Yes Sir,
you understand it! That is the thing that I could never get past when it comes to Gibson. They would march into these mom and pop businesses and say "You can't be a dealer of our products anymore unless you place an order of $100000 or more." That was a dumb thing to do in my opinion! One day they will live to regret the way they handle things... It also seems that Gibson don't give a damn about the American worker or consumer, as long as they can push the useless overpriced goods into the American consumers hands that is. One can buy a custom string instrument from a person who makes it by hand for the same price you can buy something made on the Gibson CNC. At least the custom builder will owner the life time warrantee.
Best,
Shawn Brock, RPT
513-316-0563
www.shawnbrock.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Will Truitt
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs
Hi Shawn:
As a former Baldwin dealer who was taken out into the "Killing Fields" in April 2002 by Gibson along with over 300 other dealers and had my "dealer" throat slit by them, I can certainly share many of your sentiments. They were kind enough to let me be a dealer again if I gave them a $300,000 order, but I declined. I have never understood how dumping 90% of your dealers after the company you just bought had gone through Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the economy was in decline after 9/11, but who am I to judge? And they certainly have an industry wide reputation for playing dirty as you show. And I also know vendors that they have refused to pay in the past. So if Henry Juscowitz (who owns Gibson and Baldwin) loses his shirt, I won't shed any tears either.
Still, I repeat that it is a sad moment. First, we have lost another manufacturer of pianos on American soil, and we were once the envy of the world for our piano production. Secondly, it is real people who are losing their jobs, and it is having a profound effect on their lives. Some have suggested here that this is due to unionization, but I think one would be hard pressed to compare the average piano worker to the auto worker for benefits and wages. And the underlying issues are far broader and more complex than that.
When I was a Baldwin dealer prior to the bankruptcy, I worked with a great many really capable, competent, and hard working people within the company. It genuinely distressed me to see them lose their jobs, because they were good people and they weren't the reason the company was failing. That I would attribute to upper management that couldn't take its head out of its butt long enough to see what was going on, and a Board of Director that allowed this to go on for several years.
I would not be surprised if we see Baldwin Artist Grands being made in China in the coming months.
Will Truitt
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Shawn Brock
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 10:33 AM
To: hpp at highpointpiano.com; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs
Yep,
that sounds like the Baldwin I know. One of the lousy things about living in Cincinnati is we sure have a lot of Baldwin products left over from the days when they actually built pianos here. One of my favorite customers is the granddaughter of DH Baldwin. She has 2 7 foots in her living room. Its fun to hear stories about the company from her. She had told me once that she understood that things just don't last and she was proud of all the company did before being bought by Gibson. Other than the American job loss it doesn't bother me in the slightest that Baldwin is going under yet again. If all of Gibson went belly up it wouldn't matter to me. I would sure feel bad for anyone who would be out of a job, but other than that its all okay. Gibson thought they could both save the musical instrument market and control the world of instrument making. The closing of Baldwin just shows they can't. Gibson has tried to put almost every American maker of musical instruments out of business by suing on the grounds of trademark infringement. I'm not just talking about the major companies like PRS and CF Martin, they have drug people into court who only make 12 to 15 instruments a year. Knowing the small time makers could not fight them, they neither had the money or the power to put up a struggle. I disliked the Gibson company so much that I turned down offers for 4 years for an endorsement. I stuck with the custom builders and told them to "go to hell!" Any how...
Regards,
Shawn Brock, RPT
513-316-0563
www.shawnbrock.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Garret Traylor
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs
Hummmm, I would not hold my breath for Baldwin to stay in business. A customer of mine has in the past provided Baldwin with legs and lid props but Baldwin is not paying their bill so they will not be getting the legs. Does that sound like a company planning to stay in business? BTW, I will offer details and pics in a few days if any of you are interested in purchasing them.
Kindest Regards,
Garret
---
Garret Traylor - President
High Point Piano & Music Inc.
88-PIANO (336) 887-4266
P Go Green! Print this email only when necessary. Thank you for helping High Point Music be environmentally responsible.
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul McCloud
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 11:43 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs
Baldwin may have laid off some of their work force, but they're still in business. They'll be at NAMM next month.
Paul McCloud
San D eggo
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