This could be interesting...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...itors-to-sell-iconic-appliances-business.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...itors-to-sell-iconic-appliances-business.html
GE in Talks With Suitors to Sell Iconic Appliances Business
- Thread starter Unimatic1140
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Oh, no. I hope this doesn't mean their US-based assembly plants will be outsourced again. Damn it! And just when I started to like their appliances, too.
Oh, please, don't let it be Haier.
Oh, please, don't let it be Haier.
launderess
Well-known member
Head of GE Said Sometime Ago That GE Was Going To
Spin off "non-essential" parts of it's business to concentrate on core and revenue producing sectors.
GE Credit IIRC is also soon or has been placed on the selling block.
General Electric for whatever greatness it once held in appliances (including Hotpoint) IMHO hasn't really concentrated on that line in years. They make their money in aerospace (jet engines), locomotives and a whole host of other businesses.
Would be great if someone who really cares about domestic appliances picked up that GE division and tried to make something of it again. Think of all the patents and famous brands (again such as Hotpoint) GE holds.
Spin off "non-essential" parts of it's business to concentrate on core and revenue producing sectors.
GE Credit IIRC is also soon or has been placed on the selling block.
General Electric for whatever greatness it once held in appliances (including Hotpoint) IMHO hasn't really concentrated on that line in years. They make their money in aerospace (jet engines), locomotives and a whole host of other businesses.
Would be great if someone who really cares about domestic appliances picked up that GE division and tried to make something of it again. Think of all the patents and famous brands (again such as Hotpoint) GE holds.
supersuds
Well-known member
GE is so big, an $8 billion division is just a distraction.
mrb627
Well-known member
OH NO!
This cannot be good for the appliance division in the long run and even worse for the consumer!
Malcolm
This cannot be good for the appliance division in the long run and even worse for the consumer!
Malcolm
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
i would not be suprise that ge will be bough by whirlpool
I would not be suprise that the ones buying ge will be none other than whirlpool and you know what this m,ean they will change the washer dryerline to look like they did when they bough maytag sigh sorry its just a feeling i have and its strange but i hope that if ge appliance is indeed put on sale if there is a washer god now the time to pray that the ones buying ge appliance is none other than speed queen would you rather have ge washer dryers looking like this same fate as maytag or like a speed queen washer dryer (hubesch in canada) i other word like picture one whirlpool look or like picture 2 speedqueen look?
I would not be suprise that the ones buying ge will be none other than whirlpool and you know what this m,ean they will change the washer dryerline to look like they did when they bough maytag sigh sorry its just a feeling i have and its strange but i hope that if ge appliance is indeed put on sale if there is a washer god now the time to pray that the ones buying ge appliance is none other than speed queen would you rather have ge washer dryers looking like this same fate as maytag or like a speed queen washer dryer (hubesch in canada) i other word like picture one whirlpool look or like picture 2 speedqueen look?
Not this again...
GE threatened to sell off the appliance business some years ago - but then did a splendid job of restoring their appliance presence with innovative product - as well as restoring Appliance Park in the process.
I said it before and I'll say it again, if GE sells the appliance unit to some junky foreign manufacturer - it'll be the LAST GE appliance I will buy.
GE threatened to sell off the appliance business some years ago - but then did a splendid job of restoring their appliance presence with innovative product - as well as restoring Appliance Park in the process.
I said it before and I'll say it again, if GE sells the appliance unit to some junky foreign manufacturer - it'll be the LAST GE appliance I will buy.
I see two things
either to Haier or LG/Samsung OR to an fill-in-the-blank capital group.
Whirlpool, I can't see that happening on anti-trust grounds.
Seems the investment in USA based production was but a smoke screen to gussy it up for sale to the right bidder. Neutron Jack did this to the small appliance division years ago, hence B&D coffemakers in our kitchens.
While I support business in general and only a profitable concern can hire people and generate wealth, when it comes to screwing around like this to make a bunch of pencil pushing accountants dance a jig over the stock price, I part company.
This is a perfect example (along with Wall Street in general) of WHY we just can't seem to make stuff here anymore. It has nothing to do with unions, wages, lack of plant capacity or anything (save for asinine goobermint regulations).
