[mbarnes]

For the past two months, I have posted on the nOrh website that I have a very hectic schedule coming up. I asked for patience and promised to answer all e-mails that came directly to me personally.  I have been to Japan, Tanzania, Africa, and Malaysia over the past several weeks.

If this were not enough, I had the Thailand Embedded computer show and this week is APEC in Bangkok and I will be showing for the next week NorhTec's computers.

Two weeks ago, I had had a chance to hand the Prime Minister of Malaysia, a Microserver HP.  Yuths, Shaf and I were all there to show him NorhTec's comptuers and to tell him about our company.

In the meantime, I have continued to try to be upfront about everything.

Le Amp 2 has been shipping.  They are not shipping as quick as I want but I do not like getting e-mails saying that I am a lier.

Many e-mails here have become very rude.  I know I can edit them but it isn't that I want to censor, I don't like reading them myself.

nOrh has never billed anyone before we shipped.  I refuse to hold onto a customer's cash until we ship products out the door.  Anyone who has ever ordered from us knows that we would not bill anyone for anything if we don't have it.  

Unfortunately, our vendors don't work that way. We pay long before we get products.  In the case of Le Amp 2s, we paid back in April.  We expected a one or two month delay but it took us until August or so to have any units.  In order to get more units to customers, we had to pay in advance again and again to make enough money available to complete the job.

In the end, we will loose on every unit we sell but that is a cost of business--not a crisis.

I have had several customers not satisfied with just saying nasty things on the boards.  Some have started writing me nasty letters to my e-mail address.   I got an e-mail recently calling me a looser.  Another e-mail told me that I was facing some sort of crisis.  

It is amazing to have a personal meeting with the Prime Minister of a country and then open up and e-mail from an audiophile calling me a looser.  

I got an e-mail from Australia today letting me know that he is going to post another review of Le Amp 2s.  I think that more and more reviews will start showing up and I am positive that everyone will agree that nothing has ever been available at this price before.

Despite this, I have had many e-mails trying to hound me out of the audiophile market.  My question is this -- what other audio company is trying so hard to bring the prices down.  We have had nothing but praise for the ACA 2b but it is one of the least expensive preamps on the market.

I have so many ideas for audio.   There are many things I would like to do. As there is no financial reward, for me, there has to be a personal reward.  

When I was in Africa, it cost $6 per half our to get on the Internet.  I get 600 e-mails a day.  I have received as many as 3,000.  Everyone who has ever written me knows that I will answer everyone's e-mail personally.  This takes 3 hours or more a day.  

At $12 per hour, I have to cut back on my web time.  

When I was in Japan, the only Internet I could find cost 50 yen for 10 min and this was a Kiosk in a public place.  The Internet Cafes required you to buy a drink and the cheapest drink is $20.00.  Then you can try to figure out how to type in English on a Japanese keyboard and use Japanese menus on Internet Explorer.

In Taiwan, there was a reasonably priced Internet Cafe near the hotel and I could spend as much time in there as I liked, so long as I didn't mind sitting next to 30 people smoking and listening to people playing shoot-em-up games with the speakers turned all the way up.

The point is that no matter where I am or how costly or difficult it is , I give everyone personal attention if they write me.  

In about one week, my schedule will start to get back to normal.  

So -- to anyone who every had a business trip or taken a vactation, please try to understand that I might not always be available on the boards.  I will answer you e-mail if you write me.

Befoe you get tempted to write and insult me personally, remember that there are people who really would like to get a good deal on audio. I will you this, if nOrh doesn't build Le Amp 2, nobody will.  Nobody else will work harder to get better products out for less money.  I know that idea conflicts with many audiophiles but that is why there are many other companies in this industry.

Sincerley,

Michael C. Barnes

[LadyDog]

Keep the chin up Michael! There are many more of us who appreciate your commitment, dedication, and products than there are nay-sayers.

Regards,
Jeff

[Andrikos]

Michael,
Sorry for your frustration. Keep it positive and try to shield yourself from all the negativity out there.
I ordered 3 of your amps months ago and I'll be very happy when they get here.
Till then, cheers!

Andreas

[jones rush]

Michael, you're too good to be true...  

[dogberry]

Ignore them.  You probably couldn't have pleased those people in the first place, no matter what you did.  

Keep doing what you do (and well), and you'll be fine.  I seriously doubt that anyone pays attention to the whiners.

[NealH]

Thanks for finally providing an update.   One thing to consider is that you estimated when the amplifiers would ship back in April and updates have been few and far between especially in the past couple months.  Perhaps in the future you should occasionally update this board on new commercialized products since most every customer, including myself, follows this forum.  This would likely cut dramatically into the number of personnal emails that you get requesting an update.  That is kinda what these boards are suppose to be used for, I thought.    But I don't know, maybe you prefer that we all correspond via email.

By the way, personnal attacks are disgusting and certainly not justified so I sympathize with you on this issue.  It is real sad that some stoop so low as to launch these personnal accusations that are unfounded.  It is a known fact that your business dealings and policy are absolutely ethical and fair.  Your status updates may leave something to be desired but, your business ethics appear to be flawless.

I eagerly await my LA-2's.  But, do not rush as I do not want them before they are finished and ready.

