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Thread: End of an Era. 43 years with JBL is Over

  1. #136
    Senior Member brutal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Audiobeer View Post
    There's no excuse for what went down. . At least Beatrice Foods didn't treat everybody like JBL Does now when they took it down. If you screw with your best people and out source based on cost you become as Dell has. Global Whores with poor customer satisfaction.
    Not defending them, but Dell just bought/merged EMC for $67B and that's really going to shake up the enterprise markets.


  2. #137
    Senior Member tomt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by audiomagnate View Post
    Above post reported as insulting,rude and disrespectful.


    Quote Originally Posted by hsosdrum View Post
    +1

    tomt, if your post was meant somehow to be ironic or to draw a contrast between Greg's vast level of experience and the types of positions that are currently available, you failed miserably.


    one of the greatest failures of humanity, (at this point of time),

    is the inability of those that are, 'all too human', to see things as they really are.

    instead, an opinion, of a reflection, of themselves, is presented as 'fact' ...

    `````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````


    i have no doubt, that parts express, would be thrilled to have such a prestigious person,

    handling some of their tech line calls.

    sales might increase as well.

  3. #138
    Senior Member LowPhreak's Avatar
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    Right tomt, I'm sure PE's sales would increase.

    Do you seriously not realize how stupid and insulting your comments are, or are you just looking for attention?

  4. #139
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    I think it would be insightful to understand the impact of Greg's departure on the JBL brand in Japan.

    The E2 was launched in Japan and at some point the ripple like a stone dropping in a pond will hit the Japanese market where they are traditionally very loyal followers of JBL.

    With shift to more segmented lifestyle businesses it will be interesting to see what becomes of the future audiophile market for JBL.

    What will become of the statement systems?

    Will future JBL systems live up to the legacy system Greg was involved with?

    Will domestic incarnations of the M2 replace the current Synthesis / Blue baffle ranges?

    Will the E2 continue?

    If JBL are as dumb there with brand management then insult could turn into a lack of trust and impact on brand loyalty.

    The Japanese take the audiophile business very seriously so it will be interesting to see how this evolves.

    While the CEO looks for more ways to write tomorrow's pay check and satisfy share holders it is interesting that he has essentally removed the corner stone of the Brand (43 years) and is attempting to drive into markets like lifestyle-headphones where Harman has been ineffective relative to others industry players.

    That's a bold and risky move.

    The feedback from some mass market distributors is that Harman are really difficult to do business with and in that sense if you don't have distribution channels you don't have a business.

    It's like there is a new guy that has come along arrogantly waving the brand flag around but does not know how to talk to the buyers and they drop the business after a short period.

    Meanwhile the previously loyal customer feels sold out with the demise odd spare parts and upgrades.

    It's makes you wonder if JBL would be better positioned as smaller elite industry brand specialising in technologies and manufacturing as opposed to attempting to be a mass maket player.

    The Harman of today may need to look more at the 'how and why' Harman got into business so they can understand who they should be.

  5. #140
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    Quote Originally Posted by gtimbers View Post
    Treat your products well and enjoy them while you can.Best Regards,Greg Timbers
    Anyone else notice the implications of this part?

  6. #141
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooky1257 View Post
    Anyone else notice the implications of this part?
    Yikes.




    The End

  7. #142
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    I am sad and dismayed at what has happened to you Greg, but this has been part of the way corporate US culture has been for some time. I hope you were able to clear out your office for at least your personal items and materials. I hope this month and the next few months will provide clarity on where your next steps and direction will lead you.

    The new venture with Allan at Samsung looks very promising and with it still in LA could be up your alley. Still, I'm not a huge fan of Samsung so would suggest you might consider approaching Apple with your considerable resume. Considering they have branched into so many areas concerning audio (cars, source devices), it would seem to me they could consider substantial sound systems as well. Maybe they could appreciate talent, success, and above all, meticulous engineering along with aesthetic taste in audio design, be it with small, medium, or large systems, especially with the potential to bring about a reboot in mid to large scale audio loudspeaker systems integrated into an Apple ecosystem. However, aside from the S106 or Aquarius IV, I don't recall you working with any speakers in white (excluding the JBL Creature).

    Whatever you do, use your "benefits" (COBRA, health insurance, whatever vacation compensation) wisely, and moving your company retirement directly rolled over to your own managed and controlled IRA/Roth. If you have any company stock options, may as well translate them into other things (stocks of other companies) if you so choose.

    Here's to your next endeavors, and may they be as blessed, successful and filled with integrity, passion, and soul as you have always been. It was a pleasure to meet and speak with you at the past 3 Lansing Heritage awards gatherings, and I hope there will be future chances to see you again. Best wishes.

    Regards,

    Bartley Yee
    When faced with another JBL find, Good mech986 says , JBL Fan mech986 says

  8. #143
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooky1257 View Post
    Anyone else notice the implications of this part?
    He has been warning us for years to get what we needed because it wasn't going to be available forever. Nothing new there. We've all witnessed the steady decline in parts availability.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie View Post
    I think it would be insightful to understand the impact of Greg's departure on the JBL brand in Japan.
    I think Harman Japan is dead. I think the 70th anniversary system was cancelled. Apparently the remaining large systems that are out there are all that is left. I suppose I could be wrong but that's the impression I got.

    Quote Originally Posted by gtimbers View Post
    I will not comment further on details until a much later date. My decision, not theirs.

  9. #144
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    I don't think Mr. Timbers needs to be taken by the hand. Though It would be neat to see something show up on Kickstarter or the like

    I'm in.

