Some Good News For A Change

[pixelthis]

Saw on the home page of this site that BOSE is going to lay off a 1,000 people,
then theres a plea to go and buy some of their overpriced underengineered crap,
like the same 500$ clock radio they have been making for decades.
This company is the Darth Vader of the consumer electronics industry,
taking ideas from others and making mediorce products that only the clueless would buy.
If the collapse of the economy drives these mercendaries out of business
it might actually be worth it.
Then they can get REAL JOB, like working the local drive-thru alongside
RIFED Rich.

[Feanor]

Saw on the home page of this site that BOSE is going to lay off a 1,000 people,
then theres a plea to go and buy some of their overpriced underengineered crap,
like the same 500$ clock radio they have been making for decades.
This company is the Darth Vader of the consumer electronics industry,
taking ideas from others and making mediorce products that only the clueless would buy.
If the collapse of the economy drives these mercendaries out of business
it might actually be worth it.
Then they can get REAL JOB, like working the local drive-thru alongside
RIFED Rich.

Dare we hope that this recession/depression will cull some of the most greedy and incompontent. It might happen (if bailouts aren't too comprehensive); good signs: various large banks and brokerage companies, the General Motors, Bernie Madoff, the Republican Party.

[Groundbeef]

As much as we like to bash Bose, in this economy, I'm not going to celebrate anyone losing their jobs. Just like the vast majority of workers, they have familes, homes, cars, and other expenses.

Although I felt that Bose was overpriced, you must admire the marketing muscle that they are able to flex.

It is unfortunate that people are the first to get the hatchet when investors are not happy that their stock shares are going to be $.01 off of estimates.

[Rich-n-Texas]

So Feanor, are you, like pixass, hoping I get layed off?

[Rich-n-Texas]

One more unemployed worker means one more hole in consumer confidence. Our economy can't survive if consumers don't spend money. And remember Feanor, your economy rides on our economy's coat tails, just like everything else with your country. Your disdain for Americans is sometimes very appaulling.

[Luvin Da Blues]

.....Our economy can't survive if consumers don't spend money......

Thing is, up here in the "Frozen North" is that when the consumer stops spending the government takes up the slack. Unfortunately, this only benefits the people who don't actually need it.

[GMichael]

The CEO's of the nation will still make a good chunk of change. It's the hard working average Joe who will be out of luck.

[atomicAdam]

The CEO's of the nation will still make a good chunk of change. It's the hard working average Joe who will be out of luck.

That is the way it always works.

[Feanor]

So Feanor, are you, like pixass, hoping I get layed off?

You work for TI, right? So not problem (?)

[Feanor]

One more unemployed worker means one more hole in consumer confidence. Our economy can't survive if consumers don't spend money. And remember Feanor, your economy rides on our economy's coat tails, just like everything else with your country. Your disdain for Americans is sometimes very appaulling.

Distain? Not at all. I don't distain Americans at all; on the contrary I'm deeply concerned for them. Like a caring friend I offer good advice.

[Rich-n-Texas]

You offer your opinions. It's up to others to decide whether or not it's good advice.

[Feanor]

The CEO's of the nation will still make a good chunk of change. It's the hard working average Joe who will be out of luck.

It's the poor and humble working man who always suffer first, most, and longest in an economic down turn, (though they were not the ones to blame).

The role of the working man is spend, spend, spend. In this regard the working and middle class have done their damnedest for the U.S. (and Canadian) ecomony. With occassional explicit encouragement by our governments to support the economy, we have typically burdened ourselvers into crushing debt to sustain our live styles despite falling real earnings. This phenomenon has sustained the economy so far but has probably reached its limit.

Whatever the political expediency for Obama, I'm not in favor of tax cuts as the primary means of stimulation. That's an awful lot of people will use the cash to pay down debt or add to personal saving rather than spend on stuff. Spending money to building new infrastructure and greener production is much the better strategy under severe circumstance like the present.

[GMichael]

What people don't seem to realize (or at least don't mention) is that it's no longer just about the national economy. It's a world economy. Countries like China have people who do not live nearly as well as what we have come to expect for ourselves. Their average Joe (or Chang if you prefer) often works long hours each week for less than most of us make in a day or even an hour sometimes. When I was in the Philippines, I saw what being poor really is. We think being poor means that we can't get that car we really wanted or the speakers we were drooling over. Poor there means skipping meals. Doing without health care. Living without electricity or running water. My wife had a better job than most working at a university. She made $20 USD a week. People in countries like this will be very happy to work their butts off for very little cash. The girl who was cleaning our hotel room had a master's degree but was happy to be cleaning our bathroom because, at least she had a job. Our manufacturers have found out that they can get more production for their dollar in these countries. So that's where the money is going. That's why we owe China so much. Until their economy builds up to the point where Mr Average Chang starts demanding more money, we will have trouble putting this gene back in the bottle. I don't see it getting a lot better for us anytime soon (no matter what we do). But we will survive. We may have to do without the latest upgrades, but we will eat.

