Hitachi closing Australian operation

[twinniefan]

I read this morning that Hitachi are closing their entire electronics division here in Australia on February 29, this is apparently because they are finsing it difficult to match other brands in plasma televisions and other things, I wonder where this leaves consumers who have indeed bought Hitachi products in relation to after sales service.
Now I know why the Bing Lee saleslady the other weekend was trying to offload the Hitachi9kg washer on to me, trying to get rid of them.
I find this a little sad actually I kind of liked Hitachi products they always seemed to be good quality, especially power tools and I guess it means one less washing machine brand to choose from.
Do any of our friends from Europe or the U.S. know if it is the same situation in their parts of the world?
Cheers people.
Steve.

 

[paulg]

HITACHI USA

I know of no important closures in USA for Hitachi. I've also admired their quality. Their stuff still seems to sell OK in USA though it seems their popularity has faded just a little bit in the last few years. With flat TVs being so popular, Panasonic, Sony and Sharp seem to have stolen a bit of Hitachi's thunder.
Sanyo however, is in deep doo-doo and is trying to sell of chunks of the company just to stay afloat. Anyone want to buy their appliance division?

 

[seeitrun2006]

Worked for Hitachi Telecom USA for 26 years

in Norcross GA. Went to work there in Septmber 1975, laid off Feb. 2001 due to recession and 911. This was the Telecomunications division responsible for selling telephone systems to the hotel/motel industry. Started in manufacturing for 10 years. Then worked in Sales administration for 16 years. The day I was laid off they canned 93 employees. This company location over a span of 2 years went from 300+ employees down to 53 by Feb. 2001.

Looking back they did me a HUGE favor! I went back to work at another/smaller Japanese company in August 2001 in shipping/receiving in Norcross GA. Not near as much stress as I was under at Hitachi. Hitachi is notorius for having too many indians chiefs and not enough indians. Also everything there was way too political. Another reason the company almost went under. Everything had to be approved by at least three or four managers before anything could be purchased.

It does not surprise me to hear of another Hitachi location closing their doors. The only way you could move up in the company was to kiss major butt to the higher up's! I was moved in to Sales Admin only because they had someone quit and needed someone quick!

David

 

[twinniefan]

Thanks

thanks for the feedback guys,David your experiences with Hitachi makes them seem just like a government,everyone wants to be in charge and a thousand beaurocrats to approve anything.
As I said before though, I personally do think they were one of the better Asian brands product wise,my dad and his lady had a small Hitachi automatic washer which went for 18 years without any problems.
Steve.

 

[seeitrun2006]

A lot of the problem at Hitachi

was with the American managers versus the Japanese managers. The Americans would take a little change to some documents and create this "mushroom cloud effect" of requirements that would take months to get approved.

Also when working in the Sales department my boss made it known that I was to no longer to have anything to do with my former manufacturing co-workers/freinds or as she refered to them as "those shop people". I went to only one Christmas party in the 26 years I worked there. I had to sit with the stuffy stuck-up sales people until they got drunk then I hung out the rest of the night with my shop buddies!

So sad how so many American/International businesses are run this way!

 

[seeitrun2006]

One other thing

Hitachi does make some great products! My dad has an old 8-track stereo w/ a record player and receiver. I purchased it from Hitachi in 1976. As far as I know it is still playing. He put it in his work bldg. behind their house so he could listen to music while his works out there.