Gibson contest backfires

[Rob]

Which, if they were Fenders, would make them highly collectible in 20 years.  Does it work the same for Gibsons?

]Naw. . .I think it leaves them shunned in the pawn shops. 

[Highlander]

You're turning 100 tomorrow? You don't look a day over 90!

I wonder how many mugs morons just plain idiots adventurers will enter the competition...?

[westen44]

I have never seen a company so hell bent on self destruction.  What a bunch of morons.

I've never seen anything like it, either.  What else can they do that goes beyond this? 

[Highlander]

Buy Fender and re-brand...

[westen44]

While looking over some news items, I ran across this:  another article on Gibson.  I must say a number of these comments at the bottom are not really very impressive.  Gibson may be making some serious marketing mistakes, but most of the "solutions" I'm seeing from readers' comments at the bottom of the "Gawker" article are pretty ill-informed.  A waste of time to read, actually. 

http://gawker.com/what-the-hell-is-happening-at-gibson-guitar-1710099770

[Dave W]

Gibson's mistakes have never been more collectible than their best sellers. And from all reports, this year has been a sales disaster.

What Henry J. obviously wants to do is to innovate. His earlier attempts haven't worked (Firebird X, Robot etc.) because Gibson buyers just don't want them. Trying to force it with the whole guitar line was exactly the wrong thing to do. Something tells me he won't repeat this year's mistake, especially after the reaction to this promotion.

I did see American Musical's blurb on FB about today's promo. At least they called it a one-in-ten chance of reimbursement instead of winning.

Gibson will probably sell more guitars today, since there must be at least a few people ready to buy soon who will go ahead and buy today. But that won't increase overall sales, and the blowback might even cause sales to fall further.

[patman]

Seriously, the EB fiver was the only Gibson bass that might have been able to do the gig that I do. Stupid to discontinue.

[uwe]

I heard that from my German shop today too, Gibson is currently in total disarray about missed budgets and failed model lines. And whether the 2015 V will ever see the light of day is up in the cards. It looks like the Continental V (shelved by Henry for being "too Tobias") and the Tobias Growler by Gibson Guitar of Month (shelved by Henry because of the Nashville flood and ptoduction of other models taking precedence once the water receded) fate all over again.  Ah, yes, Gibson and boutique basses, not a match made in or for heaven ...

[Lightyear]

I have an idea.  How's about going back to basics, examine the entire process from the ground up and implement a genuine quality process like, as much as it pains me to say, Lean Six Sigma?  Spend a little more money on material and little more time in production but turn out a lots less sloppy crap that saves a lot of money on the back side.  Whoever the hell Gibson hired for marketing and R&D should be shown the door yesterday - I mean, really, what research could had justified the Fireturd? 

[TBird1958]

I think Henry could hire a troop of Baboons to replace both himself and all the upper management - They could hardly do worse, he could pay them less - plus Henry could take another vacation...

[Dave W]

I think Henry could hire a troop of Baboons to replace both himself and all the upper management - They could hardly do worse, he could pay them less - plus Henry could take another vacation...

The baboons wouldn't smuggle exotic woods either. 

I wonder if this year's sales fiasco and the reaction to this contest will get through to Henry that he can't force changes on a market that doesn't want it. Maybe he'll learn his lesson. One can hope, but don't hold your breath.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Maybe he's holding out hope for a federal bailout from his favorite president.  Tanking your own business on purpose worked for the Wall Street banks.

[Basvarken]

I posted about the contest on a Dutch guitarist forum. And I also put the link to all the Facebook reactions.

Geetards don't seem to think it is as stupid as we are all convinced it is.
Not many negative comments.
Goes to prove most guitarists are baboons too 

[uwe]

I have yet to spot a difference. Perhaps baboons aren't as self-centered?

[amptech]

Perhaps baboons aren't as self-centered?

Really? Weren´t they the first mammals to masturbate?