[bfalls]

The upside is we can start to use the word "LifeStyle" and the decimal ".2" without worry of being sued. What's "Monster" economic status?

[Feanor]

What people don't seem to realize (or at least don't mention) is that it's no longer just about the national economy. It's a world economy. Countries like China have people who do not live nearly as well as what we have come to expect for ourselves. .... Our manufacturers have found out that they can get more production for their dollar in these countries. So that's where the money is going. That's why we owe China so much. Until their economy builds up to the point where Mr Average Chang starts demanding more money, we will have trouble putting this gene back in the bottle. I don't see it getting a lot better for us anytime soon (no matter what we do). But we will survive. We may have to do without the latest upgrades, but we will eat.

Right you are GM. The genie ain't going back in the bottle. It is inevidable that standards of living will equalize across the globe. People here, (North American, Europe, Japan), need to remember that it won't entirely be poor countries rising to our standard of living -- our standard will be falling simaltaneously so as to meet theirs somewhere in the middle. In fact, working incomes US and Canada level off in the '80s and have declined significantly in the last decade -- like I said though, most haven't yet felt a drop in our living standards because we have be able to borrow -- 'till now -- to make up the decline.

Now, say you're guy whose just lost his job to somebody in China: how much do you feel you "owe" the Chinese guy? Are you glad that you can now buy for thing that you used to make for less because he now makes? Maybe so. But note that already (in a small degree) the Chinese worker has begun to experience the pressure of lower wages elsewhere. Of course the "elsewhere" isn't (yet) North American but, say, Bangladesh.

Tighten that belt buck, bro.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Bush's NeoCon credentials were well established in 1999. How come an ignorant foreigner like me saw perfectly well that he has going to bngger you guys and the rest of us? Appearances were all you Americans need, but you stupidly chose to ignore every sign.

And as for 2003, shame, shame, shame on you. The world says except no smirk.

I don't see any good advise in this. I don't know what "bngger" means, but this post sounds like someone who has a deep seated disdain for us Americans...

[Woochifer]

As much as we like to bash Bose, in this economy, I'm not going to celebrate anyone losing their jobs. Just like the vast majority of workers, they have familes, homes, cars, and other expenses.

Although I felt that Bose was overpriced, you must admire the marketing muscle that they are able to flex.

It is unfortunate that people are the first to get the hatchet when investors are not happy that their stock shares are going to be $.01 off of estimates.

Bose is a private company, no shareholders to keep fat and happy other than Dr. Bose.

I agree though, when is 1,000 people losing their jobs ever "good news"? I guess pixie's just getting ever more desperate for attention. Aside from the Bose employees losing their jobs, it also impacts the communities where these employees live -- retail workers, child care providers, etc.

[Ajani]

As many in this thread have rightfully said: People losing jobs is not a good thing...

While I agree that Bose products are overpriced, I still respect the fact that Bose had the damn sense to ADVERTISE!!! If some of the other stuck up, dumb@$$, audio brands had done the same, then Bose probably wouldn't be synonymous with high end audio for the Average Joe...

[Ajani]

I don't see any good advise in this. I don't know what "bngger" means, but this post sounds like someone who has a deep seated disdain for us Americans...

Fine, that was a nasty post.... and based on the tone I'm going to assume it was part of a quarrel... Posts made during quarrels are not always the best reflection of what someone really thinks...

I've seen (and to some extent been involved in) some of the political exchanges between you and Feanor... Feanor has a lot of very strong opinions on American Politics and you 'appear' to dislike hearing foreigners' opinions on your country... This is a perfect recipe for misunderstandings...

I don't think Feanor hates Americans... What happens in America affects all of us foreigners and so we watch your elections and politics with held breath, hoping that we won't all get screwed if the American public votes for the wrong guy... America is like the musclebound jock in high school... if he chooses to use his brain and be a nice guy, then he can be a role model to the whole school, but if he decides to be a bully then everyone starts hiding...

You need to understand that there is a difference between hating someone and just being afraid of what they might do...

[Rich-n-Texas]

ANY time I see someone badmouthing my country Ajani, they're going to hear about it. Period. Where do you get the idea that I don't know the difference between hating someone and being afraid of what someone might do? To me, that remark was completely irrelevant.

I also think it's bad form for pix, at the beginning of his thread, to wish/hope I'd be layed off. I don't give a rat's ass whether he was joking or not.

I don't think any remarks I made required input from you.

[Feanor]

I don't see any good advise in this. I don't know what "bngger" means, but this post sounds like someone who has a deep seated disdain for us Americans...

What is an 'n' rotated 180°?

Most of the world -- including me -- looks to the United States for leadership in many in areas including economics, ethics, and geopolitics. We are disappointed and frustrated when the U.S. comes up even a little short.

I am sadden when a sizable portion of US citizens votes on the basis of discredited and untimely right-wing ideologies with the result that the most powerful political offices in the world are turned over to incompotent and ethically-corrupt individuals. Not only America but the whole world is punished as a consequence -- I'm not only saddened but a bit angry reflecting on this. Be mindful that a very large portion of people outside the US hold the outgoing US administration to blame for causing or exacerbating various serious problems in the world today.

Fortunately the new US Federal administration holds out hope for significant improvements in many areas. I am solidly with the sensible Americans of good will who will supporting their government's undertakings to right the problems.

[Ajani]

ANY time I see someone badmouthing my country Ajani, they're going to hear about it. Period. Where do you get the idea that I don't know the difference between hating someone and being afraid of what someone might do? To me, that remark was completely irrelevant.

Well, if you say you get the difference but still think Feanor just has a thing against Americans, then I won't argue with that... You're free to have your own opinion on his motivations.

I also think it's bad form for pix, at the beginning of his thread, to wish/hope I'd be layed off. I don't give a rat's ass whether he was joking or not.

Pix likes to be an @$$... Don't let his posts get to you... Though I do agree, that he shouldn't even be joking about you losing a job... I've lost a job before because of massive layoffs at my company (that's why I left Toronto and returned to the Caribbean)... it SUCKED (no other words are needed to describe the experience)...

I don't think any remarks I made required input from you.

Also correct, but by now I think you know I tend to butt in every now and again...

[Feanor]

Fine, that was a nasty post.... and based on the tone I'm going to assume it was part of a quarrel... Posts made during quarrels are not always the best reflection of what someone really thinks...
...

Yes, a bit nasty in tone. I apologize for the tone but not the substance. My message is simply that American should have know better than to vote for Dubyah the first time, much less the second time.

I am, overall, a great admirer of the United States of America. Thus I hold the country and its leadership to a high standard. Strong criticism of the US against a very high standard may be equated to mild criticism of a country of lessor stature against a much lower standard. But seemly some Americans feel it is presumptuous that their country should be criticized at all.

[Woochifer]

As many in this thread have rightfully said: People losing jobs is not a good thing...

While I agree that Bose products are overpriced, I still respect the fact that Bose had the damn sense to ADVERTISE!!! If some of the other stuck up, dumb@$$, audio brands had done the same, then Bose probably wouldn't be synonymous with high end audio for the Average Joe...

Actually, Bose is the only audio company that generates enough revenue from their audio products to do TV ads. Other companies aren't "dumb@$$"-- they just can't afford to do the kind of advertising that Bose does.

I don't have the exact figures in front of me, but consider that sales from the ENTIRE home audio component market is somewhere around $1.2 billion. A couple of years ago, sales from the iPod ALONE were more than triple the entire home audio component industry. That's why Apple advertises on TV, and other audio companies do not.

Most home audio manufacturers are small scale operations that can barely afford display ads in Stereophile or Sound & Vision, or they are small divisions within a much larger conglomerate that allocates minimal budget for advertising. Companies like Yamaha and Sony generate millions from their audio component sales, but that revenue is a drop in the bucket compared to their other divisions.

[Ajani]

Actually, Bose is the only audio company that generates enough revenue from their audio products to do TV ads. Other companies aren't "dumb@$$"-- they just can't afford to do the kind of advertising that Bose does.

I don't have the exact figures in front of me, but consider that sales from the ENTIRE home audio component market is somewhere around $1.2 billion. A couple of years ago, sales from the iPod ALONE were more than triple the entire home audio component industry. That's why Apple advertises on TV, and other audio companies do not.

Most home audio manufacturers are small scale operations that can barely afford display ads in Stereophile or Sound & Vision, or they are small divisions within a much larger conglomerate that allocates minimal budget for advertising. Companies like Yamaha and Sony generate millions from their audio component sales, but that revenue is a drop in the bucket compared to their other divisions.

I'm sure B&W and Paradigm can afford to do a few ads... I'm not talking about buying a 2 minute slot in the middle of the Superbowl...

Instead of just having ADs in the usual Stereophile, Absolute Sound etc.. buy a few spots in mags normal people read... It's not complicated... if they can afford ads in audio mags, then they can afford to cut back a little on those mags and try more mainstream ones...

(Note: I accept that small boutique stores probably can't afford any ads other than the free praise we give them on sites like this... but the big dogs are being shortsighted IMO)