Sad saga of an iconic brand and its "failure" to compete
594592
Anheuser Busch was thrust headlong into the world of modern finance when an acquisition offer from InBev showed up at the door one day. This book chronicles the saga not only of that fateful offer and eventual takeover, but follows back to the critical moves that set this iconic company up for its eventual fall. I found it to be a damning investigation of the modern business world, the ruthlessness of cost efficiency, and finally, the sad realization that customers just aren't important unless you're able to squeeze more cash out of them.

The book follows A-B through the leadership of "The Third" and the short tenure of "The Fourth." The Third - an overbearing, shortsighted bully who knew the operation inside and out and could gladhand everyone, and the Fourth, his son who never quite met his father's approval and simply came on too late to globalize A-B and prevent the takeover. Essentially, by not aggressively expanding around the world, and simply relying on the U.S. market, A-B wasn't able to keep up with its global competitors.

I found it easy to read, as it is written in almost snippets drawing from hundreds of interviews and sources. However, it was tough to choke down just how ruthless modern capitalism is. The takeover of A-B has allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in cost-cutting, raising the prices of their beers, more integration in the market, and an almost complete lack of focus on the customer.

Where A-B succeeded in making their customers, employees, and associated groups #1, ABInBev has only the interests of one party in mind - their shareholders. They treat their customers poorly, employees poorly, distributors poorly, and don't bother with such frivolities as charitable donations. Everything is about the bottom line. Maybe that's global capitalism at work. Maybe that's great. Or, perhaps, maybe, A-B had it right all along.
2249773
Rather than saving the company, little Billy Ford had to take it over to prove to his infamous family that he could handle it all by himself. Since then, the company has gone down the drain, the product plan is a mess, plants have had to be closed, and the company has had to shed tens of thousands of workers. He drove the company off a cliff and all but ruined everything.

Now, fortunately, he is out of the picture - and the more important story is what comes next - if anything - out of the wreck.
3522112
The first 65% or so of the book is dedicated to the rise and fall of the original Indian Motocycle company.  From the early years where the founders bowed out fairly quickly, to the nefarious owners inbetween, to duPont Brothers efforts to keep it alive and the poor efforts at the end..
Warts and all, good and bad, the effort is outstanding in my mind and just one good read.

The remaining 35% of the book is dedicated to the hop-scotching of the name through some others, including not only the Gilroy bikes and the King's Mountain efforts, but also some underhanded efforts that were not sanctioned, or barely were.  All of these were in the end, not complete efforts, although the King's Mountain people seemed to have a good heart for the brand.

Finally, you reach the part of the book where Polaris takes over, and yes, it is a testament to their engineering ability to bring the bike up to modern standards.  What would an Indian look like, with fairing and hard bags, since the original nameplate that died in 1953 never had these features?  What would the electronics look like?  How about redesigning the engine so the "flathead" look is maintained, while still keeping it modern and competitive in today's market?
You cannot make it look like a HD engine, nor can you make it look like a Victory engine.  How to capture that old look?  They tell their tale.

To me, this is the more important part of the book.  Yes, there are purists out there that think the only original Indian is one built 1953 or before.  There are people out there that think that no one, absolutely no one, should be able to replicate what the original owners did.
Hogwash...what Polaris has done for this brand is nothing less than outstanding in every effort, and the book reflects that, as does their sales.

As I write this, (August 2016), Harley Davidson has been stagnant or slightly declining in sales for the last 6 quarters, where Indian in the last two quarters especially, has seen growth above 20% per quarter.  Learning how they did this is not only interesting in today's market, but is truly a reflection of what an American company can do if they put their mind to it.

With the greatness that the original Indian owners and founders achieved, only to have it tossed and turned by others until it died in the early 50's, Polaris trying to keep the original mindset is maybe one of only a very few companies who could step up, make a strong statement with the brand, and bring it back to life.
This book, in the end, is that story, love it or leave it.
Definitely one that has truly held my interest.  More than just crying over grainy photos, this book is a page turner, one that every motorcycle enthusiast should consider reading.

