I think what kinda perplexes me, is that there are so many ways to handle this -- yet JHA has tended to take the worst of all options each time ...
- They dramatically under communicate (would be so much better to over communicate in this case) ...
- They miss projected timelines, seemingly without explanation or concern ...
- Rather than be proactive, they wait for people to get crazy, upset, threatening, and dramatic, and then do the minimum in "reactive" fashion ...
Don't get me wrong, I love JHA and my JH16's are unreal. But for a seemingly people-centered company with decent marketing savvy, they could have
really turned this lemon into lemonade.
Seriously, had they personally called all customers. Had they issued frequent, even if meaningless updates (i.e. "no news, Jerry still tweaking the amp") and
had they taken the time to better explain this technology to everyone, it's development, what makes it so different, and just solid/interesting education while
this was going on, this whole situation would be WAY different.
Instead, they would have happier, most understanding customers who -- while eager to get their amps -- would be more patient and less likely to bash them
so frequently on all the boards. On top of that, the customers would have a better intellectual foundation to appreciate and even evangelize the product once
they actually heard it and were convinced.
For now, however, it seems that most of the damage is done. But I still believe they would leave a better taste in everyone's mouth if they adopted some of these points.
In fact, even if they did all the above for purely selfish reasons -- both them and this first wave of customers would be so much better off.
But I guess it also seems there is some intense pride/stubbornness working here as well that's making it hard to change, though that's complete conjecture on my part,
(just the sense that I get). Then again, who am I? I'm not even a Headphoneus Supremus