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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 10:40 am
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Was Fender recently sold or something?


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 2:55 pm
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No, they were not sold. The current largest investor in Fende, Weston Presido, has wanted to realize its investment and get out. When the planned IPO fell through - at least in part because major stock companies felt Fender was overvalued, the pressure mounted. Earlier, Weston Presidio also was a major stakeholder in Guitar Center, the biggest customer and debtor for Fender, but they managed to get out. Now that Weston doesn't care about GC anymore, they're likely tightening the screws on Fender to get a return on their investment and way out.

While I don't fear for Fender as a brand name, and the iconic products surviving, I do fear that the future for the current Fender corporation isn't too good. Especially not if GC falls.


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:18 pm
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Thank-you and HOLY F***!


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:55 am
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Hats off to Mr Eldred

Shame that the threads had to go.


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:50 am
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I am most of the time lurking on this forum, and don't post often (I'm french and I'm not always sure of my english...), but I had learn many things thanks to the former "ask ME" thread and had great time with his videos.

Mike had the hard task of reorganizing the Custom Shop while keeping its spirit alive and ensure the quality to stay on top, despite a tighter "financial control" from the headquarter of FMIC. I guess it wasn't always funny, and he surely had sometimes to be the "bad guy" who must stop the party :wink: , but he was without doubt highly successful, and has kept and shared his enthusiasm.

His departure without any official reaction or thanks from FMIC makes me feel ill at ease.
thanks Mike for all your work, your disponibility, your patience on some threads of the forum :wink: , and all the best for the continuation of your career and your life!


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:45 am
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The dissatisfied sophisticates among us, many of which literally grew up with either the original or reincarnation of the company, can always express their dissatisfaction via their wallets. It's the uninformed who will continue to be the customer base. When the former are gone, what will it matter.? Fortunately for Fender, there are the dedicated few who have set about preserving their legacy. An effort the 'suits' hardly deserve, profit being their only purpose.

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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:45 am
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Changes are inevitable, life goes on, both Mike and Fender will go on also.

I'm sure Fender has recognized Mick's contributions, just not publicly.

No one needs to carry on Fender's legacy for them, they are handling this all by themselves.

Remember, Mike is just one man, the company will not miss a lick without him, and as far as profit goes, everyone that's in business has to make a little, else you'll go under.


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:12 pm
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Relic G Man wrote:
Changes are inevitable, life goes on, both Mike and Fender will go on also.

I'm sure Fender has recognized Mick's contributions, just not publicly.

No one needs to carry on Fender's legacy for them, they are handling this all by themselves.

Remember, Mike is just one man, the company will not miss a lick without him, and as far as profit goes, everyone that's in business has to make a little, else you'll go under.


+1

That's the only reason why I get up in the morning and my employer opens its doors everyday: To put bread on the table. You have to turn a profit before you satisfy customers, thats the way it is. No other reason and Fender is no different. No different for a CEO or a whole company. Staff legacies,.. its in the eye of the customer. There will be a replacement, whether or not he/she is more 'online' than Mike was, who knows. Ive learnt through a few restructures in my company, no job or employee is irreplaceable. Not even the CEO or the board.. no-one is safe.

But yeah I agree, the show goes on- regardless of who is at the helm- that's the way the cookie crumbles in business. I do wish Mike and whoever fills his boots, all the best :)

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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:27 am
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Blertles wrote:
That's the only reason why I get up in the morning and my employer opens its doors everyday: To put bread on the table. You have to turn a profit before you satisfy customers, thats the way it is. No other reason and Fender is no different. No different for a CEO or a whole company. Staff legacies,.. its in the eye of the customer. There will be a replacement, whether or not he/she is more 'online' than Mike was, who knows. Ive learnt through a few restructures in my company, no job or employee is irreplaceable. Not even the CEO or the board.. no-one is safe.

But yeah I agree, the show goes on- regardless of who is at the helm- that's the way the cookie crumbles in business. I do wish Mike and whoever fills his boots, all the best :)

It's a valid observation save for the fact that every industry has its own particular characterisitics. Fender is not exactly making widgets. It's interface with the entertainment industry is signficant and so is the face which represents that. Other than its endorsees, Mike was the man who had, after John Paige, cultivated a working relationship with a very broad customer base and I expect that we all regarded him as a kind of 'personal friend'. He was the guy on the stomp, traveling world-wide representing the company and, often as not, the go to person for many of our issues and needs. He had acquired a kind of celebrity status of his own.