When a company is a slave to wall street, it generally screws over main street. When a CEO pay package is in large part dependent on the price per share, the trailing earnings, yadda yadda, a particular division can be indeed profitable but if it makes more money overall by being sold (and ultimately gutted), then so be it.
The outcome, well we've already witnessed it.
Exhibit A. Anheuser-Busch sold to Inbev. Cost cutting, layoffs, etc. And still a piss poor offering of beer.
Exhibit B. The disastrous Chrysler Daimler "merger of equals". Chryco parts division sold off to Metaldyne and others. Cost cuts, wage cuts, etc.
Exhibit C. Useless Airways and American. Talk about putting two losers together to make one bigger loser, this is it. Naturally upper management is well taken care of. The rest of us will have to suck wind.
Bottom line, the less competition in the marketplace means we consumers lose. Big time. Look at the cell phone business. The airlines are another example.
In other words, business as usual in America.
either to Haier or LG/Samsung OR to an fill-in-the-blank capital group.
Whirlpool, I can't see that happening on anti-trust grounds.
Seems the investment in USA based production was but a smoke screen to gussy it up for sale to the right bidder. Neutron Jack did this to the small appliance division years ago, hence B&D coffemakers in our kitchens.
While I support business in general and only a profitable concern can hire people and generate wealth, when it comes to screwing around like this to make a bunch of pencil pushing accountants dance a jig over the stock price, I part company.
This is a perfect example (along with Wall Street in general) of WHY we just can't seem to make stuff here anymore. It has nothing to do with unions, wages, lack of plant capacity or anything (save for asinine goobermint regulations).
When a company is a slave to wall street, it generally screws over main street. When a CEO pay package is in large part dependent on the price per share, the trailing earnings, yadda yadda, a particular division can be indeed profitable but if it makes more money overall by being sold (and ultimately gutted), then so be it.
The outcome, well we've already witnessed it.
Exhibit A. Anheuser-Busch sold to Inbev. Cost cutting, layoffs, etc. And still a piss poor offering of beer.
Exhibit B. The disastrous Chrysler Daimler "merger of equals". Chryco parts division sold off to Metaldyne and others. Cost cuts, wage cuts, etc.
Exhibit C. Useless Airways and American. Talk about putting two losers together to make one bigger loser, this is it. Naturally upper management is well taken care of. The rest of us will have to suck wind.
Bottom line, the less competition in the marketplace means we consumers lose. Big time. Look at the cell phone business. The airlines are another example.
In other words, business as usual in America.
Ye Gods No!
Really hope this isn't Haier that is prospecting this purchase. And while the world of appliances hasn't caved in since Haier bought F&P, longterm I fear greatly for their innovative products.
If they made good appliances, this wouldn't have to happen. Hopefully something good might come of it.
Really hope this isn't Haier that is prospecting this purchase. And while the world of appliances hasn't caved in since Haier bought F&P, longterm I fear greatly for their innovative products.
If they made good appliances, this wouldn't have to happen. Hopefully something good might come of it.
Tough call
We all know GE is in bed with Electrolux to some degree. I wouldn't have a stroke if Electrolux came to the rescue.
Whirlpool probably cannot buy everybody.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Perhaps the appliance division could be run as it's own self-sustaining enterprise? Dunno.
We all know GE is in bed with Electrolux to some degree. I wouldn't have a stroke if Electrolux came to the rescue.
Whirlpool probably cannot buy everybody.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Perhaps the appliance division could be run as it's own self-sustaining enterprise? Dunno.
GE To Sell Its Appliance Division
This is not surprising as GE really has only had any real superiority in cooking appliances for a long time now. They might as well written off laundry appliances in 1994, and they refrigerators since 2001 have been plagued with problems also.
It will not be sold to Whirlpool or Electrolux, I would guess that Haier would be most likely with LG and Samsung coming in 2nd and 3rd.I would prefer to see Haier get it as it would keep more US workers in there current jobs in US plants. In retrospect I wish that WP had not bought MT and it had instead gone to Haier, as the accusation of MT has not helped WP be as competitive as they should be in the US market.
This is not surprising as GE really has only had any real superiority in cooking appliances for a long time now. They might as well written off laundry appliances in 1994, and they refrigerators since 2001 have been plagued with problems also.
