thmy
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Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jan 27, 2023 7:59:06 GMT -8
Apparently there's an announcement from ESU going around that Matt Herman is no longer with them. If that is true, God help us! The man was legendary in getting ESU to take foot in the U.S. I'm not sure if this was a layoff, a firing or a departure on Matt's terms but this is quite concerning. This will probably give TCS quite a leg up. Soundtraxx is still stuck in 2012.
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Post by carrman on Jan 27, 2023 8:15:15 GMT -8
Hi! This is the first time I comment in this group. I am not an experienced Facebook user, as most of the time I am busy running both ESU companies.
It is true that both Matthew and Alec Herman left ESU earlier this week. As I can not go into much details why this happened, please rest assured that it was not an easy decision I had to take. Being responsible for the teams in Germany, USA and even China, I have to make sure that processes running smoothly and our customers - both consumers and OEM partners - will get the service and products they deserve.
Operations in the US will continue as before, we do have new stuff doing tech support and will have a new General Manager soon also. So there is nothing to worry about. We try to overcome the chip crisis to make sure more products can be made to meet the demand. I am aware that many customers have been waiting for products for many months, but the global chip crisis is the worst I have ever experienced in my 22 years of running ESU.
I want to thank you for your trust in our products and your strong support. I will be personally available at the Amherst show in Springfield, MA this weekend and are ready to answer all questions you may have...
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Post by carrman on Jan 27, 2023 8:17:05 GMT -8
That was from a Jurgen Lindner head of ESU.
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Post by 12bridge on Jan 27, 2023 9:05:43 GMT -8
Not good. Not good..
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Post by riogrande on Jan 27, 2023 9:15:14 GMT -8
From the sounds of the Post by Jurgen, he let go Matt and Alec Herman. Either parting of ways or cost cutting per a lot of what we are reading in the news. Either way, Herman(s) were praised a great deal by the customers so this will indeed be a great loss.
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Post by carrman on Jan 27, 2023 9:39:20 GMT -8
From the sounds of the Post by Jurgen, he let go Matt and Alec Herman. Either parting of ways or cost cutting per a lot of what we are reading in the news. Either way, Herman(s) were praised a great deal by the customers so this will indeed be a great loss. Add in the fact Jurgen seems to be tone deaf as to customer reaction to this move. This seems like a geat recipe for success. |
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Post by 12bridge on Jan 27, 2023 9:46:24 GMT -8
From the sounds of the Post by Jurgen, he let go Matt and Alec Herman. Either parting of ways or cost cutting per a lot of what we are reading in the news. Either way, Herman(s) were praised a great deal by the customers so this will indeed be a great loss. Add in the fact Jurgen seems to be tone deaf as to customer reaction to this move. This seems like a geat recipe for success. Matt took ESU to where it is by far, but good thing, is that there is now a rather large pool of qualified people who know ESU pretty well.. |
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jan 27, 2023 9:56:37 GMT -8
Hmm, that is concerning. I heard rumors Matt was not as engaged towards present day so maybe there was some slacking or quiet quitting going on from his end but I will give him the benefit of the doubt because he was simply amazing for ESU. He was building quite a large layout which took up a lot of his time recently. But it does sound like ESU fired them. Next stop, Rapido or ScaleTrains. They are hiring everybody lately.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jan 27, 2023 20:24:18 GMT -8
This worries me.
ESU is on thin ice, here.
Jurgen is going to show up at Amherst and answer all our questions. I do hope someone here will go say hello.
ESU needs someone handling the US that is fluent in the language (Jurgen is not) and fluid in the modeling culture.
They need to "get" us, if they want sales.
Ed
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Post by crblue on Jan 28, 2023 16:50:57 GMT -8
Hmm, that is concerning. I heard rumors Matt was not as engaged towards present day so maybe there was some slacking or quiet quitting going on from his end but I will give him the benefit of the doubt because he was simply amazing for ESU. He was building quite a large layout which took up a lot of his time recently. But it does sound like ESU fired them. Next stop, Rapido or ScaleTrains. They are hiring everybody lately. Building a layout is considered quiet quitting? Really? You do know the industry he was in, right? It's as much a hobby as a training exercise for him. |
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jan 29, 2023 12:37:26 GMT -8
Maybe so. Has anyone heard from ESU at Amherst as to what happened?
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Post by ncrc5315 on Jan 29, 2023 15:05:12 GMT -8
Matt Herman was a great guy, and an asset to ESu, and the hobby. But as long as I can ESu decoders, that's wants going in my locomotives.
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Post by richardthomasatal on Feb 9, 2023 11:08:32 GMT -8
Did anyone hear why Matt Herman was fired from ESU? All I heard was conduct. Did anyone get an explaination from the ESU booth at Amherst?
-Rich
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Post by Mark R. on Feb 9, 2023 11:15:56 GMT -8
The conspiracy theories need to stop.
Mark.
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 9, 2023 11:18:20 GMT -8
Who?
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Post by crblue on Feb 9, 2023 11:28:06 GMT -8
Matt Herman, he was basically the public face of ESU North America, and did a lot of work sourcing sound files and dealing with customers warranty issues over the years.
