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Future of Genz Benz?

#61
Downunderwonder said:
If I had to bet it would be big F is in process of moving production to their mainland China factories, probably with F branding.
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It that is so, it would be a big mistake. It would mean throwing away the valuable brand equity of the Genz Benz name, probably for the sake of corporate vanity - as well as neutralizing the high quality of product for the sake of short-term gain.

I can certainly see the value of owning Genz Benz to Fender. What I can't see is the value of dissolving the Genz Benz brand for no good business reason. That said, I surely wouldn't put it past them. :scowl:

MM
 
#62
two fingers said:
You know, I have to throw my hat in the ring here. I'm just about TIRED of all the Fender flaming over companies that they buy and then either absorb into Fender or do away with altogether. One thing you guys need to keep in mind is that Fender can't BUY if nobody is SELLING. "Jeff" (I am assuming that is the owner/originator of GB) had to SELL the dang company for somebody to BUY it. So if he is so AMAZING when it comes to being all about his customers, why did he sell to the "evil corporate giant machine" that you people claim Fender is?

BTW, I don't blame the guy. If Fender came to me and said, "Hey. I'll buy your company for a metric ton of hundred dollar bills AND you can come work for us for a pretty good paycheck too" I would tell any customer of mine who didn't like it that they could eat poo. I gotta do what's best for me and mine.

The point is, you guys act as though Fender is some sort of "bass guy" here. They are just doing business AS ARE THE GUYS AT GB. BOTH sides are/were trying to make a dollar. Jeff is looking out for Jeff (as he should).

A little off topic, but if Hamer and Tacoma (or any of the other instruments you guys are always pissing and moaning about not being available any more) had SOLD well enough they would still be in production. Period. Fender would not have shut those companies down if their products had enough market share to keep them around. To a certain extent, either that is the case with GB, or the guys who owned GB got offered big dough and they TOOK IT. So, if there is a "bad guy" (and I don't believe there is) then is it your buddy Jeff. He sold you out if anyone did. (And, again, I don't think anyone did.)

Sorry. Had to get that off my chest. There are TWO sides of the GB/Fender bargain. BOTH had to agree to the deal.
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Pretty much what I was thinking. Now if GB was losing money and did this as a matter of survival, then I would understand. If they were making good profits already and did this just to make more (for a few), well that's subject to fair criticism IMO.
It's entirely possible that GB wasn't doing well financially due to economic factors, despite having a great product and providing great service. It's happening all over. Costs go up and the buying public's disposable income is going down.
It's difficult to put a good spin on this any way you look at it. I would buy one right now if I had extra money just to have one. They sure get a lot of accolades around here. :(
 
#64
MysticMichael said:
It that is so, it would be a big mistake. It would mean throwing away the valuable brand equity of the Genz Benz name, probably for the sake of corporate vanity - as well as neutralizing the high quality of product for the sake of short-term gain.

I can certainly see the value of owning Genz Benz to Fender. What I can't see is the value of dissolving the Genz Benz brand for no good business reason. That said, I surely wouldn't put it past them. :scowl:

MM
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Buy the company and kill it off, so the consumer is left with fewer choices, one of which is still Fender?










:D
 
#66
What's all this talk of Fender getting rid of brands just because they're not called Fender? Gretsch, Guild, Takamine, Jackson, Charvel...doesn't look like Fender's in any hurry to get rid of products with those names on them. Maybe there's some of you who should watch a little less Alex Jones.
 
#68
Seems like most everyone is blowing out GB so that doesn't look good.

I'm not totally blaming Fender. Someone has to sell for someone to buy. Only a few people know what went/is going on. It is perfectly acceptable (maybe not moral but that's another thread) for a larger business to "buy up the competition" and either incorporate them or simply eliminate them. Look at what happens when a Wal Mart opens in a smaller town. Good bye mom and pop.

I like Genz Benz gear. I liked dealing with the guys. I will miss the them both.
 
#69
Virgil said:
One of my best friends is/was a dealer, and he told me that Genz Benz is being dismantled by Fender. He is selling his Genz Benz stuff at greatly reduced price.
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You guys are getting my curiousity up enough I might just have to stop in the store here and see if they still carry them...ask them what's up.


Of course, internet speculation is so much more fun though.:smug:
 
#70
SteveC said:
Seems like most everyone is blowing out GB so that doesn't look good.

I'm not totally blaming Fender. Someone has to sell for someone to buy. Only a few people know what went/is going on. It is perfectly acceptable (maybe not moral but that's another thread) for a larger business to "buy up the competition" and either incorporate them or simply eliminate them. Look at what happens when a Wal Mart opens in a smaller town. Good bye mom and pop.

I like Genz Benz gear. I liked dealing with the guys. I will miss the them both.
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Hey Steve, now this could have changed over the last few minutes, and if it has, I apologize, but as far as I know, Jeff and Andy are still alive.

:D
 
#72
JimmyM said:
Oh, and mom and pop stores are making a comeback. They just have to figure out how to serve their communities in ways that Wal Mart doesn't.
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OT

Well, here in NYC mom & pop stores are still alive and well. That's due partly to the fact that the population density is great enough to support them. And partly due to the fact that Walmart has explicitly been made not welcome here.

When the shark is kept out, the minnows will thrive... :smug:

/OT

MM
 
#74
JimmyM said:
What's all this talk of Fender getting rid of brands just because they're not called Fender? Gretsch, Guild, Takamine, Jackson, Charvel...doesn't look like Fender's in any hurry to get rid of products with those names on them. Maybe there's some of you who should watch a little less Alex Jones.
Click to expand...

And don't forget Tacoma. I used to own a real nice acoustic Thunderchief that ain't made no more.
 
#75
MysticMichael said:
It that is so, it would be a big mistake. It would mean throwing away the valuable brand equity of the Genz Benz name, probably for the sake of corporate vanity - as well as neutralizing the high quality of product for the sake of short-term gain.

I can certainly see the value of owning Genz Benz to Fender. What I can't see is the value of dissolving the Genz Benz brand for no good business reason. That said, I surely wouldn't put it past them. :scowl:

MM
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IMO, the Genz Benz name doesn't have that much brand recognition, certainly not in comparison to Fender, Ampeg, Marshall, Gibson, etc. It looks to me that Fender bought GB years ago for the technology they were developing and now they're going to incorporate it into the Fender line of amps. Unfortunately for us who know GB that means it's probably the end of the quality and support that we've come to expect from GB.
 
#76
I've owned gear branded by Fender and Genz Benz. I always felt GB gear was made with a higher standard of quality. There was no comparison with customer service: GB's team completely blew away anything I've experienced with Fender. It was personal, direct, immediate, and focused. GB always treated me like I was an endorsing professional even though I'm a no-name ordinary bass player. So if Fender is eventually erasing GB, it will be nothing but detrimental to those of us who buy and play bass gear.
 

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