It will not be sold to Whirlpool or Electrolux, I would guess that Haier would be most likely with LG and Samsung coming in 2nd and 3rd.I would prefer to see Haier get it as it would keep more US workers in there current jobs in US plants. In retrospect I wish that WP had not bought MT and it had instead gone to Haier, as the accusation of MT has not helped WP be as competitive as they should be in the US market.
Ugh!! GE is the only "modern" stove I was going to consider. And Eugene, I thought of you immediately and you posted just about word for word I expected you to post when I saw the headlines/thread title.
Excellent
Midea and Haier are likely suitors
LG and Samsung already have well established brands in the US and globally but some of the lesser known foreign companies will certainly get hot and bothered to grab some instant name recognition. GE has been sourcing laundry products and many components from Little Swan/Midea (China) for a long time so a chance to grab GE's market share would be a huge win for a concern like them.
It certainly will be an interesting show to watch and the outcome will be even more so.
Watch carefully, the Kenmore brand name will be next on the block!
LG and Samsung already have well established brands in the US and globally but some of the lesser known foreign companies will certainly get hot and bothered to grab some instant name recognition. GE has been sourcing laundry products and many components from Little Swan/Midea (China) for a long time so a chance to grab GE's market share would be a huge win for a concern like them.
It certainly will be an interesting show to watch and the outcome will be even more so.
Watch carefully, the Kenmore brand name will be next on the block!
Kenmore
Seeing as how brands are spread so thickly among single manufacturers--recalling the days of Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac-Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Saturn-Saab-GMC-Hummer, it makes me wonder if we're going to see a winnowing effect, where the strongest brands persist as the more ancillary ones bow out. Whirlpool seems to be positioning Maytag more aggressively while other brands that never made much sense in their portfolio anyway (Jenn Air, Admiral) seem directionless by comparison.
Since Kenmore has worked so hard to divorce themselves from consistent suppliers and even consistent sales venues, I wonder how relevant they really are--any more than anyone would have clamored for the Signature marque after the demise of Ward's.
GE, on the other hand, seems to be pulling a Frigidaire--making some really great products you'd actually want to buy, just before fading into the sunset.
Seeing as how brands are spread so thickly among single manufacturers--recalling the days of Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac-Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Saturn-Saab-GMC-Hummer, it makes me wonder if we're going to see a winnowing effect, where the strongest brands persist as the more ancillary ones bow out. Whirlpool seems to be positioning Maytag more aggressively while other brands that never made much sense in their portfolio anyway (Jenn Air, Admiral) seem directionless by comparison.
Since Kenmore has worked so hard to divorce themselves from consistent suppliers and even consistent sales venues, I wonder how relevant they really are--any more than anyone would have clamored for the Signature marque after the demise of Ward's.
GE, on the other hand, seems to be pulling a Frigidaire--making some really great products you'd actually want to buy, just before fading into the sunset.
Nate-- You've left half the AW membership waking up to screams and night sweats with this one, LOL!
The Chinese getting GE?
<span style="font-size: 24pt;">NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!</span>
Is GE's lighting division on the sale block,too?from reading the link-thats going too?What is GE going to do???One fine bugger-bear of a MESS!!!!If you want a REAL GE item---GET IT NOW!!!
FRIG THEM....................
isn't the CEO of GE a job czar in the OB administration, and how many tax breaks has GE received from the Fed Govt? At least Whirlpool is in the Appliance business, and I don't care what anyone says, I think they make some good quality products for the money....I gave up on GE a while ago. Not one front loader was made in the US until recently, their plastic machines were and are ####....For washers and dryers ya gotta go with Alliance/Speed Queen, and for kitchen I have been with the Whirlpool family for some time now.\
MIKE
isn't the CEO of GE a job czar in the OB administration, and how many tax breaks has GE received from the Fed Govt? At least Whirlpool is in the Appliance business, and I don't care what anyone says, I think they make some good quality products for the money....I gave up on GE a while ago. Not one front loader was made in the US until recently, their plastic machines were and are ####....For washers and dryers ya gotta go with Alliance/Speed Queen, and for kitchen I have been with the Whirlpool family for some time now.\
MIKE
It sort of is the writing on the wall. What I'm curious about will be the availability of parts going forward; GE parts availability is much better currently than any of the aforementioned suitors. Will Samsung/LG/Haier continue to support decades of parts for machines it didn't make?
