I am not only a former Custom AV business owner, but following that, I was part of the engineering staff at Media Systems. Mitch was one of the greatest guys to work for there ever was.(I think even myself included) I left just prior to things getting really tight over there. I think I left as I saw things were beginning to go wrong, and the key reasons (key personnel) I joined the company to work with, were gone. There was a great deal of in house talent that was passed over for the wrong guys in key positions. I think that ultimately killed them. When you are entrusting personnel to taking the reigns of the company, it's generally a good idea not to entrust someone who's past track record is destroying another one or two or three. However, I see it happens all the time. No one seems to trust the guys that got them there.

Not only were their installers calling for work, but local contractors and M.S. clients were calling around looking for someone to finish the work that was started. I feel for them though...their clients too.

Reading this thread was like attending a funeral for someone I didn't know, but wish I had known. Hope this is an isolated case and not a trend.

Hiccup...

Bump

This message was edited by HDTVJunkie on 07/13/04 03:22.

Seeing these big companies go down is a little disheartening. Hopefully it will make all of us take a close look at our books and our growth plans. I have seen a lot of mid level guys come and go because of cashflow problems, I can only assume that this was the case in Boston. I only know Mitchell from the shows, but I know his company was first class and he personally put a lot of effort into advancing our industry. I remember reading about Mr. Klein fighting and winning against bullsh*t legislation for licensing MA installers, which more than likely would have spread like wildfire to every state. I know he has been active in CEDIA since the inception of the organization. I hope he and his employees land on their feet and

I remember seeing his showroom on This Old House when Steve Hayes was showing a client around. I always thought that was cool that he kept a high profile showroom in a design center and let other integrators use it to sell jobs.

There is another thread on this site where some trunkslammer is gloating that Media Systems went down... that's pretty low class and I lit him up a little bit.

Guys just for the record 2 major companies did go out of business in Florida in the last year, however, I am not one of them. Last time I checked (about 10 minutes ago) Audio Advisors was not only still in business but we are doing really well. We are on track for our second year in a row over$10,000,000 in sales from our single location. We do not participate in the CE PRO top 100 dealers list because they do not require tax returns for verification and too many people lie about their numbers so we just choose to not particpate. Mitchell's demise is truly a sad thing and without question a very negitive one for our industry. I wish him only the best. Jeff

Jeff,

It was my incorrect post earlier in this thread that used your name. I do apolgize for getting it wrong, tying your name with the closing of another dealer in your market. Very, very sorry.

Owen Wheeler
Theaterworks

Jeff,

Edited.

I'm also glad to see you refused to participate in the CEPro competition. I wrote to the editor years ago telling him that the competition was and would continue to be meaningless until they required copies of AUDITED financials (I believe they do now require financials but not audited).

This message was edited by QQQ on 08/10/04 16:47.

I've heard that someone bought the rights to the Media Systems name and will be opening a shop in south Florida.......

This message was edited by PMP on 08/09/04 20:47.

Is Eric with Monster now?

Owen, it's certainly no big deal about the confusion with AA. I was just happy to see that nobody said I'm glad to see that asshole Hoover went under.

No I have never gone out of business although I have been very close twice (but not in the last 12 years) and we are 22 years young next month.

No CE PRO accepts any entry as long as you promise it is true. They do add an asterisk next to your name if your financials are "verified". The problem is they consider verification as a printed profit and loss statement, a letter from your CPA or a tax return. The first two mean nothing. Audited financials are quite expensive and probably not practical for most people in our industry. Tax returns, however, are a requirement for every business in the USA so I do not understand why they are not used.

Yes a local competitor of mine bought the rights to Media Systems and is attempting to keep Mitchell's West Palm operation running under that name. It is already open.

Eric is working for Monster and still doing his consulting business as well.

Thanks Jeff. Edited my post.

Jeff,

VERY happy to hear all of this...proving there IS still hope for the expensive, exceptional, elite, companies in the custom automation/integration industry...

I wish you nothing but the best!

Tell Keith I said hi, and congrats on PMP, and give me a call some time!

avdude

Dear avdude, Thank you and I very much want to tell Keith that you said hi. Unfortunately I don't know your real name and/or I'm too stupid to find it on the site. If you tell me I will pass it on to Keith immediately. Jeff

P.S. I think we are doing so well because we are very diversified and are not dependent only on monstrously large projects. Jeff