:shock: I have been reminded once again, of many of the sad truths I have learned over my years of being involved with Fortune 500 folks.
First, everything is always about the short term stock price. When in a turndown period, lay off production workers, costs decline, stocks rise...for the moment, the "bean counters can bail out on the slight uptick, before the stockholders understand that the widgets are not being produced any longer.
I have been thru this with many Corps., who are no longer around.
This happens when accounting overides production, and marketing people. Nothing is new. Remember Gibsons moves?
Heres the problem, top grade acoustic guitars are not produced like widgets. It requires skilled craftsmen.
This requires a degree of experience level, which only comes over time,....thus the conflict is always between fine guitars vs. short- term thinking by management.
Remember the sales stalling when the move was to Cal. ? This will be the same at best. Then came the Tacoma move, sales were slow at first, no guitars at the dealers, but slowly the Guild image rose, new models appeared, quality was apparent, sales rose again, in comes the pin heads, and lets do this all again.
I feel for the craftsmen, the marketing people, and all of the loyal Guild fans, who have endured so many short term moves.
This is why I now only work for myself, and have no loyality to any company. I am a hired gun, sales firm able to pack up and turn on a moments notice.
I really like Guilds, I really like Gibson...but if you want a new fine, mass production guitar, with a history of constance and quality, cancel your Guild order, which is on hold anyway, and consider a family built Martin.
I guess I am disowned, but this is MHO.
Dale.