Interesting
I don't think that, despite GE's laudable efforts at keeping jobs here, most corporations anthropomorphize successfully into the embodiment of someone with integrity. Heck, some individuals can't even do that.
It's all about the dollars, and I'm sure with a corporation as complex as GE, it's driven by equally complex motives.
Although GE has licensed its trademark before to others, part of me wonders--if this actually transacts--if the result will be similar to White-Westinghouse, wherein parts of the original company remained and wanted to keep their rights to the intellectual property with no confusion about who was whom ("W" and "Westinghouse" name and branding), so WCI had to come up with a separate set of branding for the appliance division they acquired.
I don't think that, despite GE's laudable efforts at keeping jobs here, most corporations anthropomorphize successfully into the embodiment of someone with integrity. Heck, some individuals can't even do that.
It's all about the dollars, and I'm sure with a corporation as complex as GE, it's driven by equally complex motives.
Although GE has licensed its trademark before to others, part of me wonders--if this actually transacts--if the result will be similar to White-Westinghouse, wherein parts of the original company remained and wanted to keep their rights to the intellectual property with no confusion about who was whom ("W" and "Westinghouse" name and branding), so WCI had to come up with a separate set of branding for the appliance division they acquired.
supersuds
Well-known member
Hotpoint
That's an interesting idea, dascot. Companies usually like to have international control of trademarks these days.
It's been several generations since the Hotpoint name was used in North America for anything but budget appliances. Whirlpool might be able to lock up the brand name for a song.
It's too bad because Hotpoint made some really excellent products pre-1970 -- at least they were a little different.
That's an interesting idea, dascot. Companies usually like to have international control of trademarks these days.
It's been several generations since the Hotpoint name was used in North America for anything but budget appliances. Whirlpool might be able to lock up the brand name for a song.
It's too bad because Hotpoint made some really excellent products pre-1970 -- at least they were a little different.
tecnopolis
Well-known member
How big does Whirlpool have to get before the Dept. Of Justice steps in to prevent a monopoly.
The last thing I want is another Whirlpool based appliance. I still haven't quite got my head completely around that whole Maytag merger fiasco.
The last thing I want is another Whirlpool based appliance. I still haven't quite got my head completely around that whole Maytag merger fiasco.
GE says:
OMG! I'm getting sucked in by (a) Whirlpool!!!
XD
OMG! I'm getting sucked in by (a) Whirlpool!!!
XD
Supersuds, I pondered on it while thinking back about some car industry mergers and sell offs in the past 10-15 years or more. There's been some interesting cases when a company and a brand name have been sold separately (Bentley & Rolls Royce) or when a brand has been protected from sale (Rover by JLR/Ford after the sell off of business to SAIC in China), and it wouldn't surprise me if these guys did similar.
They could bring back Hotpoint to US using a) the heritage and b) their Euro market expertise as marketing tools...
They could bring back Hotpoint to US using a) the heritage and b) their Euro market expertise as marketing tools...
Whirlpool Can
Have as big a share of the market as they can get at this point, yes they would likely be blocked from buying GE, but they can get as big as they want if they do it by convincing appliance buyers to buy their appliances.
Have as big a share of the market as they can get at this point, yes they would likely be blocked from buying GE, but they can get as big as they want if they do it by convincing appliance buyers to buy their appliances.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
If I recall
Whirlpool had a time getting the Maytag purchase approved by the DOJ. Having just purchased a new GE range last year, I hate to see them go or change, but most definitely don't want to see the Icon of the electric light. The son of Edison Electric go out of the states in ownership.
Though besides Whirlpool, is there any other American appliance Manufactures ? Then there are the venture capitalist that would whittle it apart and sell off the pieces.
NO, I feel if GE sells, it is doomed like their small appliance divison. They used to have some darned good coffee makers.
Whirlpool had a time getting the Maytag purchase approved by the DOJ. Having just purchased a new GE range last year, I hate to see them go or change, but most definitely don't want to see the Icon of the electric light. The son of Edison Electric go out of the states in ownership.
Though besides Whirlpool, is there any other American appliance Manufactures ? Then there are the venture capitalist that would whittle it apart and sell off the pieces.
NO, I feel if GE sells, it is doomed like their small appliance divison. They used to have some darned good coffee makers.
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