[thepogue]

keep the faith brudda...some would call me a sucker...but I'm in it fer the long haul...take yer time and get mine right (a lil extra spit shine maybe?) when the time comes i'll write what i hear....as they say "the proofs in the puddin'"

keep up the good work!

Peace, Pogue

[Guan]

Hi Michael,

I'm sure Dr. M was impressed with the quality of your products. He has a good eye for quality and a particular fondness for IT. Knowing that technology is the future, he made a great effort years ago to learn about PCs and IT, even at his advanced age. I don't think there is much, if anything, in Malaysia that compares to your Norhtec range.

As for Le Amp 2, I think it's an unbeatable value. Even though I have gotten myself another (much more expensive) SS amp, I am still eagerly awaiting the Le Amp 2. It's a beautiful piece of design

Take your time and ignore the callous comments.

Cheers,

Guan
(Malaysian living in Hong Kong)

[lo mein]

Mr Barnes,

Ignore idiots like ETR.  These nuts' only intension in posting in your forum is to smear, and to discredit you.

Hang in there.

[MaxCast]

Glad everything is going well Michael.  The LeAmp II looks to be a great amp.
To everyone, I don't believe Michael would like to see anymore name calling, personally or to a group of naysayers.  Enough has been said, lets get back to business.

[Andrikos]

It looks like the blasphemers have hidden in their cave...
How brave...

[scottpretti]

I have never said anything negative about nohr, I must say all of the comments made on this forum are a bit funny.  I do agree that a simple note from the owner could have saved him a headache of emails he received.   Agreed that individual complaints should be taken up directly with the company at hand but general comments and upto date info should be in a public forum.  I still think it odd that the only people that have commented here only have one post?  Not a criticism only an observation.  I wish nohr luck as a audio company but general support on a public forum is only 1 email away.  Good luck to all.  

[nathanm]

Consider that despite whatever crummy delays etc. are occuring with Norh remember that you're dealing with a one man PR department.  Would you rather have your e-mails answered by some canned auto-reply script?  Don't you think it's pretty great that you can actually talk\write to the man in charge instead of some college kid sitting in a cubicle?  He's only one guy fer cripes sakes, give him a break.  Any company not run by a bunch of bureaucrats is a good thing.

Send nasty e-mails to corporate behemoths if you want.  The little guys don't deserve that kind of beating.  Nobody is above criticism, but let's put this into perspective.

I am not trying to be a Norh apologist or rushing to Barnes' defense, (I don't give a crap either way- I didn't order an amp) but from what I've read he's been unnaturally forthcoming about his business and products, something I see rarely, if at all.  Sure, I suppose it could be an elaborate PR hoodwink, but if so, it's an awfully convincing one.

[jqp]

You must be a norh lackey, shill, and salesman if you are not bashing norh!

Seriously you make some very good points. Its amazing what he has done by himself with some employees/family friends.

One way to look at it, and I think it is an interesting way: his low cost products, developed largely as part of this hobby, as "gifts" to the audio community. But that does not sit well with some does it.

But however you feel, I agree, give the guy a break! He has made no money off of anyone who ordered an amp. So consider that a gift at least. He never charged a card until they shipped. The only inconvenience is the wait, which has been a part of every norh owners life from the beginning anyway.

And thanks mbarnes!

[Dozer]

It looks like the blasphemers have hidden in their cave...
How brave...

Step over the the fight club and say that!

Seriously... you want to gloat?   save it.   I'm glad that you all are pleased and feeling vindicated or whatever.  I don't take back any of it.  But the editors/monitors have seen fit (wisely) to move much of the discussion to the Fight Club.

Don't call people names and run behind the moderators skirt please Andrikos.   The appropriate reply is fairly forbidden here... so come on over to the other thread and we'll figure it out.

[gonefishin]

well...I don't think I'd call myself a Norh basher...but I do feel a bit frustrated watching this LeAmp II story unfold.  Why?  because most of this could have been delt with here...online (or incircle) if mBarnes had just been more informative here.  From what I read...some units were supposed to be shipped some time ago...but these seemingly didn't get in the hands of any AC'ers...then the other batch needed to be re-plated Watts instead of watts.  I know that MBarnes did give this information...and this is a good thing.  But once several of the regular AC norh customers starting to question what was going on for the last couple months...alot of this could have been taken care of on line and in thread.  Norh has some extremely loyal customers...and I think this is great...which is why I think they deserved better communication.

   I do understand MBarnes was on a lengthy business trip...He alluded that there was communication means while on his trip...tho sometime  it was expensive or inconvenient to connect.  Well, you know what?...just a message once in a while would have been well worth the effort...because your customers are well worth the effort!


   


   later>>>>>>>>

[eric the red]

I like Cheetos

[Tyson]

I agree Eric, when I think about you, the truth is, it makes my head hurt

You know I don't own a single nOrh speaker anymore.  Strange how things change.  I do wish I hadn't sold the 4.0s though, those were some great HT speakers.

[thepogue]

"I have never sent Michael Barnes a single email regarding his new amps".....

now a letter bomb....that's a different story  

I'm wiff ya brudda...

Peace and Patients (wiff nOrh's) Pogue

[eric the red]

No more pie for me thanks