Mercenary selling out Neumann's

[meriphew]

well, posting a pix of Hitler in front of Neumann mics on their web site just tells me that Mercenar is not a serious business but a bunch of puberting kiddies. He could just as well post a pix of Saddam Hussein in front of a Shure mic, which would have the same content: none. What does it tell about Neumann or Shure? Nothing. It's just 40s style propaganda.

On his web site he is mentioning the "SMK 184" three times. Fletcher can't even spell the names of the Neumann mics. He also mentions that he is still looking for 'vintage Neumann mics' and that he will continue to sell them in the future. So I thought he didn't want to sell Neumann mics are more? Very consistemt business decision, really.

I would never buy there and understand Neumanns decision to discontinue their business relationship because, unlike Mercenar, they are running a serious business. This guy is not funny but a just plain stupid.

Selling vintage Neumann's isn't the same as selling modern Neumann's. When you sell a new Neumann, money goes into Sennheisers pockets. Another thing, I would hardly call Fletcher stupid, he's simply stating his opinion just as you are here.

________________
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Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[DJL]

<snip>

I would never buy there and understand Neumanns decision to discontinue their business relationship because, unlike Mercenar, they are running a serious business. This guy is not funny but a just plain stupid.

Humm, I think I smell someone who has a finical business interest in Neumann/Sennheiser taking cheap shots at Flectcher of Mercenary Audio. As A long time reader of Flectcher's, I bet I know where he'd tell you to stick it.

 

[Giganova]

no, I have no business interest at all and I personally couldn't care less about this fight with Sennheiser/Neumann.

I just find his comparison of Hitler (in terms of dictatorship) with Sennheiser/Neumann very offensive! Maybe I am too sentive coz I am German. What I don't understand is the following: if he doesn't agree with Sennheiser/Neumann's price policy (which, by the way, is very common in Europe and sometimes, believe it or not, for the benefit of the customers), no-one is forcing him to sell their products. After all, its THEIR loss if they have one dealer less, not his, especially if he has a good customer support and low prices to satisfy many customers. So why does he try to humiliate them and start a private war, which he even publicly displays on his web site? I think that's just plain childish and very un-professional. Also, if he had a strong opinion on their business philosophy (dictatorshio or not), he should boycott ALL of their products. Instead, he still tries to make money with their products by selling their vintage stuff. That's just very inconsequent. Just my 2 cents and no offense intended.

 

[Giganova]

... I bet I know where he'd tell you to stick it.

outch, Neumann mics are way too big for that, DJL ;-)

But seriously: why are you guys getting so personal if I find the guy's web site offensive and just express my opinion on that?? I think it's just far more than "funny" or displaying bad taste. I never found a comparison of someone/something with Hitler particularly funny.

But I agree with you that I should take the "stupid" back. What I meant was "not clever". ;-)

 

[jslator]

Also, if he had a strong opinion on their business philosophy (dictatorshio or not), he should boycott ALL of their products. Instead, he still tries to make money with their products by selling their vintage stuff.

If anything, Neumann/Sennheiser loses money when people buy their vintage products (because they are presumably doing that insead of buying the new ones).

That's just very inconsequent.

You mean "inconsistent", not "inconsequent". No offense; just noting it for reference.

 

[Giganova]

If anything, Neumann/Sennheiser loses money when people buy their vintage products (because they are presumably doing that insead of buying the new ones).

It's still promoting their products.

You mean "inconsistent", not "inconsequent". No offense; just noting it for reference.

Yup, that's what I meant. Thanks.

 

[Shailat]

While Fletcher might be right buisness wise, The Hitler thing is a bit to much of a game Fletcher like to play. It's the "cool tough act" he always acts out.

It's one think to disagree to continue marketing a company and it can be done with a sharp letter but this "Hitler.....I'm not bowing to you..I'm a cool kiss my ass mother fucker" is a game to me. He lives off the cheering crowd of "you give it to them Fletcher..."

I'm not as impressed as some of you are.

 

[jslator]

It's still promoting their products.

But it's not inconsistent. It likely harms their current business (though somewhat minimally). It's also totally consistant with the sentiment that Neumann makes nothing worth having anymore and that their all thier best stuff is long out of production (which is not a sentiment that I necessarily agree with).

 

[jslator]

It's one think to disagree to continue marketing a company and it can be done with a sharp letter but this "Hitler.....I'm not bowing to you..I'm a cool kiss my ass mother fucker" is a game to me. He lives off the cheering crowd of "you give it to them Fletcher..."

Nah, it's not a game. He's legitimately a hot head. I don't have a problem with that. I'm a bit of a hot head myself. It pisses some people off though.