Purists will always be purists, and condemn any effort by any modern company that resurrects, but in my mind, this story, from the original days to the resurrection by Polaris, is nothing short of a crazy good story in the world of motorcycling.
Definitely a must read for any true motorcyclist.
3576339
The assertion that this watch is all "Swiss-made" simply isn't true.  This watch is actually has a rebranded Japanese movement that performs very poorly.  Gaining or losing up to 7 seconds per day is bad for a Japanese automatic, let alone the "Swiss made" version that this watch claims to be, and of course the chronograph function isn't going to be any more accurate.  Remember, this is a chronograph, a complication specifically designed for measuring time down to the second!  The design for this movement was actually purchased from Seiko, and is their 6S37 movement with a different rotor and some decorative polishing.  Tag was caught in this lie when watch enthusiasts noticed that their "all new, in-house movement" had a strong resemblance to a Seiko that had been in production for years.  This is a particularly bad example of Tag's "avant-garde" (ugly for the sake of ugly) engineering.  If they put as much effort into building good watches as they put into advertising them to the posers buy and wear them, they could be better than Omega, but sadly, it's not to be.  Selling out to the Japanese is yet another step in Tag's gradual descent into worthlessness.
2207963
The manufacture told me this thing was produced and distributed exclusively for Sam's Club for Christmas 2015 shopping season so maybe it's pointless to review something that can't be purchased anymore.  Regardless, maybe this review can be used as a caution for any product tied to MD Sports.  Typically if a company distributes one junk product, there whole line becomes (as it should) suspect.
So my son received the 360 cage fighter as a Christmas gift. He's six, and his older brother 8.  The two of them probably had the opportunity to punch and kick at it about a half dozen times before it started leaking air at the seams 2 weeks later.  Christmas, lots of new things to be distracted by. I'll bet if this was a birthday gift it would've lasted but a few days as he probably would have gave it more attention.  So anyhow, a patch a seam leak, a weak later there's another one and the week after that a third that I've yet to find.
After three months I wise up and decided to research the warranty and return.  Turns out it has a one year warranty that can easily be bumped up to a 2 by registering it online.  But here's the kicker, the manufacturer emailed me today an apology that there was nothing they could do as this was a limited production for SAMs Club (it's listed on the MD sports website yet today as "new product".  The guy suggested I take it back to SAMs club.  When I pressed about the warranty I  received the following reply.
"I have looked at your registration and yes you did get the extended warranty on this item.  However, MD Sports discontinued the production of the product, therefore we are not getting any more replacement bags to send out to customers.  I would print off the page from the website showing that you did sign up for the extended warranty and take that with you when you take the item back to Sam's.
I wish I could help you, but I don't have the parts to send to you and I will not be getting anymore in.  I'm sorry."
Well, the apology is nice but doesn't do anything to fix the problem at all.  Reneged on the warranty and pass the buck to Sam's Club.  Very uncool.  Not finished with them yet.  Need to point out to  them that I don't appreciate that they are trying to make their problem a me problem and a SAMs club problem.
I should point out that when I called SAMs Club the guy bent over backwards trying to help me as we paid cash and ditched the receipt.  Most he could do was in store credit for the lowest price he sold it for ,$30.  Told me his cost was $80.  I was like dude you got had too.  Don't think I even would have  paid that retail for it as I'm suspect to inflatables to begin with.
Bottom line.  MD Sports products are poorly manufactured Tawian junk.  And they don't stand by their warranties.
4050503
Sad, sad disappointment. Jumps between story lines seem arbitrary. There are a number of story lines left hanging that are either the result of poor writing or shameless attempts to lure a reader to future issues. They don't work. The Griffin III stuff was always a delight to read. However, since IV has been involved, the quality had spiraled down, horribly I might add (note to the unaware, Butterworth is Griffin III's real last name). Thus, I'm not biting on any further issues of The Badge of Honor series. It has essentially died. I fear the same result for any attempts by IV to continue any of the series of books. Makes you appreciate what a good story teller III was.
812703
I purchased this camera along with 2 other brands in December of 2013.  I was initially pleased with the results, resolution and functionality of the 150. However, over the last 6 months, this camera has seemingly decided to quit working and is now averaging 1 picture for every 700-800 of the other two brands despite the cameras being 50' apart.  I had initially thought that it was the batteries, so I replaced them -no joy.  I then swapped the SD card -no joy.  I changed location to a more productive area -no joy.  I'm now left to believe it is the camera itself.  Needless to say, I'm pretty darn disappointed.  Not sure what else to try, my other cameras are capturing images on a regular basis, but as soon as I move this camera into the same location the number of photos decreases dramatically, that is, to next to nothing.
Rating is two stars, but that is only because the images that I do get are of pretty darn good quality.  The detractors associated with this camera are:
1: Image capture
2: the panoramic motor makes noise
3: slight red glow at night
4: battery consumption
5: poor panoramic stitching

I want to like the camera, but by the same token, I can't recommend it with the current performance.  Hopefully the issues are addressed and Moultrie can capitalize on the panoramic market!