  10. #145
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    Those Harman Japan brochures might endup being collectors items.

    Maybe we should be archiving a bunch of drivers for the kids so when the whole mess comes around full circle again they will have the real McCoy and the engineers then will have something to base future drivers on in case everything ends up as l as landfill!

  11. #146
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    You could bet money on much of the engineering and product documentation and literature ending up in big dumpsters as they close the Northridge facility entirely and sell it off to a developer once it is environmentally cleared.

    Same thing happened decades ago to HH Scott materials once Emerson took it over, they moved 3 semi's full of materials and basically chucked it all when it was determined that there was no market for Scott products, and product support was going to be a drain on resources for very little return.

    As good as JBL has been, IMO, their only future support will largely be for select professional speakers and systems because, well, that's where the money will be. Everything else will be "evaluated and analyzed" on a cost ROI basis by a dispassionate accountant with no product knowledge whatsoever and decisions made like that. Just like you would do with a jeans line, groceries at the local big box store, or people in the design and manufacturing divisions when the contract suddenly doesn't come through. IMO, to the suits, there is literally no difference between inventory, intellectual or institutional memory, and labor.

    Unless you find companies who have a much farther reaching vision and happen to have a strong enough business and financial resources to carry talented people like GT for research, development, and ultimately products of the future. And of course, create and have markets which can afford those products.

    JBL, IMO, is heading towards the Android/Samsung model, chasing a larger pie of less (or relatively less) expensive products in a ever more crowded competitive consumer space - and prices and commodities will ever slowly spiral down. The Samsung Audio projects show some guts to do great R&D and come up with evolutionary and revolutionary stuff, but there will likely be constraints on how much stuff can cost and be competitive.

    Apple may offer much more in terms of far reaching long term ideas of home entertainment integration and how speaker systems will factor into that, but it is not clear if they would go for larger systems given the consumer penchant for invisible.
    When faced with another JBL find, Good mech986 says , JBL Fan mech986 says

  12. #147
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    They will still require an engineering team for product development and my guess is it will be global offices like Mexico, Europe or hire a team of external employees to remove HR overheads. I think that is more likely and will be project based.

    Same with Harman Japan.

  13. #148
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    Quote Originally Posted by mech986 View Post
    You could bet money on much of the engineering and product documentation and literature ending up in big dumpsters as they close the Northridge facility entirely and sell it off to a developer once it is environmentally cleared.

    Same thing happened decades ago to HH Scott materials once Emerson took it over, they moved 3 semi's full of materials and basically chucked it all when it was determined that there was no market for Scott products, and product support was going to be a drain on resources for very little return.

    As good as JBL has been, IMO, their only future support will largely be for select professional speakers and systems because, well, that's where the money will be. Everything else will be "evaluated and analyzed" on a cost ROI basis by a dispassionate accountant with no product knowledge whatsoever and decisions made like that. Just like you would do with a jeans line, groceries at the local big box store, or people in the design and manufacturing divisions when the contract suddenly doesn't come through. IMO, to the suits, there is literally no difference between inventory, intellectual or institutional memory, and labor.

    Unless you find companies who have a much farther reaching vision and happen to have a strong enough business and financial resources to carry talented people like GT for research, development, and ultimately products of the future. And of course, create and have markets which can afford those products.

    JBL, IMO, is heading towards the Android/Samsung model, chasing a larger pie of less (or relatively less) expensive products in a ever more crowded competitive consumer space - and prices and commodities will ever slowly spiral down. The Samsung Audio projects show some guts to do great R&D and come up with evolutionary and revolutionary stuff, but there will likely be constraints on how much stuff can cost and be competitive.

    Apple may offer much more in terms of far reaching long term ideas of home entertainment integration and how speaker systems will factor into that, but it is not clear if they would go for larger systems given the consumer penchant for invisible.
    I think you're spot on and I would hope Mr. Timbers is well prepared having made sure what finds it's way into the dumpsters ends up being redundant.

  14. #149
    Senior Member DavidF's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mech986 View Post
    "...
    Unless you find companies who have a much farther reaching vision and happen to have a strong enough business and financial resources to carry talented people like GT for research, development, and ultimately products of the future. And of course, create and have markets which can afford those products...
    .
    This is the inevitable "rub" in the matter, is it not? Businesses need to grow to remain viable and with growth come changes. Greg was with JBL long enough to see many changes. Pretty sure his impersonal, thankless, exit was the most shocking, not so much the direction that JBL (as part of Harman) seems to be headed of late.

    Anyone note that Ferrari was spun off into a public company by FIAT? Imagine working for Enzo in the day and living and breathing the symbol of the prancing horse. Then one day you awake and realize you now work for FIAT? Then later to know that FIAT dosen't want to support your brand anymore and puts you out to public shareholders!!
    David F
    San Jose

  15. #150
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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidF View Post
    This is the inevitable "rub" in the matter, is it not? Businesses need to grow to remain viable and with growth come changes. Greg was with JBL long enough to see many changes. Pretty sure his impersonal, thankless, exit was the most shocking, not so much the direction that JBL (as part of Harman) seems to be headed of late.

    Anyone note that Ferrari was spun off into a public company by FIAT? Imagine working for Enzo in the day and living and breathing the symbol of the prancing horse. Then one day you awake and realize you now work for FIAT? Then later to know that FIAT doesn't want to support your brand anymore and puts you out to public shareholders!!
    Perhaps its better that Ferrari not be partnered with Chrysler via FIAT any longer ...
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