 

[Giganova]

I dunno, jslator: if I, for instance, had a private war with Mercedes and would think that this car company is run like a dictatorship (and uhhhh, here's the smoking gun: Hitler was spotted riding in a Mercedes!!) and that their previous cars were much better anyway, I wouldn't want to be a used Mercedes car dealer, would I?? [and I'd probably try to memorize their model numbers as long as I am selling their products] I'd rather say "screw them, I don't want to be associated with their name anmore" and promote other products which are equally good.

 

[ausrock]

A quote from Fletcher's site..............................."The management of Neumann USA has placed what we feel are undue restrictions on the prices we may charge for Neumann product. We feel that this penalizes your right to fair pricing and therefore we refuse to carry Neumann product."

IT REALLY IS SIMPLE!!!


Fletcher's current bitch is with people (management) and their policies, NOT with the mics themselves, and he openly states that he will source new Neumann mics if someone wants one............BUT he wont deal with Neumann USA, so FFS people, while it is fine to disagree with his methods, go back and re-read what he said and try to understand where he is coming from.

Curiously enough, here in Aust., Behringer (another German company) have been trying to dictate conditions to retailers.

 

[meriphew]

Giganova - you're missing the point. The old Neumann company is not the same company as the new Neumann company. Different owners, different mics... WAY different mics.

________________
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Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[Emeric]

I just find his comparison of Hitler (in terms of dictatorship) with Sennheiser/Neumann very offensive!

Exactly.

 

[That_Abbott]

"It's also totally consistant with the sentiment that Neumann makes nothing worth having anymore and that their all thier best stuff is long out of production (which is not a sentiment that I necessarily agree with)."

But that's not Fletcher's sentiment either.....He definately feels that Neumann makes things worth having or he wouldn't have been selling them. So....since that is not the reason he stopped stocking Neumann mics, it is not really consistant with anything. Where did that come from?

I agree with Shailat, but it seems to be really working for Fletcher so I say just let him do his thing.

 

[Emeric]

It can all depend on the context things like this are used in.

Exactly.

The memories of Hitler and the Nazis aren't going to go away just by avoiding the use of old photos................ .[/B]

I guess you missed 'the context'. Has nothing to do with 'avoiding' anything. It's in poor taste, if you can't see that, oh well.

Clear as day to me. Glad to see a few others see it.

 

[ausrock]

FFS Emeric...............it's an unfortunate fact of life that the history of the human race has it's Hitlers, etc.

All I am saying is that we can't and shouldn't hide that fact.

What do you want..............to see ALL reminders, visual and otherwise, of those more distasteful portions of history, wiped from our memories, our libraries, etc., etc.

NO, I didn't miss the context.......... and from what little I have seen of Fletcher on the internet, I get the impression that he is a brash, arrogant prick, (possibly much like Hitler himself).................BUT, his use of that photo as an analogy (in regard to Neumann's current business policies), was, whatever else people may think of it, both clever and applicable in those specific circumstances.

Realistically, what should be disturbing us more than Fletcher, is Neumann's business ethics, as ultimately, that is what will flow on to the consumer. Fletcher's little game will soon be forgotten BUT Neumann's actions are likely to have a much longer term effect.

 

[Emeric]

Quote by ausrock:

"NO, I didn't miss the context.......... and from what little I have seen of Fletcher on the internet, I get the impression that he is a brash, arrogant prick, (possibly much like Hitler himself).................BUT, his use of that photo as an analogy (in regard to Neumann's current business policies), was, whatever else people may think of it, both clever and applicable in those specific circumstances."

You still don't get it.

I don't care about fletcher, I dislike the trivialization.

Analogy??? These are mics for fucks sake! You know what Hitler represents. Or do you equate that the same way?

Microphones are microphones. BTW, manufacturers control prices all the time. It's called 'business' and 'reality' .

History and its mistakes should NEVER be trivialized

Guess you refuse to see that.

 

[ausrock]

You are almost funny, thick, but funny.

 

[Emeric]

Read.

 

[Flatpicker]

...I guess you missed 'the context'...

Speaking of context, Fletcher states “The management of Neumann USA has placed what we feel are undue restrictions on the prices we may charge for Neumann product.”

Neumann states “…we will, effective immediately, terminate all future business activities between our companies. While this is indeed unfortunate, I hope that you can understand that I have duties and responsibilities to my Company and my Associates. Your abusive language and behavior towards a member of our organization cannot be accepted, and I cannot risk knowingly allowing the potential for future such actions.”

Two things for sure - we don’t know the whole story and Neumann IS dumping Fletcher. From this, it appears that Fletcher's statement is irrelevant - he can't sell Neumann products any more, even if he does accept their prices. The reason for this appears to be because Fletcher verbally abused a Neumann employee (which may have originated from a “price” discussion – but again we just don’t know). To make a fair assessment (if it’s really all that important), we have to hear the whole story from both sides. Until then, we’re just shooting in the dark.

I’m not “for” one side or the other, that is, it has absolutely no bearing on whether I’d buy from Mercenary or Neumann, but I have to admit, the whole thing’s been very entertaining!