri I sent you........:thmbsp::thmbsp:
I just bought a pair of Khorns (see the Klipsch forum) I have wanted a pair since the first time I heard a pair in 1979, and waited until now to look. I recently spotted a pair on a semi-local CL. The asking price ($1800) was more than fair, but more than I was willing to pay at this time. I let the ad sit for a week, then sent an email and asked if they were still available. There was a phone number, but I preferred an email for the time. The reply was "yes", so I sent another email. I explained that although the asking price was fair, the most I was willing to pay for a pair was $1000. I didn't want to waste their time, but if they decided to sell them for that amount, I'd be interested. Three days later (Friday) I got the reply that they would accept the offer. I then called to make an appointment to see them.
Teri (the seller) then told me that the speakers had been bought by her late husband, who had bought them as floor samples from a stereo shop in the valley (Fresno) some 10 tears ago. She had recently done some re-modeling of the home, and they just didn't fit in. The were stored in the garage. We agreed to meet Sunday, which was also my 29th anniversary, so the wife and I took the seats out of the Tahoe, and headed on the 2 hour drive to Murphys, in the heart of gold country.
When we got there, I pulled into a gas station to call and tell her we were there. She sort of sounded hesitant on the phone. She said that her boyfriend had come over and hooked them up for the demo, and it started to bring back memories of her late husband and his love for the speakers (as well as how good they sounded), and was having second thoughts about selling them. My heart sank. She then said she'd come get us and drive up the hill to her house.
We wound up a hill on a gravel road that on anything but the driest of days would require a 4WD to access. When we got to the top, it was amazing. The garage door was open, and the Khorns were there. She then told us that her late husband called in the "ten thousand dollar house with a million dollar view". That was an understatement. The view outside was spectacular!! The house had since been re-modeled, and there was a back porch that overlooked the town and valley down below. BREATHTAKING to say the least!! She took us into the house and showed up the room where their entertainment center was, and she was correct. There was no good place for the speakers. She again commented on the Klipsch sound, and how she would miss it. I told her that I had Cornwalls and KG4s, and she was welcome to come to our home and have a listen whenever she happened to be in the area. She said they came through Tracy frequently, so she would.
Her boyfriend, Todd, showed up with his two black labs, so we adjourned to the garage for the demo. About 30 seconds of "Hotel California" is all we needed. I already knew how good they sounded, but I was really surprised that wifey even opened her eyes at the sound. I think it was about then that Teri realized that we were serious about the speakers and would appreciate them the way her late husband did, and said to take them. I paid her, and she told us she had to leave to open the shop, so Todd stayed to help us disassemble them, wrap them, and load them in the back of the Tahoe. She then wanted us to stop by her store. Since we were going to spend the rest of our 29th shopping in the foothill towns, it worked out great. After we got them loaded (a real chore), Todd loaded up his labs and we headed back down the hill.
I could tell she was a little teary about seeing the speakers go. Her late husband started off making motorcycle seats, then graduated to building complete motorcycles. They opened Murphys Motorcycle Company and decided to set up business there. Since his passing, it is now a clothing store dedicated to "bikers", and Teri now runs it, as well as her regular job. Todd told us as we were walking to the store that Teri's husband had been gone for about three years. He was working on his "million dollar view" with a tractor, and it rolled over on top of him. I have several farmer customers who have had the same issue, and it's a tough situation to swallow.
The shop is a hoot. Main street in Murphys is the tourist center, and all of the shops are gift, antique, etc. common to those areas. Murphys Motorcycle Company sells clothing, and is shared with an importer of Australian wines. Due to BATF and other issues, they cannot sell wine there, but do it through mail order.
Every good clothing store needs a mannequin, and Murphys Motorcycle Company is no exception. I don't remember if Teri told us who actually bought this one, but they dressed it and set it on the sidewalk outside the front door, as most of the local shop keepers do. Well, it seems it raised a few eyebrows, especially with one shop owner down the street. Not wanting to cause too much discontent with the other merchants, Teri decided to just move it inside. I convinced wifey to take a few photos with her phone just for kicks. She resisted, but eventually caved in for me. Here it is:
Anyway, we had a blast on the trip, got some great speakers, and met some really special people that we will not soon forget. I also got a MMC T-shirt, and sent Teri some items from my store that might do do well in hers, and hopefully we can keep in touch.
We finished our little tour, and got home about 5PM. I just moved the speakers into the house, and came out to the office. There was a message on my answering machine. It was Teri. She had called about 30 minutes after we had left for her place that morning to tell me that she had changed her mind. You could even hear it in her voice. If we had waited just a bit longer, we wouldn't have gone, and probably wouldn't have met. I guess meeting us and finding out they were going to a good home made the difference.
I have spoken to her since then, and sent her a photo of the Khorns in their new spot. She plans on coming down for a listen to the Cornwalls some day. I'm glad it worked out that way.
So if any of you are ever in the area, stop in and check out Murphy's Motorcycle Company Tell Teri I sent you........:thmbsp::thmbsp:
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Just playin' with ya. 
Cool story, thanks for sharing it. :thmbsp: