Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The only thing this thread needs is some insightful comment from Ivan. Where is that little scamp hiding?

Graham i knew you would post some krap comment on here i told you.....you couldny hold yer water

johnhall wrote:
Having owned a U.K. company previously, you can be assured I will NEVER EVER own an EU based company again. Those that complain about our laws and business climate in the USA have never owned a business elsewhere before.

Amen to that.
Every major production facility closes his Belgian doors.


Looking forward to a BeNeLux special Ric though.

wim wrote:

johnhall wrote:Having owned a U.K. company previously, you can be assured I will NEVER EVER own an EU based company again. Those that complain about our laws and business climate in the USA have never owned a business elsewhere before.

Amen to that. Every major production facility closes his Belgian doors.

Looking forward to a BeNeLux special Ric though.

Where did mr Hall write that? Did I miss his post in this thread, as I don't see it! Wim, I would never start a multinational in Belgium - your countrymen striking all the time over nothing is what causes companies to leave! I didn't know you own a company btw!

fireglo67 wrote:Sorry, I should have said that I was specifically talking about a restriction of trade within the EU.

No worries, only a few industries like car sales are exempt from the EU laws against restrictions - but they get slowly but surely moved into the regular laws against no restrictions for consumers. Music downloads is a wonderful world which so far has escaped the EU Commission's target finder!

Scotty, for all I know Ivan was an alter ego of Graham

Never mind, I found mr. Hall's comment... which then raises the question, why not one company to import Rickies for the whole of Europe (EU) - would simplify a lot for RIC to have just one partner instead of a dozen (potentially just one annoyance instead of a dozen ).

rickenbrother wrote:

T.A.R. wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:Thank you, Peter!

+1

And Gil!

+2 on those sentiments !

8mileshigh wrote:The only thing this thread needs is some insightful comment from Ivan. Where is that little scamp hiding?

I believe he is no longer a member. To answer the next question, no I have no idea of the circumstances.

Electrostring wrote:Never mind, I found mr. Hall's comment... which then raises the question, why not one company to import Rickies for the whole of Europe (EU) - would simplify a lot for RIC to have just one partner instead of a dozen (potentially just one annoyance instead of a dozen ).

Given the EU free trade regulations detailed above there is, in effect, one distributor already for the EU..it's Rosetti. If RIC wanted to, they could simply implement an extended commercial agreement for Rosetti to distribute to continental European dealers and for Rosetti to offer parts/service back up to those dealers in the same way that they do for the likes of Sound Affects/GuitarGuitar in the UK today. That's why I made the point earlier about it being very strange to talk about the introduction of stand alone distributors for Germany/France as being a major development for RIC's European business. If people in Germany and France weren't already able to buy officially sourced guitars from UK dealers which had been supplied by Rosetti then clearly that would not be the case - but they can, and they do, so I don't see how it can be described as a big deal.

I noted that John Hall made an indirect negative comment about an existing distributor in one of the earlier posts. That would suggest that there is an issue between RIC and Rosetti. If so, it wouldn't be the first time that a relationship between the factory and a UK distributor had turned sour. In that context the establishment of new French/German distributors would, in effect, allow RIC to supply the UK from those markets and end its trading relationship with Rosetti in much the same way as they parted company with a certain Rose, Morris back in the day....

You couldn't be more incorrect on many points. However, I'll only address Rosetti and say our relationship with them could not be better. They even spent Monday with us here at the factory.

Furthermore, they are ecstatic about our plans in Europe, as is Algam and AB Music, as these distributors all know each other and work together well.

Locals always get preference; they know when stock comes in, are the target of local marketing, and are usually repeat customers of local dealers.

k43rover wrote:If RIC wanted to, they could simply implement an extended commercial agreement for Rosetti to distribute to continental European dealers

Well, simple it's usually not with these business contracts!


Algam got this interesting new review... a Ric through a Marshall amp, now there's something one doesn't see here often in this rather voxy community!

johnhall wrote:You couldn't be more incorrect on many points. However, I'll only address Rosetti and say our relationship with them could not be better. They even spent Monday with us here at the factory.

Furthermore, they are ecstatic about our plans in Europe, as is Algam and AB Music, as these distributors all know each other and work together well.

Locals always get preference; they know when stock comes in, are the target of local marketing, and are usually repeat customers of local dealers.

Hi John. As your earlier comments were somewhat obscure it's good that you've now clarified what you're doing in plain English. I'm sure that those in continental Europe will be especially pleased that they'll be getting more local support rather than having to buy from the UK.

I am looking forward to seeing how your business development plans for the EU work out as, in the absence of much in the way of new product, I'm still not convinced that these changes will drive that much incremental volume. Regardless, I wish you and your new business partners in Europe very well with it as a RIC in rude health in the EU can only be a good thing for the company overall....and, perhaps, will give you the confidence to eventually do some more C series reissues (my vote being for the Rose Morris reissues)

Electrostring wrote:
Where did mr Hall write that? Did I miss his post in this thread, as I don't see it! Wim, I would never start a multinational in Belgium - your countrymen striking all the time over nothing is what causes companies to leave! I didn't know you own a company btw!

Yearly average striking days Belgian Railway (NMBS) an Postal services: 28
It's only the civil servants that strike all the time.
And those that lose their job, like the Ford and Mittal employees.
I used to own a business.
I just stopped it, and got a 9 to 5 job.
I ended up earning less, but without the 24/7 kafkaian hassle.

Electrostring wrote:
Algam got this interesting new review... a Ric through a Marshall amp, now there's something one doesn't see here often in this rather voxy community!

that was the worst video ive ever had to endure and after three minutes of what sounded like a cookery class he played Wild thing Utter wee wee...
personally i prefer Rick through a Fender

scotty wrote:

Electrostring wrote:
Algam got this interesting new review... a Ric through a Marshall amp, now there's something one doesn't see here often in this rather voxy community!

that was the worst video ive ever had to endure and after three minutes of what sounded like a cookery class he played Wild thing Utter wee wee...
personally i prefer Rick through a Fender

Agreed, what a god-awful tone. Especially with the bumble-bee distortion at the end. ROCK N' ROLL!

Electrostring wrote:

k43rover wrote:If RIC wanted to, they could simply implement an extended commercial agreement for Rosetti to distribute to continental European dealers

Well, simple it's usually not with these business contracts!


Algam got this interesting new review... a Ric through a Marshall amp, now there's something one doesn't see here often in this rather voxy community!

Hey Werner, as you found that interesting I've got some great news for you - I am redecorating my living room next week and you are most welcome to come over and watch the paint dry. Don't worry if you can't make it, just let me know and I'll do a vid for you.