Re: [CR]Colnago/Masi Comparison

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

From: "jerrymoos" <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>
References: <20040319.123915.704.166.richardsachs@juno.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Colnago/Masi Comparison
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 12:46:45 -0600
cc: Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca
cc: Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca

Well, I'd don't believe the business of business is business. Having myself been an officer of a $ billion company, I believe nothing bankrupts a company faster than a management which places profit first and only . Far too many US companies are now run by people like this, Ivy League MBA types, who edlessly analyze "THE FINANCIALS" but who are totally ignorant of the goods and services which the company is supposed to provide. Furthermore they are totally conviced that providing any real goods or service is irrelevant. The criminals Andy Fastow and Jeff Skilling at Enron are the perfect examples.

When these sorts of people take over a company, it rapidly stops providing quality goods and services. And since even American consumers are, in the end, not total idiots, the company eventually loses its customers and ceases to make a profit as well. This has happened in the bike business as well as many others. I don't think Ernesto Colnago has ever had this kind of disregard for the product. One of the worst examples I've seen in the bike industry was in the early 90's, when Schwinn, several owners after the Schwinn family lost control, started slapping the Paramount name not only on lower end Taiwan built bikes, but on cheap bike computers and helmets and God knows what else. Perhaps Richard Schwinn at the Cirque banquet will share his thoughts about what has happened to his family's former business in the last decade and a half. I imagine his is pretty unhappy with much of it.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Houston, TX


----- Original Message -----
From: Richard M Sachs
To: jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net
Cc: Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [CR]Colnago/Masi Comparison



> jerry
> i think you're projecting. it's as if you're afraid
> to say that the business of business is business.
> i don't want to drift into the diferences between
> "artistry" and commercial ventures, but it was you
> that used the term and linked it to "motivation", lost
> motivation at that.
> you cite colnago as if he "lost his way". i think that's
> narrowminded and i'd like some examples from you
> about "artistes" that were colnago's peers that stayed
> the path.
> btw, i love ya', man - so don't take this as me jumping
> ugly on you. light conversation only. otay?!
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct
>
>
>
> <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> writes:
> I don't think any great company places profit first. There must be a
> passion for great products, great service, innovation, etc. On the other
> hand, profit must be a strong second on the priority list, else the
> company
> fails. One reason I admire Rivendell is that Grant places classic bikes
> first. Yet he does what is necessary to make a profit so the business
> can
> survive. Ernesto seems to sometime let profit slip into first place,
> like
> with the late 70's quality, but I think he at least keeps making good -
> and
> often innovative - bikes in a close second. I don't think I can call
> Colnago a great builder, but he ceratinly is a good one.

>

> Regards,

>

> Jerry Moos

> Houston, TX