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Post by richardthomasatal on Feb 9, 2023 12:10:40 GMT -8
The conspiracy theories need to stop. Mark. There are no conspiracy theories that I am aware of. He was terminated by ESU's own public admission on social media posts. It was due to some sort of improper conduct according to someone I am familiar with that spoke with ESU at the show. I haven't seen any specifics past that information but if those two issues are theories, someone should tell ESU they are the theory origin point. |
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Post by Mark R. on Feb 9, 2023 12:19:14 GMT -8
The conspiracy theories need to stop. Mark. There are no conspiracy theories that I am aware of. He was terminated by ESU's own public admission on social media posts. It was due to some sort of improper conduct according to someone I am familiar with that spoke with ESU at the show. I haven't seen any specifics past that information but if those two issues are theories, someone should tell ESU they are the theory origin point. There are two sides to every story. Mark. |
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Post by richardthomasatal on Feb 9, 2023 14:03:18 GMT -8
There are no conspiracy theories that I am aware of. He was terminated by ESU's own public admission on social media posts. It was due to some sort of improper conduct according to someone I am familiar with that spoke with ESU at the show. I haven't seen any specifics past that information but if those two issues are theories, someone should tell ESU they are the theory origin point. There are two sides to every story. Mark. Agreed, however if ESU is being as public with this as to mention a termination then the other party should respond in kind and make a public statement of their own. Otherwise, we only have one side of the story. I am sure ESU is aware of the litigious culture of America and my guess is they wouldn't make a statement like that if it weren't true. But who knows if Matt doesn't speak up ever. |
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Post by Mark R. on Feb 9, 2023 14:18:05 GMT -8
From Jurgen's original statement that was sent out to retailers ....
[snip] "It is true that both Matthew and Alec Herman left ESU earlier this week."
"left" does not directly translate to "fired". How would YOU feel seeing your name splashed across numerous forums wanting answers as to why you were no longer with your company ? Would you be freely jumping in to explain what happened ? It's really nobody elses business.
Mark.
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Post by richardthomasatal on Feb 9, 2023 15:28:28 GMT -8
From Jurgen's original statement that was sent out to retailers .... [snip] "It is true that both Matthew and Alec Herman left ESU earlier this week." "left" does not directly translate to "fired". How would YOU feel seeing your name splashed across numerous forums wanting answers as to why you were no longer with your company ? Would you be freely jumping in to explain what happened ? It's really nobody elses business. Mark. From the ESU statement: "It is true that both Matthew and Alec Herman left ESU earlier this week. As I can not go into much details why this happened, please rest assured that it was not an easy decision I had to take."That tells me he was fired. You conveniently removed the part of the same statement that clearly shows it was ESU's decision. I swear the fanboy mentality around this hobby is something else. This can be a forum where things are discussed and not shut down because a friend or loyal company had an issue. Being the public face of anything in this hobby means your name may be plastered all over the place. That's just how it works in this world. |
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Post by Mark R. on Feb 9, 2023 15:32:27 GMT -8
My apologies for all my replies. I shouldn't have said anything at all considering I can't back it up with what I DO know. Frustrating, but that's how it works.
Mark.
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Post by locochris on Feb 9, 2023 18:50:12 GMT -8
That's some bad timing for ESU, as they really need an answer for Soundtraxx's Blunami to remain competitive I think. I heard version 2.0 is going to do the same stuff that RailPro does.
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 9, 2023 19:40:43 GMT -8
Saying a decision wasn't easy doesn't mean someone was terminated for cause. I'm sure it would have been a difficult decision if the motivator was purely financial. On the other hand, if I had to fire someone for some inappropriate conduct, such as misuse of funds or theft, then it would be an easy decision to make.
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Post by tillamook on Feb 9, 2023 22:41:43 GMT -8
That's some bad timing for ESU, as they really need an answer for Soundtraxx's Blunami to remain competitive I think. I heard version 2.0 is going to do the same stuff that RailPro does. Keep in mind that, unlike Soundtraxx, ESU is also big in the european market. They are not as pressed to address Soundtraxx‘s novelties as you might think. And I don’t know if Matt Herman was really involved in research & design. |
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Post by richardthomasatal on Feb 10, 2023 6:17:51 GMT -8
That's some bad timing for ESU, as they really need an answer for Soundtraxx's Blunami to remain competitive I think. I heard version 2.0 is going to do the same stuff that RailPro does. Surely you're kidding. Soundtraxx is light years behind ESU in sound quality. Blunami is a gimmick. ESU decoders can be controlled with smart devices too. ESU decoders can be hooked up to batteries also. |
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Feb 10, 2023 6:43:29 GMT -8
Yes, I don't want Bluetooth in my locomotives.
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Post by sd80mac on Feb 10, 2023 6:55:53 GMT -8
That's some bad timing for ESU, as they really need an answer for Soundtraxx's Blunami to remain competitive I think. I heard version 2.0 is going to do the same stuff that RailPro does. I don't think anyone using ESU products is even aware of Soundtraxx's gimmicky bluetooth decoders. |
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mdq
Full Member
Posts: 131
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Post by mdq on Feb 10, 2023 7:09:10 GMT -8
ESU great decoders. That is to bad for M.H.
TCS WOW sound are impressive , I may go that route in the future.
Tsunami - left behind by both ESU and TCS IMHO
Will M.H. go to rapido? I do not think so since rapido does not manufacture decoders.
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Post by rockisland652 on Feb 10, 2023 7:23:21 GMT -8
I can't imagine why this would happen. While I don't use ESU products, Matt was always a stand-up guy and an ambassador of model railroading.
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