Now I realize that the 'suits'...i.e. 'the money' really don't give a 'flying f--k' about this 'sh-t' because that's not why they are in the game. That doesn't lessen the fact that some of us have a kind of dog in this fight, and don't take kindly to what has happened. Guitar Center, I am given to understand, is also on the ropes financially. If they folded, it would be no cause for me to mourn. But, for me personally, and certain others, Eldred, in this interface, is a loss.

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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:53 am
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There are plenty of other people who are just as competent to fill Mick's shoes, ever who replaces him will do just as good if not better, the Fender Custom Shop will rock on for many many more years to come, the best is yet to be seen.


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:05 am
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Relic G Man wrote:
There are plenty of other people who are just as competent to fill Mick's shoes, ever who replaces him will do just as good if not better, the Fender Custom Shop will rock on for many many more years to come, the best is yet to be seen.

I'll allow for the difference in your point of view from one who has been a contributor to this Forum for nearly seven years now.

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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:11 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
Blertles wrote:
That's the only reason why I get up in the morning and my employer opens its doors everyday: To put bread on the table. You have to turn a profit before you satisfy customers, thats the way it is. No other reason and Fender is no different. No different for a CEO or a whole company. Staff legacies,.. its in the eye of the customer. There will be a replacement, whether or not he/she is more 'online' than Mike was, who knows. Ive learnt through a few restructures in my company, no job or employee is irreplaceable. Not even the CEO or the board.. no-one is safe.

But yeah I agree, the show goes on- regardless of who is at the helm- that's the way the cookie crumbles in business. I do wish Mike and whoever fills his boots, all the best :)

It's a valid observation save for the fact that every industry has its own particular characterisitics. Fender is not exactly making widgets. It's interface with the entertainment industry is signficant and so is the face which represents that. Other than its endorsees, Mike was the man who had, after John Paige, cultivated a working relationship with a very broad customer base and I expect that we all regarded him as a kind of 'personal friend'. He was the guy on the stomp, traveling world-wide representing the company and, often as not, the go to person for many of our issues and needs. He had acquired a kind of celebrity status of his own.

Now I realize that the 'suits'...i.e. 'the money' really don't give a 'flying f--k' about this 'sh-t' because that's not why they are in the game. That doesn't lessen the fact that some of us have a kind of dog in this fight, and don't take kindly to what has happened. Guitar Center, I am given to understand, is also on the ropes financially. If they folded, it would be no cause for me to mourn. But, for me personally, and certain others, Eldred, in this interface, is a loss.



Well put!


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:14 am
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[/quote]
Now I realize that the 'suits'...i.e. 'the money' really don't give a 'flying f--k' about this 'sh-t' because that's not why they are in the game. That doesn't lessen the fact that some of us have a kind of dog in this fight, and don't take kindly to what has happened. Guitar Center, I am given to understand, is also on the ropes financially. If they folded, it would be no cause for me to mourn. But, for me personally, and certain others, Eldred, in this interface, is a loss.[/quote]

Just because they're in the game to make money does not mean they don't care about anything else, it only stands to reason that they care about the products, for that's how they make their profit.

GC isn't going anywhere.

Mike may or may not have been a loss, I don't know the reason or reasons why he has gone, unless you know something we don't, how do we know this wasn't all Mike's decision?


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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:24 am
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[quote="Relic G Man"]Just because they're in the game to make money does not mean they don't care about anything else, it only stands to reason that they care about the products, for that's how they make their profit. GC isn't going anywhere.

Arth1 doesn't appear to share your confidence there.

Mike may or may not have been a loss, I don't know the reason or reasons why he has gone, unless you know something we don't, how do we know this wasn't all Mike's decision?

Interpersonal communications...There are a few 'senior' members of this Forum who do have a dog in this hunt.[/quote]

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Post subject: Re: Ave Atque Vale...Mike Eldred
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:56 am
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And what exactly is your dog and hunt, I feel it would help to fill us all in on your information so we're no longer in the dark.

I haven't heard anything on this subject other than here, there isn't one word on this anywhere else.

I feel it may have just been Mike's decision, maybe he wanted to put all of his self and energy into his music and band, so that later on in life, he couldn't say I didn't try, maybe he just wants to give it his all and follow his musical dreams and directions.

I don't know, just my thoughts, and I still have faith in Fender and the Fender Custom Shop.

G


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