As for now, go with the other brand and as they say, "See what you've been missing!"
4502071
That Samsonite would place their label on this piece of $h! is a sign the dimished value of the brand.  Having purchased a Samonite Saturn which I purchased used some 15 years ago, I thought I'd give the Liftwo Hardside a chance.  Big mistake!! On the very first I took it on the zipper failed as I tried to close the suitcase(and no, it was not overfilled).  After struggling with it for nearly one-hour, I manage to get it closed. Once I I picked the bag off the carousel, the zipper failed completely giving me little choice but to find some packing tape to secure the bag for my ride home. Connecting Samsonite prove to be a mission impossible.  Finally, after locating an "authorized" location for repairs, I was told I needed to pay almost half the cost of the bag to have it repaired; leaving me with a very sour taste for the current state of Samsonite.
3155030
Big corporations on occasion self-destruct. That's horribly costly not just to investors but to suppliers, customers (for a car company, those are dealerships, not us drivers), families of those who work there, and whole communities. Understanding how that can happen is important. In addition, GM went through bankruptcy, so knowing the specifics is central to whether the restructuring underway at the company is addressing core problems and not just symptoms.

I have been researching the auto industry for decades, including annual visits to suppliers for the past 25 years, and time working in factories (in Detroit) and researching the industry in Japan as someone who reads/speaks Japanese. I've also been teaching an annual seminar on the industry for about a decade, and so keep up with the current literature for classroom purposes.

There are a range of books I recommend, including (for an older account of GM's problems) Maryann Keller's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rude-Awakening-The-Rise-Fall-and-Struggle-for-Recovery-of-General-Motors/dp/0688075274/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rude Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle for Recovery of General Motors</a>, and more recently Bill Vlasic's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Once-Upon-a-Car-The-Fall-and-Resurrection-of-America-s-Big-Three-Automakers-GM-Ford-and-Chrysler/dp/0061845639/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Once Upon a Car: The Fall and Resurrection of America's Big Three Automakers--GM, Ford, and Chrysler</a>&nbsp;and Steve Rattner's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Overhaul-An-Insider-s-Account-of-the-Obama-Administration-s-Emergency-Rescue-of-the-Auto-Industry/dp/0547577427/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Overhaul: An Insider's Account of the Obama Administration's Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry</a>&nbsp;for the industry in general. Rattner's statement that GM was the worst-managed large firm he'd ever encountered is consistent with what Kachman reports, while Vlasic provides other examples of how GM's senior management was out of touch with the car business and the severity of problems in their own firm. Then there's Hoffman's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/American-Icon-Alan-Mulally-and-the-Fight-to-Save-Ford-Motor-Company/dp/0307886069/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company</a>&nbsp;on Ford. Kachman's book is much narrower, looking at issues around paint shops. That nevertheless is invaluable, because as a result the book provides concrete examples of specific decisions rather than a top-level overview.

And paint matters. I've been in the paint shops at Toyota, Ford, GM and BMW plants. They remain the most expensive single section of an assembly plant, are the most expensive part to operate, are potentially lethally dirty, are the bottleneck in the flow of production, and are critical to visible quality. Kachman does a good job explaining that context.

Finally, I've passed the book on to retired executives from a major global automotive paint firm and a very senior person from one of GM's rivals. Kachman gets the technical story straight, and as the auto exec put it, "and I thought our mgt was f...d up".

I may not use this book in class, because it's only 4 weeks long and I need to prep students for visiting speakers and for 5 days of visits to auto companies. But I keep recommending it to others in the industry, and hope I can arrange to meet Kachman some day.
2858828
Like many other disappointed purchasers of these blue jeans, I too experienced the 'joy' of being tricked into purchasing a once fine product now turned to flimsy junk. These previously durable pants are now constructed of inferior, thin denim; no doubt to maximize profits for shareholders.

Premature self destruction comes in the form of multiple torn belt loops, and holes that appear simultaneously at the corners of back pockets after three months of once-per-week wear. Crotch also tears at the tender age of six months, followed soon after by blown-out seams @ sides of hips.

On the plus side, they did fit well while they still looked decent enough to be legally worn in public.

If you enjoy patching your jeans 90 days after buying them, Lee is the brand for you. I'm old enough to remember when a pair of Lee's, Levi's or Wranglers could endure hard work and still look good after two years of service. Having to now replace all of my work jeans every six months is BS. I'm switching to Carharrt and Dickie's jeans, and if they now also make crap, I'll start buying one of the newer, more expensive, all American made jeans. Sick of this $htt...
4417961
Yet another once-reliable brand, now outsourced to China so POOR people there can be ripped off, while producing shoddy junk.  Good work, American Industrial morons.
3411038
I bought these, because 2 decades ago, I used to race, and liked Vittoria tubular tires very much. I bought for the familiarity of the brand name.
I have enough experience riding (mostly racing and training, but also track, and fixie on the asphalt), and I have a developed instinct for avoiding road hazards to save tires.
I had them only for a few days... I bought them to make sure I had fresh tires, for an urban messenger race I wanted to participate in. During the event, one tire tore open at the tread, I patched that as best I could to continue the race, and then the other tire tore at the side while cornering hard in a curve.  They were finished in one day's use.  I arrived last at the finish line, after the party was over and the sun was going down. Terrible day.
These are so badly designed, that I intend to punish Vittoria by never buying any of their products ever again.  Even if they might have higher-end better products, I don't care. I figure that if they can't get a basic tire with heavier weight made correctly, they no longer have the competence to make higher-end lighter and more fragile tires either.
There are plenty of other choices out there, from Panaracer, Continental, Michelin, Schwalbe, all reliable alternatives.
1040768
I lived in Ohio for a couple of years, and didn't really realize what was happening to places like Lancaster.  It is a difficult story to read about the decline of industrial America.  The loss of jobs, drug use, and the downward spiral of a once-prosperous community is an agonizing read.  I've purchased many Anchor Hocking products over the years, as well as other Ohio glassware, and couldn't imagine the scope of the destructive forces at work that have damaged this company and the surrounding community.  It is about greed, mismanagement and the siphoning of resources that many private equity firms bring to a company.  Unfortunately, the trend continues, and it isn't just in Ohio.
1994768
I discovered this brand six or seven years ago while searching for warm stylish boots that were also comfortable. I was thrilled to  discover this brand, as it appeared to address all of my needs for a "winter boot".

Unfortunately, the quality of these boots have been compromised. Yes, most of the boots still feel great when they are new, but after a season or two, the insides start to shred, causing blisters and the "cushioned footbeds" have morphed into a lumpy mess causing severe foot pain. Another big problem that I have discovered is that the seams inside on the top of the boot that covers the foot are rough and hard, contributing to additional foot pain! Something has changed with this company and not for the better.

I have at least ten pairs of these boots and some of them have only been worn a few times.  The older ones cannot be remedied even with insoles and the new ones with the big, rough seams are dreadful!!

I have discovered Aquatalia boots and will never buy another pair of La Canadienne boots again. Sorry LaCanadienne, you have taken a great boot and cut corners in the wrong places.
3906953
Trying to find a new vacuum that isn't too expensive but holds up well? Almost chose this Hoover cyclonic canister until I found out that Maytag had sold the brand. Same problem w/Electrolux. Info I have is that neither brand is up to its former high standards because the new companies do not value good customer service/replacement parts/repair, etc. Just keep this in mind when you make your choice.
2213969
I AM A LOYAL NB BUYER BUT SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THING MADE IN VIETNAM THE QUALITY AND DEPENDABILITY OF THIS ONCE GREAT SHOE MAKER HAS HIT BOTTOM.  IS PROFIT SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU WILL SELL ANY PIECE OF CRAP.
THESE OUTDOOR SPORT HIKING SHOES LOOKED GREAT BUT I WAS WEARY AS SOME CUSTOMERS FOUND SIZING AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THE TYPE OF CHOSE IN QUESTION.  HOWEVER I TOOK A CHANCE AND BOY WAS I WRONG.
THEY ARE AT LEAST A SIZE SMALLER THAN THE LABEL AND I FOUND MY BIG TOE STUBBING ITSELF ON THE INSIDE OF THE SHOE.
AS FOR CUSHIONING YOU CAN FEEL THE LUG SOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE REMOVABLE LINER AND NOT EVEN THE ADDITION OF A CUSHION INSERT HELPED.
I AM SO VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH AMAZON FOR CARRYING THIS KIND OF  PRODUCT AND I DO NOT KNOW WHO THE MERCHANT BEHIND THIS IS THOUGH I HAVE MY SUSPICION AND I HOPE AMAZON WILL PULL THE PLUG ON THIS SPORTSMAN'S REJECTS.
AND WHAT IS WORSE NO DIRECT REFUND .  I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SECRET MERCHANT TO GET THE PRODUCT AND DO THE REFUND.
AMAZON SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU FOR NOT PROTECTING YOUR CUSTOMERS FROM THESE  KIND OF MERCHANTS.
4080022
Received one of their backpacks for Christmas last year and already the zipper is broken. Contacted the company and was pretty much called a liar by "Yitzy Horowitz" because my particular backpack "has been discontinued for 3 years" and there is no way I could have received it so recently. So, just because you stop making a particular model, that means that all of them you made previously just disappeared and they no longer exist? Anyway, since my backpack is 'discontinued', it is no longer under any warranty and they refused to do anything for me. Pretty shoddy quality and workmanship for something they charge so much for, and calling a customer a liar? Very unprofessional. Save your money and buy a cheap Jansport, I guarantee it'll last longer.